Unfancied Sturm Graz held off a second-half rally from Panathinaikos in their Champions League Group A match to win 2-1 and bury the Athens club's chances of advancing.

Panathinaikos started brightly but Sturm weathered the storm and took the lead after 25 minutes when Markus Schopp scored.

The Austrians doubled their lead after 41 minutes when Mario Haas broke free and gave goalie Antonis Nikopolidis no chance.

Iannis Goumas gave Panathinaikos some hope with a 73rd minute header but that was not enough to save the match or their Champions League chances.