Athens, September 4:

Luis Fabiano scored twice on Monday and Sevilla overcame last week’s death of midfielder Antonio Puerta to reach the group stage of the European Champions League with a 4-1 win over AEK Athens.

The match, originally scheduled for last week, was postponed when Puerta died on August 28, three days after collapsing on the field during a Spanish league match against Getafe and suffering subsequent heart attacks.

Fabiano converted a 31st-minute penalty and headed in a corner from Diego Capel in the 45th. Keita beat AEK keeper Marcelo Moretto in the 40th, heading in a corner kick from Daniel Alvez. And in the 54th, Alexander Kerzhakov raced through the AEK defense and placed the ball out of Moretto’s reach, giving Sevilla a 6-1 aggregate victory. Brazil veteran Rivaldo provided AEK’s consolation with a penalty in the 82nd, beating Sevilla

keeper Andres Palop who had saved another spot kick from Gustavo Manduca in the 65th.

Sevilla now join FC Steaua, Arsenal and Slavia Prague in Group H of the European Champions League, while AEK was relegated to the UEFA Cup and a first-round meeting against Salzburg.