Manchester United and Tottenham put their inconsistent domestic campaigns aside and advanced to the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday.
Diogo Dalot tapped in a precise cross by Kobbie Mainoo on the hour mark and Mainoo netted eight minutes later for a 2-0 victory over Romanian champion FCSB in Bucharest.
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FC Midtjylland's Aral Simsir, left, and Fenerbahce's Alexander Djiku in action during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Midtjylland and Fenerbahçe at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. (Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
FC Midtjylland's Valdemar Byskov, center, celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Midtjylland and Fenerbahçe at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. (Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Rangers FC fans cheer their players at the end of the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Rangers FC and Union Saint-Gilloise, in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Rangers' Zakariya Lovelace, top, jumps for the ball during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Rangers FC and Union Saint-Gilloise, in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Athletic Bilbao's Yeray Alvarez, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Viktoria Plzen at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Athletic players celebrate after Javier Marton scored his side's third goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Viktoria Plzen at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Roma's Eldor Shomurodov celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during an Europa League soccer match between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Roma's Eldor Shomurodov, right, scores his side's 2nd goal during an Europa League soccer match between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Roma's Angelino, not in the picture, scores his side's first goal past Frankfurt's Tuta, left, and Frankfurt's goalkeeper Kevin Trapp during an Europa League soccer match between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Lazio's Gustav Isaksen, left, kicks the ball next to Braga's Ismael Gharbi during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between SC Braga and Lazio at the Municipal stadium in Braga, Portugal, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's goalkeeper Mathues saves the ball in front of Lazio's Boulaye Dia during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between SC Braga and Lazio at the Municipal stadium in Braga, Portugal, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski, centre, celebrates after Dane Scarlett scored the opening goal the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Tottenham's Oyindamola Ajayi, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Manchester United's Diogo Dalot celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Manchester United at the National Arena stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates with Alejandro Garnacho after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Manchester United at the National Arena stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Manchester United at the National Arena stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Tottenham got goals from academy graduates to beat Swedish club Elfsborg 3-0 in London. Spurs waited until the 70th minute for substitute Dane Scarlett to break the deadlock before adding two more through substitute Damola Ajayi and 17-year-old Mikey Moore.
Of the 36 teams in the revamped competition, the top eight go directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams ranked ninth to 24th go into the two-legged knockout playoffs on Feb. 13 and Feb. 20 with the winners making the last 16.
The draw is scheduled for Friday.
United, which is 12th in the Premier League, competed the league phase of the second-tier European competition in third place and undefeated with five wins and three draws, trailing the top by one point.
“Kobbie (Mainoo) played very well in that position, with more freedom and not so much responsibility running back all the time,” United manager Ruben Amorim told TNT Sports. “The lads did a good job, another clean sheet.”
Amorim's squad has shown signs of improvement since he said the team was “the worst, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”
Thursday's victory was the third straight in one week after beating Rangers in the Europa League a week ago and Fulham in the Premier League three days later.
Tottenham is languishing in 15th place in the Premier League. Its seven-match winless run in the league is its worst since 2008. But it won five, drew two and lost one for the fourth place in the Europa League.
Lazio, the only team that qualified to the round of 16 with a game to spare, was handed its first defeat, 1-0, away at Braga. Still, the Portuguese team was eliminated.
Lazio still topped the standings with 19th points, the same as the second Athletic Bilbao.
Bilbao secured the second place after a 3-1 home win over 10-man Viktoria Plzen, which has a playoff spot.
Frankfurt completed the league phase in fifth despite a 2-0 loss at Roma. Angeliño and Eldor Shomurodov lifted Roma with the goals at Stadio Olimpico.
Lyon was sixth despite being held 1-1 at home by Ludogorets.
Olympiacos in seventh after routing Qarabag 3-0.
Rangers squeezed in to complete the top eight by beating Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1.
José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce avoided an embarrassing early exit with a 2-2 away draw at Denmark’s Midtjylland. The result sent both into the playoffs. The hosts were 20th while Midtjylland took 24th, giving Mourinho a chance to add to his European trophies.
