( CNN ) -- An injury-time goal from substitute Nilmar secured Villarreal a 3-2 at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie on Thursday . The Spanish team twice came from behind to level the game before snatching victory just before the final whistle , four minutes into time added on . Czech international Michal Kadlec put second-placed German Bundesliga side Leverkusen 1-0 up in the 18th minute , but Italy forward Giuseppe Rossi equalized for La Liga 's Villarreal five minutes before the interval . Leverkusen took the lead for the second time in the 70th minute through Uruguay winger Gonzalo Castro , but once again the home team 's advantage was short-lived as Nilmar -- a 69th-minute replacement for Rossi -- scored the first of his double just two minutes later . Kiev defeat dents Manchester City hopes . And the Brazil striker then found the net for the second time in the dying minutes of the game to complete a stunning win for Villarreal , as he controlled a long ball from fellow substitute Joan Oriol , . English Premier League side Liverpool crashed back down to earth with a 1-0 defeat at Portugal 's SC Braga in their first-leg tie , having beaten Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday . Braga took the lead in the 18th minute courtesy of a penalty from Brazilian winger Alan Silva , after Mossoro was fouled by Greek defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos . Despite having picked up a stomach injury in Braga 's impressive win over Benfica on Saturday , Alan had no trouble in driving a low shot past goalkeeper Pepe Reina . It was Liverpool 's first defeat in 12 European outings this season in a much-changed line-up from Sunday . Skipper Steven Gerrard did not travel to Portugal because of a long-standing groin injury , and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was ineligible for selection . Record signing Andy Carroll -- who like Suarez was signed on the last day of the January transfer window -- made his debut in the European competition , but the England forward could not effect the outcome despite his strong presence in the air . Portuguese league leaders FC Porto secured a 1-0 victory at Russian club CSKA Moscow in their round of 16 clash , thanks to a 70th-minute strike from Colombian striker Freddy Guarin . The tie between top Dutch Eredivise side PSV Eindhoven and second-placed Scottish Premier League team Rangers ended in a goalless draw ahead of next week 's second leg .
Liverpool beat FC Leverkusen 3 - 2 in first leg of Europa League qualifying tie . Goal from striker Nilmar in 94th minute secures victory for the La Liga side . Liverpool lose their first - leg encounter away at Braga 1 - 0 after giving away a penalty . Porto beat CSKA Moscow 1 - 0 , while Rangers draw 0 - 0 at FC Eindhoven .