APOEL booked their place in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time with a 3-1 win at home to Copenhagen tonight.

The Cypriot champions had begun the second leg of their play-off a goal down, but were on level terms after just two minutes when Kamil Kosowski netted. They then stormed ahead in the tie after 18 minutes when veteran midfielder Chrysis Michael scored from the penalty spot.

However, the match took another turn four minutes later. Copenhagen's Senegalese striker Dame N'Doye found the net to make it 2-2 on aggregate, which at that stage was enough for the Danes to progress on away goals.

But a first-half of see-sawing fortunes swung back APOEL's way on 41 minutes, when Michael posted his second. The home side held on to their advantage after the interval to secure a historic result.

Cruise control for Olympiacos, Stuttgart 
Kostas Mitroglou scored the only goal of the game eight minutes from time to complete a comfortable night for Olympiacos, as they progressed past Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 on aggregate.

Stuttgart also enjoyed a trouble-free evening at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, as they played out a lifeless goalless draw with Timisoara to go into tomorrow's draw with a 2-0 aggregate victory.

Markus Babbel's side had effectively done all of the hard work in Romania a week ago, and spent 90 minutes controlling their advantage against a timid Timisoara side. The visitors rarely threatened to find a route back into the game, and it was their hosts who came the closest to scoring when Sebastian Rudy hit the post in the 58th minute.