Sevilla reaches Champions League group stage
ATHENS: Two first-half goals from Luis Fabiano helped Sevilla qualify for the Champions League group stages for the first time by thrashing AEK Athens 4-1 at the Olympic Stadium on Monday.
Seydou Keita and Alexander Kerzhakov also scored to give the 2006 and 2007 UEFA Cup winners a 6-1 aggregate victory and a place in Group H alongside Arsenal, Steaua Bucharest and Slavia Prague.
AEK, who missed one penalty before Brazilian Rivaldo netted a second one near the end, now faces an awkward UEFA Cup first-round tie against Austrian club Salzburg.
The third qualifying round second leg had been due to go ahead last Tuesday but was called off following the death of Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta.
The 22-year-old died in hospital three days after collapsing during the Spanish club's first league match of the season against Getafe.
Minute's silence
Monday's game was preceded by a perfectly observed minute's silence.
The flags flew at half mast and images of Puerta plus the damage caused by the Greek forest fires which claimed the lives of 64 people last week were shown on the giant television screen.
"We thank AEK for that," Sevilla coach Juande Ramos told reporters. "They showed they are a great club and we send our condolences to the families of those who died in the fires.
"We took a great step up towards the top level of Europe today. The other teams in our group are more experienced but I promise we will fight."
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, AEK began at breakneck pace and Rivaldo was twice denied by keeper Andres Palop.
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Fabiano drilled home a penalty after Julio Cesar pulled down Daniel Alves.
Keita extended the lead in the 41st, meeting an Alves corner to steer a header past Marcelo Moretto.
With halftime beckoning, Fabiano headed another corner past Moretto.
Kerzhakov made the most of a one-on-one with the goalkeeper to make it 4-0 in the 52nd minute and AEK's misery was completed when Gustavo Manduca had his penalty saved by Palop.
Rivaldo then converted a second spot-kick in the 82nd.
Agencies
(China Daily 09/05/2007 page23)
