Shining Metalist land knockout blow

Edmar struck a late winner for the second successive Group B match to book FC Metalist Kharkiv a place in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 and leave Olympiacos CFP facing an anxious last-day decider against Hertha BSC Berlin.

Late goals
The Brazilian forward, who had scored the clinching 81st-minute goal at Galatasaray AŞ last week, volleyed in three minutes from time against the Greek champions to propel Myron Markevich's charges into the knockout stage. While Metalist, in second, are yet to concede in the group and boast seven points from three games, third-placed Olympiacos must avoid defeat in their final match on 18 December to be sure of progress.

Metalist chances
Backed by a vociferous home crowd, the Ukrainian team threatened to make the breakthrough on several occasions during a frantic first half. Their first sight of goal came after eleven minutes when a fine counterattack by Serhiy Valyayev ended with the midfielder firing wastefully into the side-netting. Edmar next went close with a powerful shot from distance before a combination of Olympiacos goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis and defender Avraam Papadopoulos denied danger man Ruslan Formin.

Diogo miss
Olympiacos's sole response was a tame header by Dudu from Predrag Djordjević's free-kick seven minutes before half-time, yet Ernesto Valverde's men should have been in front within six minutes of the restart. Vassilis Torosidis's low cross landed at the feet of Diogo Luis Santo, only for the striker to sidefoot the ball wide with just Metalist goalkeeper Olexandr Goriainov to beat.

Match-winner
Metalist's response was swift, as Fomin nodded a cross by Edmar over the bar with only Nikopolidis for company. However, just as the tie seemed to be petering out into a stalemate, Metalist found the decisive touch – Jajá headed the ball into the path of compatriot Edmar, who produced a right-footed finish into the top corner.