Advantage Vaslui after Lazio stalemate

FC Vaslui edged closer to qualifying for the UEFA Europa League round of 32 after sharing a goalless draw with S.S. Lazio.

Viorel Hizo's charges, unbeaten at home in UEFA club competition, visit FC Zürich on 14 December needing to match whatever the Serie A side manage at home against Group D winners Sporting Clube de Portugal to qualify as runners-up.

With both sides requiring victory to seal certain qualification, it was a cagey match. Lazio began brightest, Álvaro González embarking on a wonderful early run down the right, cutting into the area and picking out Miroslav Klose. The Germany striker was denied by Vytautas Černiauskas's brave block.

Having drawn 2-2 with their opponents in Rome, the hosts were by no means cowed by Eduardo Reja's men even after Senad Lulić forced a smart save from Černiauskas with a 25-metre shot on 36 minutes and Klose skimmed the far post moments later with a clever shot on the turn.

Indeed the Galben-verzii looked just as likely to score in the opening hour, particularly from set pieces; Adailton's ability came to the fore. Mike Temwanjera connected with one of the Brazilian's free-kicks, heading wide, while Gladstone was thwarted by Federico Marchetti after volleying Paul Papp's knock-down from another Adailton chip. Vaslui's No10 also teed up Temwanjera from open play.

Adailton might have scored himself when his 20-metre free-kick curled just wide on the hour. Lazio, meanwhile, left it too late to chance their arm. The Biancocelesti's fate could have been different had Giuseppe Sculli not skied Klose's cut-back on 74 minutes and Tommaso Rocchi not squandered two chances in the last seven minutes, but Vaslui held out.