Football: Lukaku confident Everton can beat Dynamo Kiev to reach Europa League q-finals

PARIS (AFP) - The Premier League's sole Europa League survivors Everton are in Ukraine on Thursday aiming to seal qualification for the quarter-finals against Dynamo Kiev.

Romelu Lukaku's late penalty at Goodison Park last week gave Roberto Martinez's men a slender 2-1 first-leg lead and the Belgian striker could once again prove the key to furthering Everton's European adventure.

Everton warmed up for their 5,500km away day by brushing aside Newcastle 3-0 on Sunday.

Lukaku, the leading scorer of the 16 teams left in the Europa League with seven goals, was again on the mark to lift the Toffees six points clear of the relegation zone.

"Everybody knows I want to win the Europa League and I also want us to finish as high as we possibly can in the league, so I will do my best to achieve my own objectives and the team's objectives," said the in-form 21-year-old.

"Now, we have to do the business in Kiev. That will not be easy but I'm very confident in my team-mates. Hopefully, we can do the job there."

Martinez welcomed back on Sunday his left-back Leighton Baines, who managed the full 90 minutes against Newcastle after missing the last four games with a leg injury.

Dynamo drubbed Mariupol 5-0 in their domestic warm-up on Sunday to leave the side seven points clear of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian first division.

Uefa has ordered part of Kiev's stadium to remain closed as punishment for ugly crowd trouble during Dynamo's last-32 clash with French side Guingamp.

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