UEFA Cup: Levski Sofia beat Marseille 1-0

Sofia:

Levski Sofia have booked their place in the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup, after defeating Olympique Marseille 1-0 in Bulgaria on Thursday. With chances few and far between on a waterlogged pitch, it was the home side who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half. Igor Tomasic played the inviting ball across goal. Daniel Borimirov's shot hit the post and went wide. The only goal of the game came nine minutes into the second half. Hristo Yovov was the scorer, completely deceiving two Marseille defenders before curling a shot beyond the reach of Fabien Barthez and into the net. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, the visitors were gifted a golden opportunity to equalise. But Christian Gimenez failed to keep his shot down, and it stayed 1-0. With the top three in each group qualifying for the knock-out stages, both Levski and Marseille are now guaranteed to go through. Dinamo Bucharest are third with four points. All three have a game left, while CSKA Moscow - who are fourth, behind Dinamo on goal difference - have completed their campaign. Marseille, who fielded an understrength side in Sofia, had already qualified before Thursday's game. (AP)