London, Februay 16:

Sevilla took another big step towards retaining their UEFA Cup title by winning 2-0 at Steaua Bucharest on Thursday in the first leg of the first knockout round.

The Spanish club cruised to victory with a 41st minute strike by Christian Poulsen and a 77th-minute penalty by Frederic Kanoute. Another Spanish club, Celta Vigo, drew 1-1 at Spartak Moscow. Antonio Nunez put Celta ahead in the 41st minute but Maxim Kalinichenko equalised for Spartak in the 64th.

Claudio Ranieri’s spell at struggling Parma started with a 1-0 loss at Portugal’s Braga. Ze Carlos Silva scored in the 81st minute.

Newcastle won 3-1 at Belgium’s Zulte-Waregem. The visitors led in the second minute of the second half when Frederic Dindeleux turned the ball into his own net trying to stop Kieron Dyer’s cross reaching the unmarked Obafemi Martins in front of the goal.

Martins added the second from the penalty spot in the 59th after goalkeeper Pieter Merlier pulled down Damien Duff. Issam Jomaa scored twice and Aruna Dindane converted a last-minute penalty as Lens beat Panathinaikos 3-1.