UEFA cup - first round, first leg

Zimbru Chisinau 0 - Betis 2

A superior Betis side made virtually certain of reaching the second round after a comfortable away victory in Moldova. After a slow start Betis took the lead on the half hour mark, Alfonso taking advantage of a loose ball after Fernando battled through. And then just before half time Zimbru's Dinu put through his own net under pressure from Rivas.

Zeljeznicar 0 - Málaga 0

Málaga were held to a score-less draw in Sarajevo's Olympic stadium by local side Zeljeznicar. Playing their first ever season in Europe, Joaquín Peiró's team looked nervous, and they hardly managed a shot at goal throughout the match. The Bosnians felt themselves unlucky not to take the lead ten minutes from the end when Kajtaz hit the post with Contreras beaten. Even so a last minute effort from Darío Silva could have won it for the Spaniards.

Ankaragücü 1 - Alavés 2

Alavés returned to Europe with an away victory, coming from behind to beat Ankaragücü. Mané's boys found themselves under pressure from the start, and the Turkish side took the lead with half an hour gone when Nicolescu turned in Mehmet's cross. However an excellent Astudillo levelled the scores on the stroke of half time with a powerful shot from outside of the area, and the Argentine midfielder set up Rubén Navarro for the winner near the end.

Celta 2 - OB Odense 0

Two late goals from Catanha and Benni McCarthy gave Celta a good lead to take into the second leg in Denmark in two weeks' time. The Vigo based side were disappointing in the first half, but gradually improved as the game wore on. Catanha finally got away from his markers with twenty minutes to go to finish off from Jesuli's cross, and substitute McCarthy headed a second only a couple of minutes after coming on. (19.09.02)