APOEL and Astana have played out a goalless first half in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying playoff clash in Cyprus this evening.

APOEL started the game in search of an important goal and they almost found it through Tomas De Vincenti, who was eventually denied by Nenad Eric in the Astana goal.

It took the best part of 15 minutes for the away side to register an effort, and it came via Foxi Kethevoama as he forced a good save from APOEL keeper Boy Waterman.

The hosts soon came back with another good chance of their own, but Carlao could not get the better of a defiant Eric as the Cypriot side went in search of a goal to level the tie on aggregate.

APOEL arguably began to increase in dominance, but were again denied before the end of the half when Leal found himself in space, only to be thwarted by a busy Eric in the visitors' goal.