CYPRUS champions AEL recorded a slender 1-0 win over Serbian side Partizan Belgrade in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie on Wednesday night. The Limassol side played at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca as their Tsirion stadium does not meet UEFA requirements.

The hosts started the game very offensively and Ivory Coast forward Vouho scored after 13 minutes when he pounced on Partizan youngster Nikola Aksentijevic’s mistake to beat Vladimir Stojkovic to open proceedings.

Stefan Scepovic then missed a great opportunity for the Serbian giants two minutes later, but that was all the visitors managed to create in the first half.

After the interval the pace of the game significantly dropped as both teams focused on defence.

AEL pressed towards the end of the game and they took four corners in quick succession deep into injury time but they were unable to add to their tally despite Edwin Ouon’s kick that went just wide of Stojkovic’s right-hand post.

The return leg will be played in Belgrade next Wednesday with the kick-off scheduled for 9.45pm.

Cyprus Mail