BELGRADE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Serbian champion Red Star (Crvena Zvezda) defeated Finish champion HJK Helsinki 2-0 in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League at the Rajko Mitic stadium in Belgrade on Wednesday.

The home team gained the initial lead in the 27th minute when Mirko Ivanic sent a precise pass towards Richmond Boakye who caught the ball with his head and sent it behind the goalkeeper Maksim Rudakov.

Red Star dominated the first half and the guests were unable to send even a single direct shot towards the goal defended by Milan Borjan.

At the beginning of the second half, Milan Rodic missed a chance to score, and seconds later almost made an own goal in a counterattack of HJK Helsinki.

In the 90th minute of the match, Milan Pavkov, who earlier replaced Boakye from the bench, scored the second goal for Red Star, bringing the team just a step away from entering the third qualification round.

The two teams will play the second leg in the capital of Finland next week. Enditem