Champions League Play-Off Results – The Cannons Fire For Arsenal!

77. Eduardo

There were some interesting results in the play-off stage in the Champions League, and some teams progressed with pride into the biggest club competition in Europe, while for some other, it was a case of a slip between the cup and the lip.

Cypriot First Division club APOEL FC overturned a 1-0 deficit with a 3-1 victory over København to qualify into the group stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile, Scottish heavyweights Celtic travelled to north London to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The ‘Battle of Britain’ was a hard-fought game, which will always be remembered for the first goal, which killed the prospect of the Bhoys entering into the prestigious competition.

Gunners’ striker Eduardo was confronted by goalkeeper Artur Boruc, and the Croatia international dramatically went down in the penalty area with the referee immediately pointing towards the spot. The 26-year-old took the spot-kick himself, and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way and all but assured his side of a spot in the group stages of the contest. Replays later indicated that the forward had gone down with little or no contact, and manager Arsene Wenger has since declared that the referee may have made a mistake.

However, the decision was made, and the Londoners took the all-important lead, which effectively nullified all chances of the Hoops’ progression. The game ended with a 3-1 score-line with the hosts going to the next stage of the competition after a healthy 5-1 aggregate.

Elsewhere in Florence, Sporting were taking on Fiorentina after a 2-2 draw in Lisbon. The visitors had to score in order to spell progress in the contest, and Joao Moutinho did the needful with a trademark free-kick. But Stevan Jovetic made the difference, as a cross by Alberto Gilardino fell to the Montenegro striker, who got past his market and placed an angled shot beyond the reach of the keeper. At the end of 180 minutes of play, the teams were level on three goals apiece. But the Viola advanced into the group stages owing to the away goals rule.

Here are the results of the play-offs:

Sheriff 0-3 Olympiacos

København 2-3 APOEL

Celtic 1-5 Arsenal

Timişoara 0-2 VfB Stuttgart

Sporting 3-3 Fiorentina (on away goals)

Panathinaikos 2-5 Atlético de Madrid

PFC Levski Sofia 1-4 Debreceni VSC

Olympique Lyonnais 8-2 Anderlecht

FC Salzburg 1-5 Maccabi Haifa

FK Ventspils 1-5 FC Zürich

The draw for the Champions League is taking place today…