Eight contenders left for the Europa League

15-Mar-2013 4:41:00 AM

The competition's chasing pack narrowed from 16 to eight on another evening of high drama across Europe

There were yet more thrills and spills in the Europa League on Thursday evening, as eight sides booked their places in the quarter-finals.

A stunning display from Inter saw them beat Tottenham 4-1 on the night, but Emmanuel Adebayor's extra time goal ensured Spurs booked their place in the quarter-finals on away goals, with the game tied 4-4 on aggregate.

There was joy for another Serie A side, however, with Lazio making short work of Stuttgart - running out 3-1 winners and 5-1 victors over the course of the two legs.

Champions League holders Chelsea were not at their brilliant best, but still overturned a 1-0 deficit with a 3-1 win over Steaua Bucharest, thanks to goals from Juan Mata, John Terry and Fernando Torres.

Big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala crashed out at the hands of Newcastle, with Papiss Cisse's late strike enough to seal a 1-0 win and Rubin Kazan advanced to the last eight with a 2-0 victory over Levante, following a goalless draw in the first-leg of that tie.

Elsewhere, Fenerbahce made it through at the expense of Viktoria Plzen, Benfica ran out 4-2 aggregate winners over Bordeaux and Basel reached the quarter-finals despite a 1-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg.