Uefa Cup round-up: Newcastle put themselves within touching distance of the Uefa Cup quarter-finals with a 4-2 win despite a controversial late fightback by AZ Alkmaar.
Gretar Steinsson own goal and strikes from Kieron Dyer and Obafemi Martins saw the Magpies race into a 3-0 lead with just 23 minutes gone as the Dutchmen were torn apart.
Shota Arveladze reduced the deficit with a 31st-minute header, but Martins — identified as the dangerman by AZ coach Louis van Gaal before the game — claimed his 16th goal of the season six minutes later.
To their credit, Alkmaar, who put their passing game to good use throughout, were far more resilient in the second half and dragged themselves back into the tie when Danny Koevermans converted after Shay Given had saved substitute Moussa Dembele's controversial 73rd-minute penalty.
Martins really should have made it 5-2 and completed his hat-trick eight minutes from time when he went one-on-one with Boy Waterman, only to fire straight at the goalkeeper.
Glenn Roeder's men head for the DSB Stadium next Thursday evening knowing qualification is within their grasp, but aware that the side currently lying second in the Eredivisie will not bow out of the competition without a fight.
Rangers have it all to do in the second leg despite a last gasp equaliser against Osasuna at Ibrox. The home side were on the back foot almost from the first whistle and there was no surprise when Raul Garcia headed past stand-in goalkeeper Stefan Klos with only 16 minutes on the clock.
Rangers tried to fight back but generally looked bereft of ideas and the home fans were made to wait until the second minute of injury time for something to cheer about, Brahim Hemdani curling a right-foot shot past Ricardo from outside the box.
A late penalty from midfielder Enzo Maresca allowed holders Sevilla to scramble a 2-2 draw at home to Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
Sevilla looked to be heading for a shock defeat after Shakhtar had come from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead, but Maresca spared the home side's blushes when he fired in from the spot after he had gone down in the area two minutes from time.
