Uefa CL roundup: Astana FC make history

Ghanaian striker Patrick Twumasi has made history with Kazakhstan club Astana who have become the first Kazakh club to make the group stage after Nemanja Maksimovi struck six minutes from time to eliminate APOEL on Wednesday.

Though the 21-year-old former Sogakope Red Bull Academy graduate missed the game with suspension but he wildly celebrated when Astana clinched a ticket for the group stages of the competition after winning the tie 2-1 triumph following a 1-1 stalemate at the GSP Nicosia.

Nemanja Maksimovi conjured a dramatic equaliser six minutes from time in Cyprus as Astana became the first team from Kazakhstan to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage with a 2-1 aggregate victory against APOEL.

Maksimovi combined with Astana’s first-leg hero to level on the night as the Serbian tapped in from close range a pinpoint right-wing cross by Baurzhan Dzholchiyev to seal a historic play-off triumph for Stanimir Stoilov’s men.

The home side – looking to maintain their 100% success rate in the play-offs –

took command from the off but could only muster a single effort on target in the opening 20 minutes. Indeed, it was the visitors who squandered the best opportunity when Foxi Kéthévoama pounced on a defensive error, the forward unable to capitalise.

Having failed to register in their last three European away fixtures, Astana almost ended that sequence against the run of play on 35 minutes. Dzholchiyev drifted inside from the right before home custodian Boy Waterman blocked his left-footed attempt. Moments later, the Cypriot champions rattled the woodwork: Semir Štili burst into the area and found Luís Leal in front of goal, only for Nenad Eri to make a fantastic stop with his right hand onto the far post.

Backs-to-the-wall defending was required by the Kazakh tournament debutants after the break, as Domingos Paciência’s men stepped up their efforts to restore parity in the tie. Tomás De Vincenti wasted a glorious chance – nodding wide a right-wing centre from Mário Sérgio – before the Thrylos made the breakthrough via Semir Štili’s superb free-kick from distance.

Twumasi joins 2007 Ghana U17 midfielder Enock Adu Kofi who also helped Swedish champions Malmo FF to reach the stage after ousting Scottish giants Celtic on Tuesday evening.