legia beat apollon for first group stage win published: thursday 12 december 2013, 23.00cet
apollon limassol fc 0-2 legia warszawa
polish side earn their first points of the group stage but finish bottom of group j with comfortable win in cyprus
legia warszawa celebrated their first win of the group stage this season, prevailing 2-0 at apollon limassol fc, but still finish bottom of group j behind their cypriot opponents.
tomasz jodłowiec headed legia into an early lead before tomasz brzyski extended their advantage with a brilliant free-kick after the break. both teams were reduced to ten men when bartosz bereszyński and gaston sangoy were sent off in the second half, but the visitors held on to sign off their uefa europa league campaign with a win.
the visitors were in danger of becoming the first team ever to end a group stage goalless but jodłowiec saved their blushes after just eight minutes. the defender rose highest to meet brzyski's corner and powered a fine header past bruno vale. they could have doubled their lead soon after but the apollon keeper did brilliantly to save vladimer dvalishvili's first-time effort from close range with his legs.
apollon managed just one attempt on goal in the first period, but soon after half-time sangoy's fierce angled drive forced a good save from dušan kuciak. just as the hosts began to show some attacking intent brzyski doubled legia's lead with a curling free kick from distance that left bruno vale with no chance.
sangoy was shown a second yellow card for a foul on jakub rzeźniczak but there was to be no numerical advantage as legia's bereszyński was immediately shown his marching orders for violent conduct. jodłowiec came close to heading a second goal from a deep free-kick but following the 69th minute dismissals neither side could take control of the game allowing legia to become the first polish side to win a game in cyprus.
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