Dutch side AZ Alkmaar came from a two-goal deficit to tie Turkey's Fenerbahce 2-2 at home and advance to the UEFA Cup round of 16 on Thursday. Tumer Metin put the visitors in front in the 21st minute before Brazilian Alex doubled the lead in the 34th minute. Substitute Maarten Martens pulled one back three minutes past the hour mark and defender Barry Opdam salvaged the draw for Alkmaar four minutes from time. Alkmaar qualified through the away-goal rule after the first-leg ended in a 3-3 draw in Turkey. Elsewhere, title holders Sevilla eased their way through to the second round after edging past Steaua Bucharest 1-0 home.
Leverkusen eliminated Blackburn Russian striker Alexander Kerzhakov notched what proved to be the winner just before the break to help the Spanish side claim a 3-0 aggregate victory. German side Werder Bremen have also booked their place in the next round despite a 3-1 defeat to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam as they won the first-leg 3-0 at home. Compatriots Bayer Leverkusen held Blackburn Rovers to a goalless away draw to advance with a 3-2 aggregate success. Italy's last representative in the UEFA Cup Livorno were dumped out of the competition after losing to Spain's Espanyol 2-0 in Barcelona. Espanyol progressed with a 4-1 aggregate win.
