Belgian side Club Brugge has bundled Panathinaikos out of the Champions League Qualifiers with a 4-2 aggregate win, following a 3-0 victory over the Greek club in the second leg of their tie in Belgium on Wednesday evening.
Holding a slender 2-1 lead from the first leg, PAO were on course to reach the qualifying play-offs after keeping the Belgians scoreless in the first half. However, when Brugge’s Dion Cools found the back of the net in the 52nd minute against the run of play, the balance of the tie swung in favour of the hosts.
When Club Brugges midfielder Victor Vazquez fired in a second goal, courtesy of a deflected free kick just five minutes later, the Belgians had gained a strong upper hand and it was now PAO that was desperate to get back in the tie.
The Belgians sealed their safe passage to the play-off round just 25 minutes later, when sub Obbi Oulare scored his team’s third, consigning PAO to Friday’s draw for the Europa League play-offs.
In contrast to PAO, Apoel Nicosia celebrated their passage to the Champions League Qualifier play-offs with a 2-1 aggregate win, despite losing the second leg of its tie 1-0 at home to Danish club FC Midjylland. The Danes struck early through a second minute Eric Schviachenko goal. However Apoel remained composed under the Danish threat to win the tie.
Sources: Kathimerini/Mail.Online
