The three Cypriot teams that participate in the League Phase of the Conference League, namely APOEL, Paphos FC and Omonia, managed to qualify for the knockout phase of the League.
The thee teams drew on Thursday at the Match Day 6 and last of the League Phase and achieved a place within the first 24 teams that will continue to the next stage of the Conference League.
APOEL drew 1-1 with Astana in the GSP and failed to get direct qualification to the last 16 of the League, as did Paphos, who drew 2-2 with Lugano in the last minute of the game.
Omonia will also participate in the knockouts after the 0-0 draw with Borac Banja Luka in Bosnia/Herzegovina.
APOEL concluded the League Phase of the Conference League in 11th place with 11 points and Paphos with 10 points finished in 10th place. Finally, Omonia, with 7 points, finished in 22nd place.
Paphos struck at the death to earn a 2-2 draw away to FC Lugano, finishing in 12th position on ten points.
The Cypriot side went ahead first in the fourth minute after midfielder Pedro Rodrigues’ curling shot hit the right post, with the ball then deflecting off the back of goalkeeper Amir Saipi into the net.
The Swiss club cancelled it out minutes later via midfielder Hadj Mahmoud (7′) and they soon after took the lead themselves through a strike from winger Mattia Bottani (33′).
The game looked destined to finish as a loss for Pafos, but they managed to steal a point at the death as centre half David Goldar headed the ball in from a free kick (90+5′).
APOEL was forced to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Astana in a testy contest that finished with ten players on the field for each side.
The hosts took the ascendency in the clash in the 56th minute when winger Anastasios Donis guided the ball into the bottom right with a grounded long shot.
T
he Kazakh outfit equalised quickly after via a corner header by defender Kipras Kazukolovas (64′), though their elation was short-lived as they fell a player behind one minute later when midfielder Max Obong received his second yellow of the game.
Astana’s disadvantage did not last long, however, as APOEL also suffered a red card to Giannis Satsias, with the midfielder earning two bookings in the span of seconds (the latter awarded for dissent against the referee).
The result means APOEL finish the League Phase in 11th place with 11 points, securing a seeded spot in the knockout phase play-offs
Omonia played out a 0-0 away draw with Borac Banja Luka, finishing in 22nd place with 7 points to also secure a place in the next stage.