Chornomorets draw puts Ludogorets through

PFC Ludogorets Razgrad got the point they required to progress to the knockout phase but failed to win for the first time in Group B after FC Chornomorets Odesa battled back to earn a point.

After an even first period, Juninho Quixadá put the hosts ahead two minutes after half-time before Olexiy Gai headed an equaliser for Roman Grygorchuk's men to prevent the Bulgarian champions maintaining their perfect record in the section. The point nevertheless proved enough to secure a place in the round of 32 for the hosts and leaves Chornomorets trailing second-placed PSV Eindhoven by three points with two matchdays remaining.

With only a draw needed to secure progress in their first ever European group stage participation, the home side were swiftly into their stride. Fábio Espinho volleyed over from ten metres before the Portuguese midfielder lobbed an effort wide after Dmytro Bezotosnyi had stranded himself by racing from goal to punch clear. At the other end, Gai fired over with only the goalkeeper to beat before Markus Berger flicked an inswinging free-kick just wide with his head.

The game was given an injection of life moments after the restart as Virgil Misidjan's low cross from the left was brought under control by Quixadá, who poked past Bezotosnyi. The visitors refused to wilt, however, and struck back in the 64th minute as Gai got ahead of goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov to flick in Ivan Bobko's free-kick from the right, breaching the Ludogorets goal for the first time in the group stage. That tally could easily have been increased, but Stoyanov denied Olexiy Antonov from point-blank range before Gai somehow headed over from very close.