BATE and FCK draw a blank

FC BATE Borisov and FC København will go into their second leg in Denmark next Wednesday with everything to play following a goalless start to their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie in Belarus.

Both clubs have recent pedigree in the competition – BATE reached the group stage in 2008/09 and FCK in 2006/07 – yet their desire not to give anything away in their pursuit of a return to club football's top table led to a game of few chances. César Santin had the best of the them in the 81st minute, FCK's Brazilian forward forcing Sergei Veremko into a reflex save.

The first opportunity was 26 minutes in coming, right-back Zdeněk Pospěch bursting down the flank for the visitors and delivering a cross to the far post where the unmarked Dame N'Doye failed to connect from a promising position. The second half was more open and just three minutes old when Johan Wiland made a terrific stop to keep out Vitali Rodionov's drive from outside the box.

BATE goalkeeper Veremko also proved his worth by twice denying Santin, the second crucial with nine minutes left on the clock, while he wore a look of relief in the 87th as Mikael Antonsson headed Martin Vingaard's right-wing cross wide.