Cypriot side APOEL has bowed out of Champions League qualification following a heartbreaking loss to Kazakh side FC Astana in Nicosia.
APOEL went into the game one-nil down on aggregate after the first leg in Kazakhstan last week, and found the back of the net on the hour mark courtesy of Semir Stilic.
Despite controlling most of the play, the Cypriot side couldn’t hold on with FC Astana’s Nemanja Maksimovic scoring an equaliser in the 84th minute – where the scores would remain – to send the local side crashing out of the competition.
APOEL finished the game with a whopping 65 per cent possession, 13 scoring attempts (to seven), 10 corners (to two) and over 300 more passes than its opponent but could not capitalise.
As a result, Astana has made history by becoming the first Kazakh side to make the Champions League group stage.
In other results throughout the week, Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan will feature in his first Champions League tournament after his side Valencia defeated Monaco 4-3 on aggregate, but national side teammate Tom Rogic’s side Celtic bowed out on a 4-3 aggregate against Malmo, whilst English star Wayne Rooney ensured his side Manchester United qualified for the group stage, with a hat-trick in that side’s second leg clash against Club Brugge.