UEFA Cup: Middlesbrough lost 1-0 on the night to Stuttgart but progressed in the UEFA Cup courtesy of their superb 2-1 win in the first leg in Germany.
Boro drew a blank on home turf tonight - when Christian Tiffert got the only goal at The Riverside on 13 minutes - but their two away goals meant Steve McClaren's bid for European glory goes on to the fourth round, where they face Italian giants Roma.
The visitors made the brighter start in wet and slippery conditions, with Danijel Ljuboja twice going close early on when he first tested Mark Schwarzer and then steered a shot into the sidenetting.
Their early domination was rewarded on 13 when the lively Ljuboja played in Tiffert, who skipped past Stuart Parnaby before clinically slipping a neat right-footed shot past Schwarzer into the net.
The goal sparked Boro into life, though, and Gaizka Mendieta curled a free-kick over the crossbar before keeper Timo Hildebrand pulled off a smart save to deny Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's header.
The veteran Dutch striker was denied by the visiting keeper once again in a one-on-one situation on 46 minutes, while Tiffert wastefully dragged a shot wide of the target for the Germans.
The best chance of the second half came on 63 minutes, though, when Mendieta found Hildebrand in no man's land but saw his goalbound shot hacked off the line to safety by former Liverpool defender Markus Babbel.
Bolton's adventure in Europe ended in heart-breaking fashion as Tal Ben Haim's own goal gave Marseille a 2-1 victory in France.
The Trotters were always facing an uphill task after the goalless draw at The Reebok - but took the lead on 25 minutes when Fabien Barthez dropped Jay-Jay Okocha's cross under no pressure and Stelios Giannakopoulos steered the ball into the net from close range.
Barthez had earlier saved a deflected Okocha free-kick, while Samir Nasri, Habib Beye, Lorik Cana and Wilson Oruma all wasted good opportunities for the hosts.
The France keeper pulled off a fine save to deny Stelios a second goal, while Abdoulaye Faye was booked after sliding the ball home despite being flagged offside.
Marseille grabbed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Franck Ribery clinically headed home a cross from the right.
And the decisive goal came on 68 minutes, when Beye's cross was diverted past Jussi Jaaskelainen by the unlucky Ben Haim.
A long ball broke for Kevin Nolan on 69 minutes but his low first-time strike was saved and fumbled by Barthez, with Nolan getting booked after clashing with the keeper as he went for the follow-up.
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