Levi Garcia's AEK Athens knocked out UCL qualifying

Levi Garcia's AEK Athens team were knocked out of Uefa Champions League qualifying on Wednesday, as they succumbed to a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Belgian champions Royal Antwerp in their playoff in Athens.

Playing without Garcia, who sustained a thigh injury in the first leg of the playoff tie last week, AEK were outdone by the visitors who scored twice in the second half to win 2-1 on the night and clinch a Champions League group stage spot.

Antwerp's goals were scored by Gyrano Kerk and the speedy Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who had a clinical finish on a counter attack in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time. Antwerp, coached by former Dutch international Marc Van Bommel, will be making their Champions League debut.