AMSTERDAM — Four Americans saw the conclusion of Europa League group play on Wednesday, with Clint Dempsey scoring as Fulham were bounced from the tourney after leaking a 2-2 equalizer against visiting Odense BK deep into stoppage time.
The US star had broken the ice with a fine teed-up finish from the top of the area on 27 minutes, his fifth career Europa League goal. Shortly after the hour, an Odense free-kick strike halved Fulham's two-goal lead and Dempsey departed in the 72nd minute.
Djiby Fall leveled with nearly the last touch of the game, giving the already eliminated Danish club a pride point and victorious Wisla Krakow second place in Group K. The Polish side advance by one point ahead of the Cottagers, who were eight better in goal differential over six matches.
Elsewhere, Sacha Kljestan also rang the bell, but in a winning cause as Anderlecht completed a perfect Group L sweep with a 5-3 victory over guests Lokomotiv Moscow.
The former Chivas USA ace pulled the Mauves level from an early deficit on 33 minutes, collecting a weak clearance to expertly curl home far side. It was Kljestan's first European goal since scoring in his Anderlecht debut, a Champions league qualifying win at Welsh mites The New Saints in July of 2010.
Despite conceding a late pair of goals, the hosts eased to clinch the group crown as the only club in this year's Europa League to skate through with six wins in six tries.
Oguchi Onyewu's man beat a very lax Sporting CP offside line on the second goal as Lazio got the 2-0 home win needed to join the Lions in the round of 32. For his 75-minute shift, the US policeman was the second-highest rated performer of the night for the Group D winners, according to Portuguese daily Record.
Also, Jermaine Jones was handed a breather along with several other starters as Group J table-toppers Schalke closed out with a 3-0 win at Maccabi Haifa.
Another four Americans will conclude Europa League group business on Thursday. Jozy Altidore's AZ Alkmaar and Steve Cherundolo's Hannover 96 are each a point from clinching, while Jonathan Spector of Birmingham City and Brad Friedel of Tottenham will require minor miracles to reach the knockouts.
Both the round of 32 and the round of 16 of the Europa League will be drawn in Switzerland on Friday.
