LONDON, Feb 14: PSV Eindhoven, Werder Bremen and Everton moved closer to the next round of the UEFA Cup on Wednesday with victories in their first-leg matches.

With Europe’s second-tier competition resuming at the round-of-32 stage after a two-month break, PSV beat Helsingborg 2-0, Werder Bremen defeated Braga 3-0, and Everton won 2-0 at SK Brann.

Former UEFA Cup winners Galatasaray drew 0-0 in Istanbul, Marseille beat Spartak Moscow 3-0 and Anderlecht downed visiting Bordeaux 2-1 in other of the 10 matches.

PSV was making its first appearance of the season in the UEFA Cup, having dropped into the tournament after being eliminated from the European Champions League along with seven other sides. It scored twice in the first 33 minutes to set up victory over Helsingborg.

Timmy Simons put the home side ahead with a seventh-minute penalty awarded for Daniel Andersson’s foul on Danko Lazovic.

PSV goalkeeper Gomes twice saved shots by Razak Omotoyossi, who is tied atop the tournament scoring charts with teammate Henrik Larsson and Bayern Munich’s Luca Toni with six goals. He also thwarted Martin Kolar before Lazovic made it 2-0.

The Serbia striker converted a right-footed shot from about 12 yards into the top right corner of goal after a cross from Ibrahim Afellay. Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese saved two first-half penalties to help his team to victory.

Werder took a fifth-minute lead with a 20-yard free kick by central defender Naldo, and Wiese preserved the advantage in the 10th when he dived to his right to deny Roland Linz.

Daniel Jensen made it 2-0 in the 27th and Wiese saved his second penalty nine minutes later.

Hugo Almeida completed Bremen’s win in injury time by converting another penalty.

First Leg results:

Zenit St. Petersburg 1 Villarreal 0

Galatasaray 0 Bayer Leverkusen 0

AEK Athens 1 Getafe 1

SK Brann 0 Everton 2

Bremen 3 Braga 0

Marseille 3 Spartak Moscow 0

PSV Eindhoven 2 Helsingborg 0

Anderlecht 2 Bordeaux 1

Rangers 0 Panathinaikos 0

Sporting 2 FC Basel 0.

—AP