Slick APOEL seize the advantage

Cypriot titleholders APOEL FC gave themselves a major lift in their quest for a UEFA Champions League third qualifying round place with a 2-0 first-leg victory at Faroese rivals EB/Streymur.

Early breakthrough
The visitors rapidly settled into their rhythm and took the lead with just eleven minutes on the clock through Nenad Mirosavljević, who turned the ball high into the top-right corner after receiving a low pass from the right. EB/Streymur rarely threatened to pull level and they were left with a mountain to climb in next Tuesday's return game in Nicosia when substitute Marcin Żewłakow buried a deflected effort 13 minutes from time.

Rare attack
APOEL's superiority was quickly evident and within seven minutes they had struck the woodwork, Konstantinos Charalampidis heading against a post from a corner. That proved a temporary let-off for the hosts as Mirosavljević struck four minutes later, and the Cypriot side continued to hold sway until an EB/Streymur break after 38 minutes ended with an Arnbjørn Hansen effort being diverted wide by a defender.

Final say
The home side then had to weather another storm after the interval, finding brief reprieve when Gudmund Nielsen came close to equalising from Marni Djurhuus's long pass. They could not escape without further damage, though, and Polish international Żewłakow had the final say from close range.