Cypriot sides Omonia Nicosia and AEK Larnaca are one game away from qualifying for the Europa League groups (the continent’s second most valuable competition) after winning away from home in the first leg of their play-off on Thursday.

UEFA Europa LeaguePhoto: Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

Omonia unexpectedly beat Belgian Gent with a score of 2:0, and AEK Larnaca beat Ukrainian Dnipro with a score of 2:1 (the match was held in Kosice, Slovakia).

Another Cypriot team, Apollo Limassol, drew at home with Greek champions Olympiakos from Piraeus (1:1).

Europa League, the first match of the playoffs

HIK Helsinki (Finland) – Silkeborg IF (Denmark) 1-0

Apollo Limassol (Cyprus) – Olympiakos Piraeus (Greece) 1-1

Ferencvaros Budapest (Hungary) – Shamrock Rovers (Ireland) 4-0

FC Zurich (Switzerland) – Heart of Midlothian (Scotland) 2-1

Malmoe FF (Sweden) vs. Sivasspor (Turkey) 3-1

Pyunik Yerevan (Armenia) – Sherif Tiraspol (Moldova) 0-0

Ludogorets Razgrad (Bulgaria) – Zalgiris Vilnius (Lithuania) 1-0

SK Dnipro-1 (Ukraine) – AEK Larnaca (Cyprus) 1-2

KAA Gent (Belgium) – Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) 0-2

Austria Vienna (Austria) – Fenerbahce Istanbul (Turkey) 0-2

The return matches will take place on August 25.