Milan - English Premier League side Manchester City almost suffered an embarrassing exit from the Uefa Cup before beating Denmark's Midtjylland on penalties in the second qualifying round on Thursday night.
Big spending City lost 1-0 at home in the first leg and only pushed the second leg into extra time with a very late own goal from Danny Califf.
Mark Hughes' side, who were fortunate not to concede, prevailed 4-2 on penalties after a dull extra time with goalkeeper Joe Hart saving two spot kicks in the shootout.
Cyprus inflicted more soccer pain on neighbours Greece when Omonia Nicosia knocked out AEK Athens.
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Fellow Cypriots APOEL, also from Nicosia, emulated Omonia by eliminating former European champions Red Star Belgrade on the away goals rule in a remarkable match in the Serbian capital that finished 5-5 on aggregate.
Omonia, who won 1-0 in Athens two weeks ago, drew 2-2 at home against nine men to triumph 3-2 on aggregate and reach the first round proper.
Cyprus had already enjoyed a famous victory over Greek rivals on Wednesday when Anorthosis Famagusta became the first Cypriot club to reach the Champions League group stage after eliminating Olympiakos.
Aris Salonika made it a worse night for Greece when they let unheralded Croatian side Slaven shrug off a 1-0 first leg defeat to win through 2-1 on aggregate.
Red Star, who had drawn the first leg 2-2 away, fought back from a two-goal deficit in the second half to take the second leg in Belgrade into extra time.
In a one-off game, Austria Vienna beat Georgia's WIT 2-0 at home to go through.
Uefa decided the tie would be played in one match after the first leg was cancelled due to the political unrest in Georgia. - Reuters
- This article was originally published on page 26 of The Star on August 29, 2008
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