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Celtic among the first leg winners

22 August 2012-PA Sport

Dynamo Kiev UEFA Champions League Borussia Monchengladbach

In control... Celtic players celebrate Kris Commons's opener (Getty)

Celtic took a huge step towards the group stage of the UEFA Champions League after earning a hard-fought 2-0 win against Helsingborg from its play-off first-leg trip to Sweden.

Kris Commons gave the Scottish champion a flying start with a goal after just two minutes, smashing home an acrobatic far-post volley.

After Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster helped keep his side in front with an impressive display, Georgios Samaras headed home a second in the 75th minute.

Dynamo Kiev is in a similarly strong position courtesy of a 3-1 away victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Monchengladbach, in its first match in Europe's top club competition since 1978, took a 13th-minute lead through Alexander Ring's low finish inside the near post but its chances of progressing now look slim after an impressive fightback from Dynamo.

The Ukrainian side, which beat Feyenoord in the previous round, drew level in the 28th minute through captain Taras Mikhalik's deflected long-range shot and then went ahead eight minutes later when Andriy Yarmolenko found the back of the net after a quick break.

An own goal from Luuk de Jong nine minutes from time handed Dynamo a third to leave it as overwhelming favourite to go through.

A second-half brace from Moudou Sougou helped CFR Cluj overturn a half-time deficit to beat Basel 2-1 in Switzerland.

Marco Streller's 44th-minute strike put the host ahead but Sougou goals in the 65th and 70th minutes left the visitor holding the upper hand heading back to Romania.

Spartak Moscow earned a 2-1 lead over Fenerbahce to take to Turkey for next week's second leg thanks to a fine match-winning strike from Dmitri Kombarov.

All three goals came in a 10-minute spell during the second half, with Spartak taking a 59th-minute lead through Emmanuel Emenike, Fenerbache drawing level through Dirk Kuyt six minutes later before Kombarov's superb left-footed volley from a corner earned the Russian side the victory.

FC Copenhagen beat Lille 1-0 after a 38th-minute goal from Cesar Santin.

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