A quick summary of action around the first legs of the UEFA playoffs on FRI 15 NOV 2013.

• Iceland 00-00 Croatia: Ólafur SKÚLASON was sent off early in the second half for a dangerous challenge against Croatia’s Ivan PERIŠIĆ, but the visiting side could not take advantage. Though Skúlason will miss the second leg, teammate Birkir SÆVARSSON will return from suspension.
• Portugal 01-00 Sweden: Portugal dominated play with fourteen corners and twelve shot attempts, but the breakthrough did not come until the 82nd minute, when CRISTIANO RONALDO headed in a cross from MIGUEL VELOSO. Ronaldo nearly doubled his total with another header that struck the bar shortly thereafter, but as it is, Portugal take a slim lead into the second leg.
• Ukraine 02-00 France: Roman ZOZULYA was the home team’s hero, scoring one goal and drawing the penalty that led to the other. Tempers flared in stoppage time, when first France’s Laurent KOSCIELNY and then Ukraine’s Olexandr KUCHER were sent off.
• Greece 03-01 Romania: Kostas MITROGLOU’s two goals led the Greeks to a comfortable first leg win. Romanian substitute Costin LAZĂR was sent off for two yellows late in the match.