Clermont became the second team after Leinster to qualify for the last eight of the European Champions Cup with a 29-13 home win over Ulster on Saturday. Trailing 10-9 at half-time Clermont dominated the second half and tries from Aliverati Raka and George Moala secured the win and ensured the Top 14 powerhouses go top of Pool 3. "It was our hardest game this season," Clermont full-back Nick Abendanon told BT Sport. "Ulster are a fantastic outfit, they were pretty up for this match. "In the second half the hard work paid off, the forwards got on top and that gave us a stranglehold that they couldn't live with." Defending champions Saracens kept their hopes of qualifying alive with a 22-15 win over Ospreys in Swansea. Ulster dominated the first half at the Stade Marcel Michelin in terms of territory and possession but led by just a point at half-time. Ulster scrum-half John Cooney and Clermont stand-off Camille Lopez traded early penalties before Ulster props Jack McGrath and Marty Moore combined before offloading to Cooney who burst through to run in under the posts. The Irish province held the upper hand for the rest of the half, especially when Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. However they were repelled by some resilient home defence and two Parra penalties made it 10-9 at the break. Boosted by a passionate, noisy sell-out crowd, the French side took control in the second half. Ulster right wing Robert Baloucoune had to make a crunching tackle to deny full-back Isaia Toeava but the pressure paid off after 48 minutes when Raka - left out of Fabien Galthie's first France squad - reached out for the line. The video replay suggested that ball had just brushed the white paint of the tryline and the try was awarded. With Ulster chasing the game, Moala crashed over for Clermont's second try which sealed the win. Ulster can still qualify if they beat Bath in Belfast next weekend. Saracens rested their England players and struggled to overcome an Ospreys side which was already out of the running with just one point from their previous four matches. Sarries' Welsh international prop Rhys Carre was sent off after just four minutes for a 'no arms' tackle but the 14 who remained were more than a match for the Welsh side. Manu Vunipola, the 19-year-old cousin of England internationals Billy and Mako, kicked four penalties and converted Alex Lewington's try in the 51st minute. Ospreys full-back Daniel Evans scored two tries but there was little to suggest they would strike for their first win of the campaign, having won just once in the Pro14 in a nightmare start to the season. bsp/lp