The Uefa Cup's Champions League rejects struggled to make an impact in Thursday's third round first leg ties.

Liverpool did manage to beat Vitesse Arnhem thanks to a Michael Owen goal, but other sides whose interest was ended in European football's premier competition fared less well.

Auxerre lost 1-0 to Real Betis, Lens succumbed 3-0 to Porto, Dynamo Kiev crashed to a 3-1 defeat at Turkish league leaders Besiktas, and Club Bruges lost 2-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart.

Olympique Lyon did better, grinding out a goalless draw away to another Turkish side, Denizlispor.

A 10th minute penalty from striker Alfonso gave Real Betis a 1-0 win over Auxerre.

The former Spanish international sent goalkeeper Fabien Cool the wrong way with his spot kick after Brazilian winger Denilson had been brought down by Johan Radet.

The French side threatened occasionally through Benjani Mwaruwari in an encounter Betis dominated throughout.

Lens suffered against Porto

Belgium's Bruges appeared set for a narrow win over German side Stuttgart after Peter van der Heyden netted a 42nd minute opener.

But the game changed 20 minutes from time after the home side had Birger Maertens sent off.

Krassimir Balakov equalised a minute later and Kevin Kuranyi got a late winner.

Dynamo Kiev endured a miserable time in Istanbul.

The Ukrainians did go in front but three goals without further reply, the last a spectacular strike from Pascal Nouma, left them with plenty of work to do in the second leg.

AEK Athens fared better storming to a 4-0 victory at home to Israel's Maccabi Haifa with all the goals coming in the first half.

Both sides were also competing in the Champions League earlier this season but the Greeks will be strong favourites to progress in the competition.

Up-for-sale Serie A club Lazio fielded a second-string side at Austria's Sturm Graz but eased to a 3-1 win.

Charles Amoah fired the home side ahead on the stroke of half time.

But Simone Inzaghi struck twice for the 1998 finalists, the only Italian side left in the competition, after Enrico Chiesa had equalised.

A late equaliser from Emile Mpenza gave 1997 winners Schalke 04 a valuable away goal in a 1-1 draw with Wisla Krakow.

The Polish side had led through Christian Poulsen's first-half own goal.

Slovan Liberec had to rely on an 85th minute penalty from Samuel Slovak to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Panathinaikos.

The Greek side had twice led through Angelos Basinas and Emmanuel Olisadebe.