LONDON -- Inter Milan and Lyon were among the six teams to qualify for the Europa Leagues knockout stage on Thursday but defending champion Atletico Madrid was made to wait after its 16-match winning run in European competition was ended. Liverpools qualification hopes took a dive by losing 1-0 at wealthy Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in Group A while Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani produced the best individual performance of the round, scoring all four of Napolis goals in a 4-2 win over Dnipro to revive the Italian teams challenge in Group F. Inter joined Rubin Kazan in progressing from Group H with two games to spare by easing past Partizan Belgrade 3-1 and Lyon ensured a top-two finish in Group I by winning 3-2 at last seasons beaten finalist Athletic Bilbao, which slumped to a third defeat in four matches. Bayer Leverkusen, Metalist Kharkiv and Hannover were the other sides to go through courtesy of victories but Atletico surprisingly lost 2-0 at Academica in Group B, for the Portuguese teams first win in Europe in 43 years. England striker Jermain Defoe grabbed a clinical hat trick in Tottenhams 3-1 win at home to Maribor that leaves the English side second in Group J, behind Lazio after its 3-0 victory over Panathinaikos. Five teams -- Rosenborg, Rapid Vienna, Neftchi, Partizan Belgrade and Hapoel Tel-Aviv -- were eliminated in the 48-club group stage, which resumes in two weeks time. The top two teams in each group go through, where they will be joined by the eight third-place finishers in the Champions League groups. Inter travelled to Partizan buoyed by a 3-1 win at Juventus, which ended the Serie A leaders 49-match unbeaten run in the league, and picked up where it left off. Rodrigo Palacio scored twice and Fredy Guarin added Inters third in Belgrade. Rubin beat Neftchi 1-0 to also move to 10 points and will host Inter next, a match that should determine who finishes top of the group. Lyon is the only team to have won all four of its group games after goals by Bafetimbi Gomis, Yoann Gourcuff and Alexandre Lacazette against Bilbao, which is a shadow of the side that flamboyantly swept to the final in May -- only to lose to Spanish rival Atletico. The Basques are bottom on one point and now have to win both remaining games to have a chance of qualifying. Leverkusen and Metalist advanced from Group K after moving to 10 points with wins over Rapid Vienna (3-0) and Rosenborg (3-1), respectively. Group L leader Hannover cant be denied a top-two place either, following a 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot by Szabolcs Huszti in a 3-2 victory over Helsingborg, which had two players dismissed in the final two minutes. Lacina Traore grabbed a 45th-minute winner for Anzhi to give Dutch coach Guus Hiddink the perfect present on his 66th birthday in Moscow against Liverpool. The English visitors, who again played a largely reserve team, held their own throughout but was undone by a great piece of skill by the lanky Ivorian striker, who lifted the ball over his marker before lobbing goalkeeper Brad Jones from outside the area. "Some of the young players were terrific and we are disappointed not to have got something from it," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who left Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard out of the squad ahead of Sundays match at Chelsea in the Premier League. Anzhi climbed above Liverpool to the top of the group and with Young Boys surprise 3-2 victory over Udinese, all four teams can still reach the knockout stage. Liverpool and Anzhi can both qualify from what is proving to be the toughest of all 12 groups by beating Young Boys and Udinese, respectively, next time out. Atletico should also go through in the next matchday as it hosts Hapoel but was sunk on Thursday by a brace from Wilson Eduardo, earning Academica a first European victory since 1969. The holders, who were without their star striker Radamel Falcao, are level on points with Viktoria Plzen -- a 4-0 winner over eliminated Hapoel Tel Aviv. Newcastle stayed top of Group D by drawing 2-2 at Club Brugge while Fenerbahce and Steaua Bucharest are both five points clear in their groups after a third win in four games but still arent guaranteed to advance. Fenerbahce beat AEL Limassol 2-0 in Group C, where Marseille drew 2-2 with Borussia Moenchengladbach to leave both teams on five points, and Steaua is in charge of Group E after defeating Molde 2-1 away. Defoe was in irresistible mood against Maribor, providing three deadly finishes -- two coming from assists from flying winger Gareth Bale -- at White Hart