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Villarreal reaches Europa League knockout after Astana scare

MILAN KAMMERMAYER / AFP / Getty

Villarreal completed a shaky 3-2 victory in the Kazakhstani capital of Astana on Thursday to become the sixth team to reach the Europa League knockout stages.

The Yellow Submarine fell behind when Astana's Congolese forward Junior Kabananga struck a precise 25-yard effort into the top corner after 22 minutes, before a pair from Cedric Bakambu either side of a neat Daniel Raba smash gave Villarreal a two-goal advantage.

There were nervy moments for the La Liga side in the closing stages when Patrick Twumasi arrowed an effort in the bottom corner on 88 minutes, but the visitors took all three points from the Astana Arena after warding off a late goalmouth scramble.

Astana's fate will now come down to the final day of the group stage when it travels to Slavia Prague, its sole rival for Group A's second round-of-32 spot.

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