Former European champions Liverpool qualified to the Champions League group stage on aggregate victory despite being held by Maccabi Haifa to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday. The Premiership side edged to a 2-1 win in the first-leg of the tie at Anfield fortnight. English international striker Peter Crouch put Liverpool in front in the 54th minute and Roberto Colautti equalized for the Israeli side nine minutes later. The game was played in Ukraine due to political unrest in Israel. AC Milan also secured passage to the group stage with a 2-1 win over Red Star Belgrade. The six-time European champions repeated the victory after winning the first-leg 1-0. Filippo Inzaghi headed home in the 29th minute and Clarence Seedorf sealed the victory with a trade-mark shot in the 78th minute. Dusan Djokic scored the consolation goal for the home side one minute later.
Inzaghi Elsewhere, Hamburg came back from a one-goal deficit to hold Osasuna to a 1-1 draw. The draw gave Hamburg a ticket to the group stage on the away goal rule after being held at home to a goalless draw. Carlos Cuellar put Osasuna on the brink of qualification when he hit the back of the net in the sixth minute but Nigel de Jong snatched the equalizer in the 74th minute. Portuguese giants Benfica romped to a 3-0 victory over AustriaVienna to make it to the group stage. Veteran midfielder Rui Costa opened the score line in the 21st minute before Nuno Gomes doubled the lead just before the interval. World Cup semi-finalist Petit put the icing on the cake with a third goal three minute before the hour mark. Benfica were held to a 1-1 away draw in the first-leg.