Lane. At halftime, a tearful Fabrice Muamba was given a standing ovation from the crowd after returning to the exact spot on the field where he collapsed because of cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match in March. The Bolton midfielders heart stopped beating on its own for 78 minutes during the incident and he has since retired from football on medical advice. "I want to thank all of you Spurs fans who were here and who prayed for me," Muamba told the crowd. "You were all fantastic and I will never forget." Cheap Authentic Jerseys . Nadal pulled out of the London Games because of a sore left knee, missing the chance to defence his title and serve as Spains flag bearer in the opening ceremony. cheap jerseys . The Mavericks were also without forward Lamar Odom for Monday nights game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Coach Rick Carlisle said Odom, who also missed practice Sunday, was out with a stomach illness. http://www.cheapauthenticjerseys... . Wayne Gretzky said Monday that he believes the leagues current lockout will end before the showcase Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. [url=http://www.cheapauthenticjerseyschina.net/]cheap nfl jerseys .C. -- Dylan Miller of Oxbow, Sask. wholesale nfl jerseys . Two people with knowledge of the decision confirmed Sunday night that Kelly is passing up a chance to coach in the NFL to remain with the Ducks.After admitting to being open to the possibility of returning in some form to the team that acquired him on draft day in 1998, current Dallas Maverick and former Toronto Raptor Vince Carter again attempted to reconcile with the city and team he was traded from nearly eight years ago. Since not long after the departure, Carter has attempted to patch the wounds he left behind as his career in Toronto wound down, repeatedly saying he loved the city and enjoyed the six years he spent there. He took things one step further in an interview on TSN Radio 1050 on Tuesday, saying he would welcome the opportunity to finish his career where it all began. "If (Toronto) gave me the opportunity, I dont even think Id let them finish the question. Yes. Im in," Carter said, speaking on Cybulski and Company. "Could I see it? Absolutely," Carter continued. "Id leave that up to the franchise. It all started in Toronto, Id be a fool to ever forget that." At this point, Carters feelings are known, but the question is, how would Raptors fans feel about the return of the franchises greatest player to date? Has enough time passed to forgive and forget the moments that defined his last days in the city, or are basketball fans still bitter over the way things transpired in his final days, culminating in his one-sided trade to the New Jersey Nets? His supporters will point to the fact that the former fifth overall pick was the driving force behind what was and still is the franchises greatest run of success, including the teams only playoff series win in 2001. His high-flying, highlight reel play made the Raptoors one of the leagues hottest tickets and for a time, comparisons with Michael Jordan didnt seem that far-fetched.dddddddddddd His off-the-charts performance in the Slam Dunk Contest in Oakland in 2000, coupled with the gold medal he won with Team USA at the Sydney Olympics later that year, vaulted him to superstar status. The bar he set in his first three seasons was one he could never live up to however, and the following three years were defined by injuries and uninspired play. To make matters worse, as Carters play declined, so did the teams and Carters lackadaisical, care-free demeanor became an easy target that allowed fans to vent their frustration. The bitterness was only emphasized after the trade to the Nets when he seemed to become re-energized, returning to his prior All-Star form, leading New Jersey to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, while the Raptors sunk to the bottom of the NBA standings. Still, as the years have passed, each time he has returned to the Air Canada Centre in a visitors uniform, the negative reaction has dissipated, to the point where booing him now has almost become an afterthought. The question is: Are Raptors fans at a point where they would accept him back in one way or another? Would you like to see him return to play for the team that drafted him more than 14 years ago? What about a one-day contract which would allow him to retire as a Raptor? Is he deserving of an on-court ceremony where his accomplishments with the franchise are recognized? To what extent, if any, would you like to see Vince Carter back with the Raptors? Its Your! Call. ' ' '