体坛英语新闻：Red Star beat Cologne to enter Europa League knockouts

BELGRADE, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Red Star triumphed over German club Cologne 1-0 to qualify for the round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday in Belgrade.

Although throughout the match of the 6th and final round of the group stage, the German team enjoyed more ball possession and had more attempts on goal, yet in the 22nd minute, Slavoljub Srnic made use of a great cross from Milan Rodic and scored from some 10 meters away from the goal bringing the home team in the lead.

Both teams had several good chances until the end of the match, none of them was turned into a goal.

The decisive match was played in front of full stadium Rajko Mitic in Belgrade in front of 52,000 fans of which 5,000 came from Germany to support Cologne.

With the victory, Red Star ended up second in Group H behind Arsenal, and qualified among the best 32 teams that will compete in the knockout stage.

Red Star is the second Serbian team that qualified for the knockout stage of the competition this season, after Partizan also succeeded to rank 2nd in Group B.

UEFA Europa League round of 32 draw will take place on Monday, while the first matches will be played in February 2018.