Brave TNS go out of the Champions League
The New Saints' brave resistance ended as APOEL Nicosia scored three second-half goals to seal their place in the Champions League third qualifying round.
After a goalless first leg at Park Hall, the Saints still harboured realistic hope of pulling off their biggest European scalp.
But, once they went behind eight minutes into the second period in Nicosia, the Welsh Premier champions were facing an uphill battle.
The Cypriots clinched a meeting with either Rosenberg, of Norway, or Swedes IFK Norrkoping.
TNS, again, dug deep and could point to an unfortunate opening goal.
A low strike from Cypriot international Nektarious Alexandrou was deflected past goalkeeper Paul Harrison.
The Saints pushed forward, but there was no way back once Pieros Soteriou added a close-range second on 73 minutes.
A deserved victory for the classy 25-times Cyprus champions was completed deep in injury time.
Tomas De Vincenti smashed home a penalty after being tripped in the box by substitute Steven Saunders.
APOEL initially struggled to prise open the Welsh Premer champions, who put their bodies on the line in the stifling heat.
Brazilian midfielder Vander sounded a warning in the seventh minute, when he cut in from the right before seeing his low shot safely clutched by Harrison.
The Saints launched a couple of promising breaks, but Jamie Mullan and Scott Quigley both failed to trouble keeper Boy Waterman from distance, while Mullan's low shot was easily saved.
At the other end, Vander's fierce 25-yarder flew inches over the bar on 17 minutes and Soteriou headed wide at the far post although the flag was raised for offside.
The influential Vander then rattled the bar with a volley and also brought a save from Harrison.
TNS had few clear sights of goal, but Adrian Cieslewicz fired over from outside the box after the break.
However, APOEL struck when Alexandro's low shot from the edge of the box deflected into the net off Jon Routledge.
Simon Spender saw a goalbound strike blocked as TNS looked for a way back, but Soteriou killed the tie when he shrugged off the defence before volleying in from six yards.
The Saints' fate was sealed in injury time when De Vincenti was tripped by Saunders after surging into the box, and got up to rifle home his penalty.
