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Europa League: Everton's Lukaku has business to finish in Kiev

Nigerian striker’s last-minute penalty in the first leg gave the Toffees a slender 2-1 lead

Afp March 18, 2015

In-form: Romelu Lukaku is the leading goal-scorer amongst the remaining teams in the Europa League and would want to extend his run against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

PARIS: The Premier League's sole Europa League survivors Everton are in Ukraine on Thursday aiming to seal qualification for the quarter-finals against Dynamo Kiev.

Romelu Lukaku's late penalty at Goodison Park last week gave Roberto Martinez's men a slender 2-1 first leg lead, and the Belgian striker could once again prove the key to furthering Everton's European adventure.

Lukaku, the leading scorer of the 16 teams left in the Europa League with seven goals, was again on the mark to lift the Toffees six points clear of the relegation zone.

"Everybody knows I want to win the Europa League and I also want us to finish as high as we possibly can in the league, so I will do my best to achieve my own objectives and the team's objectives," said the in-form 21-year-old. "Now we have to do the business in Kiev. That will not be easy but I'm very confident in my teammates. Hopefully we can do the job there."

Martinez welcomed back on Sunday his left-back Leighton Baines, who managed the full 90 minutes against Newcastle after missing the last four games with a leg injury.

Dynamo drubbed Mariupol 5-0 in their domestic warm-up on Sunday to leave the side, coached by former Tottenham and West Ham forward Serhiy Rebrov, seven points clear of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian first division.

UEFA have ordered part of Kiev's stadium to remain closed as punishment for ugly crowd trouble during Dynamo's last-32 clash with French side Guingamp.

Elsewhere Thursday, Napoli will fancy their chances of featuring in Friday's quarter-final draw after Gonzalo Higuain's hat-trick inspired the Serie A side to a 3-1 home win over Dinamo Moscow.

Holders Sevilla also have one foot through the last eight door after sauntering to a 3-1 win over La Liga rivals Villarreal, helped by the competition's all-time fastest 13-second goal from Victor 'Vitolo'.

Andre Villas-Boas' Zenit St Petersburg hold a 2-0 advantage in Torino, while Bundesliga highflyers Vfl Wolfsburg take a 3-1 lead to the San Siro to face three-time champions Inter Milan.

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