Champions League Play-off Results: Gladbach & Lille slip to surprise defeats

Aug 21, 2012 10:10:00 PM

Lucien Favre's side are staring at an early exit from the competition after crashing to a 3-1 loss to Dynamo Kiev, as Celtic, Copenhagen, Spartak Moscow and Cluj all scored wins

Champions League

Play-off Results

Results/Fixtures

SPARTAK MOSCOW

FENERBAHCE

Spartak Moscow secured a narrow advantage heading into the second leg of their tie with Fenerbahce by beating Aykut Kocaman's side 2-1 in the Russian capital.

The hosts dominated proceedings in the first half, but missed a string of chances to take the lead against a Fenerbahce defence that looked shaky at defending set pieces. However, 14 minutes after the break, Unai Emery's men got their well-deserved lead, as Emmanuel Emenike ran onto a Dmitriy Kombarov ball and slotted home to put a dent in his former side's Champions League aspirations.

However, the lead was short lived. Shortly after, Spartak goalkeeper Andriy Dikan came to claim a high ball into box, but missed it completely, leaving Moussa Sow to head it to Dirk Kuyt, who equalised with a tap-in. Undeterred, the hosts fought back, and Kombarov soon netted a spectacular winner with a volley from a corner.

HELSINGBORGS	0	2	CELTIC
Celtic have all but qualified for the Champions League proper thanks to a 2-0 victory over Helsinborgs in Sweden. Kris Commons gave the Hoops the lead after just two minutes by volleying home a Georgios Samaras cross, and Neil Lennon's side took their slender lead into the dressing room at the break. The former Derby County man's strike looked to be all that separated the two teams, but 15 minutes from time, Samaras was there to head a Commons corner into the net to ensure his side took a commanding advantage back to Glasgow.

MONCHENGLADBACH	1	3	DYNAMO KIEV

Borussia Monchengladbach's much-anticipated European debut ended in heartbreak as Lucien Favre's side crashed to a 3-1 loss to Dynamo Kiev at home. Things started brightly for the hosts, with Alexander Ring slamming a strike into the bottom corner after a beautiful pass from Juan Arango. Favre's men looked to be in control of the match, but quickfire goals from Taras Mykhalyk and Andriy Yarmolenko either side of the half-hour mark turned the match on its head. Gladbach fought back in the second half, but as they pushed for an equaliser, Luuk de Jong turned a free kick into his own net to compound a miserable evening for the Foals.

BASEL	1	2	CFR CLUJ
Basel, who managed to knock Manchester United of the competition last season look to be heading for an early exit after crashing to a 2-1 loss at home to Cluj. Things started well for the Swiss side, with Marco Streller giving his side the lead on the stroke of half-time with a ferocious shot that flew into the top corner from the centre of the box. However, after the break, the Romanians regrouped, and two efforts on Modou Songou on 65 and 70 minutes were enough Ioan Andone's men to take giant stride towards the group stage.

COPENHAGEN	1	0	LILLE

Lille had only themselves to blame as they slipped to a 1-0 loss to Copenhagen in the Danish capital. Rudi Garcia's side were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead on the quarter-hour mark when Salomon Kalou was brought down by Bryan Oviedo in the area, but Dimitri Payet's effort from the spot was saved easily by Johan Wiland. And the 2010-11 Ligue 1 champions were soon made to pay for their wastefulness, with Cesar Santin giving the hosts the lead by heading home Lars Jacobsen's cross. In the end the Brazilian's strike was enough to give the Danish outfit the lead, and the French side will have an tricky task on their hands if they are to qualify for the next stage.

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