Ajax ended a three-game losing streak by handing Galatasaray its first defeat, 2-1 with both teams making the playoffs.
Hoffenheim's 4-3 away win at Anderlecht was not enough for the Bundesliga team to advance. The Belgian club finished 10th.
Real Sociedad, FCSB, Porto, AZ Alkmaar, Twente and PAOK are among other teams that advanced.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FC Midtjylland's Aral Simsir, left, and Fenerbahce's Alexander Djiku in action during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Midtjylland and Fenerbahçe at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. (Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
FC Midtjylland's Valdemar Byskov, center, celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Midtjylland and Fenerbahçe at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025. (Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
Rangers FC fans cheer their players at the end of the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Rangers FC and Union Saint-Gilloise, in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Rangers' Zakariya Lovelace, top, jumps for the ball during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Rangers FC and Union Saint-Gilloise, in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Athletic Bilbao's Yeray Alvarez, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Viktoria Plzen at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Athletic players celebrate after Javier Marton scored his side's third goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Viktoria Plzen at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Roma's Eldor Shomurodov celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during an Europa League soccer match between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Roma's Eldor Shomurodov, right, scores his side's 2nd goal during an Europa League soccer match between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Roma's Angelino, not in the picture, scores his side's first goal past Frankfurt's Tuta, left, and Frankfurt's goalkeeper Kevin Trapp during an Europa League soccer match between Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Lazio's Gustav Isaksen, left, kicks the ball next to Braga's Ismael Gharbi during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between SC Braga and Lazio at the Municipal stadium in Braga, Portugal, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Braga's goalkeeper Mathues saves the ball in front of Lazio's Boulaye Dia during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between SC Braga and Lazio at the Municipal stadium in Braga, Portugal, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)
Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski, centre, celebrates after Dane Scarlett scored the opening goal the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Tottenham's Oyindamola Ajayi, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Tottenham's head coach Ange Postecoglou celebrates after the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Elfsborg at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Manchester United's Diogo Dalot celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Manchester United at the National Arena stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates with Alejandro Garnacho after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Manchester United at the National Arena stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Manchester United at the National Arena stadium, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
CHICAGO (AP) — Devin Booker had 29 points and eight assists, Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Bradley Beal had 25 in his return to the starting lineup to help the Phoenix Suns beat the Chicago Bulls 121-117 on Saturday to end a four-game losing streak.
Playing the third of five straight road games, the Suns overcame an early deficit and held off the Bulls. They won for the first time since Jan. 31 with the Big Three of Booker, Durant and Beal in the lineup together.
Josh Giddey led Chicago with 24 points and had 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Bulls have lost six straight.
The Suns missed their first seven attempts and shot 29.2% in the first quarter. Chicago jumped out to a 10-point lead on a buzzer-beating floater from Tre Jones. Phoenix was 16 of 21 from the field in the second quarter and led by two at the half.
Phoenix built a 12-point lead in the third, but Chicago pulled within three entering the final quarter. Chicago evened it up in the final minutes, only for Booker, Beal and Durant to close it out.
Suns: Phoenix was able to refocus and quickly get back into the game.
Bulls: Rookie Matas Buzelis had 15 points, but Chicago struggled to get consistent scoring from the rest of its lineup after the first quarter.
Coby White tied it for Chicago at 111 and made a layup with 34.7 seconds left to pull the Bulls within three, but Beal’ put it away with a 3-pointer from the left wing.
Chicago committed 21 personal fouls to Phoenix’s 11.
The Suns are at Toronto on Sunday night. The Bulls are at Philadelphia on Monday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) sinks a three-point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) handles the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30), left, guards Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bulls forward Dalen Terry (25) swings from the net after dunking the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) sinks a three-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), left, guards Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) sinks a three-point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) takes a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Phoenix Suns center Bol Bol (11) lays on the ground after blocking a shot from the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)