Champions League qualifying wrap: BATE charge on, Panathinaikos ousted

BATE Borisov, Odense Boldklub and Copenhagen sealed Champions League playoff berths after winning their third-round qualifying ties.

Following a scoreless first-leg stalemate in Lithuania last week, Belarusian champions BATE ousted Ekranas courtesy of a 3-1 result in Borisov on Tuesday.

BATE went ahead in the second leg at the Stadyen Haradski on 18 minutes through Vitali Rodionov, before Andrius Velicka equalised for Ekranas.

But the hosts quickly steadied, regaining the ascendancy via Brazilian midfielder Renan, who was then sent off after a second yellow card in the 40th minute.

But Viktor Goncharenko’s side held on despite being down to 10 men, with Mikhail Gordeychuk 89th-minute goal capping the victory.

Danish outfit OB stunned Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos 4-3 in Athens to seal a 5-4 aggregate result.

After drawing 1-1 in Denmark in the first leg, the visitors silenced the home faithful through an Andreas Johansson strike on 12 minutes.

But the Greek Super League runners-up hit back as Jean Boumsong and Toche netted to seemingly put them in control, before Espen Ruud swung the advantage back in OB’s favour with a 58th-minute strike that put his side ahead on away goals.

The tie was sealed when Bashkim Kadrii and Hans Andreasen struck once more for the visitors, rendering Antonios Petropoulos’ goal deep into injury time a mere consolation.

Elsewhere, Copenhagen, seeking a berth in the Champions League group phase for a second consecutive year, completed a 3-0 aggregate triumph over Irish side Shamrock Rovers with a 2-0 victory in Dublin.

Holding a 1-0 lead after last week’s first leg, Copenhagen sealed their passage into the next round after Dame N’Doye and Cristian Bolanos were on target for the Danish champions.