Lens lose contact with UEFA Cup in Leverkusen stroll

AFP, March, 2007

BERLIN (AFP) — German outfit Bayer Leverkusen became the first side into the UEFA Cup quarter-finals after their convincing 3-0 home win over French side Lens gave them a 4-2 aggregate victory on Wednesday night.

Goals by Ukrainian striker Andrej Voronin, Bosnian forward Sergej Barbarez and Brazilian defender Juan put them into Friday's quarter-final draw to wrap up a deserved win on aggregate following their 2-1 first-leg defeat.

The home side dominated their disappointing opponents and after time-wasting cost Lens goalkeeper Charles Itandje an early booking, the first of four yellow cards for the French, Leverkusen worked hard to get back on level terms.

Swiss midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta forced Itandje into a superb save at point-blank range after 15 minutes, but with plenty of holes in the Lens defence, the breakthrough was sure to come.

It arrived ten minutes before the ...