AEK Athens oust Dinamo, close to C/League dream

LEVI Garcia's AEK Athens are on the brink of UEFA Champions League qualification after a dramatic 4-3 aggregate win over Dinamo Zagreb at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens, Greece on Saturday.

AEK Athens were in control after winning the first leg 2-1, but needed two stoppage-time goals to draw the second leg 2-2.

Dinamo Zagreb seemed poised to progress as goals from Josip Sutalo and Ljubicic gave the Croatia club a 2-0 lead at the end of regulation time. However, AEK Athens kept pushing and were rewarded with two late goals to stun the Croatian club.

Sergio Araujo pulled a goal back for Athens to level the tie on aggregate. Athens then won a penalty in the last minute of stoppage time which gave star forward Garcia the chance to eliminate the Croatians.

Garcia's effort was saved by the trailing leg of the goalie, but there to head home the rebound was Domagoj Vida ten minutes into stoppage time. AEK Athens held on for the win and will now play in the playoff round first leg vs Antwerp of Belgium on Tuesday in Belgium. The return leg is August 30 in Athens.

The winner will progress to the group phase of the Champions League and the loser will play in the Europa League group stage.

The AEK Athens-Dinamo Zagreb legs were delayed owing to fan violence which resulted in the death of AEK supporter Michalis Katsouris in Greece, hours before the original date of the first leg on August 8.

AEK Athens paid tribute to the deceased fan after their victory.