Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS (except DAC and HB) go to ConfLQ3 (Champions and Main
Path)
Fewer upsets and surprises in this round compared to previous seasons is
my impression.
July 30
Champions Path
FC FLORA (EST)* v AC Virtus (SMR) 5-2 aet (1-0, 2-2), 5-2 on aggregate
(Lepik 4' (pen), Sappinen 77' (pen), Alliku 92', 97', Kreida 120';
Benincasa 68', Mema 88'; Red Card: Lukka (Flo) 48')
Just 120 seconds in Virtus's a bit undersized keeper Alex Passaniti
floored Tony Varjund in the box, and one might have thought the early
penalty would be a sign how this match would go, especially as soon
after Mark Anders Lepik also hit the crossbar with a header. But things
went south for the Estonian champions when left-back Marco Lukka was
sent off with a harsh second yellow for a neck grab, and against ten
men Elia Ciacci stole the ball off the Flora defence and centred for
Simone Benincasa who was left all alone in the box for the equaliser:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458580/26934-Record_2024_07_30_21_22_40_400.mp4
Flora re-took the lead thanks to a handball penalty that even I would
call bullshit on, but terrible Estonian defending once more led to
an improbable Sammarinese equaliser by Marseljan Mema:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458580/26938-Record_2024_07_30_21_24_03_405.mp4
This was where the fairy tale ended though - in extra time, Rauno Alliku
tapped in a cross by namesake Rauno Sappinen (who might have been
offside, but no VAR here), and Sappinen also provided the assist for
Alliku's second on the break. Virtus could even have clawed their way
back into the tie when they were awarded a harsh handball penalty of
their own, but 40-year-old Mario Barone, two decades of Serie D (and a
little bit of Serie C) under his belt, saw his poor effort pushed out by
Flora keeper Grünvald. When everyone had already basically switched off
Vladislav Kreida added a fifth:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458580/26944-Record_2024_07_30_21_27_19_326.mp4
BTW as much fun as watching this was, I have to admit that the only word
I can find for the quality of the football on display is... appalling.
FC PYUNIK (ARM)* v FK Struga (MKD) 3-1 (2-1), 4-3 on aggregate
(Déblé 16', Kovalenko 45', 90'+6; Ibraimi 45'+4)
A nice build-up led to Serges Déblé's goal, but the Ivorian globetrotter
was also lucky that Struga keeper Dujmović deflected the shot into his
own net. At the cusp of half-time Mikhail Kovalenko gave Pyunik the
aggregate lead by firing in a loose ball, but things were all level
again at the break as the indefatigable Besart Ibraimi punished the
Armenian defence on the counter-attack. In the end it was Brazilian in
the East Lucas Villela who was instrumental in getting Pyunik the
decisive stoppage time goal - his fierce shot was only slapped away by
Dujmović, and Kovalenko turned in the rebound:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458581/26963-Record_2024_07_30_22_13_56_543.mp4
All three Northern Macedonian teams have been eliminated.
Ħamrun Spartans F.C. (MLT)* v KF BALLKANI (KOS) 0-2 (0-0), 0-2 on aggregate
(Hamidi 64', Karrica 76' (pen))
A comedy goal broke the deadlock - a punt by Henry Bonello fell too
short, and right onto the foot of Ballkani's Algerian winger Walid
Hamidi who sent a volley straight back over the hapless Spartans
goalkeeper. Brazilian centre-back Mayron then conceded a penalty on
Bernard Karrica that the former Albanian youth international despatched
himself.
No group phase for Malta this season either. The Spartans were really
disappointing, getting eliminated by a team that had lost against UE
Santa Coloma.
FK DEČIĆ (MNE) v FC Dinamo Batumi (GEO)* 0-0 (0-0), 2-0 on aggregate
Doing just enough. A major disappointment for Georgia to lose their
champions against Montenegrin opposition.
Main Path
KF DRITA (KOS) v Breiðablik (ISL)* 1-0 (0-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Selmani 66')
Kastriot Selmani curled in a pretty great winner:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458579/26882-Record_2024_07_30_20_24_28_147.mp4
One year after their debut in the Conference League group stage this
feels like a major letdown for Breiðablik.
July 31
Main Path
FK AUDA (LAT)* v Cliftonville FC (NIR) 2-0 (0-0), 4-1 on aggregate
(Ogunniyi 51', Taiwo 61')
Auda are currently closer to the relegation zone than to the European
spots in the Latvian Virslīga, but Northern Irish club football, well.
Both of Auda's Nigerian forwards got on the scoresheet, Abiodun Ogunniyi
left Cliftonville left-back Luke Conlan scrambling before firing in:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458584/27164-Record_2024_07_31_19_06_02_540.mp4
and Abdulrahman Taiwo ran onto a long ball by Benfica youth product
Matheus Clemente, held off a feeble challenge by Shaun Leppard, and
slotted past Cliftonville keeper Odumosu:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458584/27165-Record_2024_07_31_19_06_53_457.mp4
FEHÉRVÁR FC (HUN)* v Sumqayıt FK (AZE) 0-0 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
Following a common pattern, he home team had more of the match but were
ultimately happy with the scoreless draw.
BK HÄCKEN (SWE) v F91 Diddeleng (LUX)* 6-1 (3-1), 12-3 on aggregate
(Decker 16' (og), Agbonifo 27', Hrstić 45', 48', Nioule 53', Hammar 57';
Bojić 4'; Red Card: Decker (Did) 39')
Düdelingen took the early lead thanks to a 'gol olímpico' by their
Croatian veteran Filip Bojić, but Vincent Decker awkwardly headed a
goal-bound lob by 18-year-old forward Jeremy Agbonifo into his own net
instead of clearing it:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458586/27236-Record_2024_07_31_23_12_25_212.mp4
and Decker later also saw a second booking. Agbonifo got a brace by
running onto Pontus Dahbo's through ball, and against ten men Häcken
added four more - two tap-ins by Srđan Hrstić either side of half-time,
a solo effort by young Ivorian Severin Nioule, and a header by centre-
back Johan Hammar.
FK Austria Wien (AUT)* v TAMPEREEN ILVES (FIN) 4-3 aet (2-1, 3-2), 5-5
on aggregate, Ilves win 5-4 on penalties
(Malone 22', Gruber 27', Barry 68', Prelec 97'; Ala-Myllymäki 30',
Mäenpää 90', Söderbäck 112')
Not this again. Very much like Austria's tragicomic elimination against
Legia Warsaw last year, only even worse. Everything still looked fine
after Basel loanee Maurice Malone and Andreas Gruber had scored from
crosses to give Austria the aggregate lead, but as in the first leg
their defending was simply atrocious (they just brought back Aleksandar
Dragović to help with that, but not in time for this match), and Ilves
levelled the overall score when Austria's keeper Şahin-Radlinger (who
did not have an inspired match to put it mildly) spilled Joona Veteli's
shot for Lauri Ala-Myllymäki to tap in the loose ball:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458587/27255-Record_2024_08_01_00_43_07_546.mp4
Twice more Austria took the aggregate lead, through their new Gambian
signing Abubakr Barry and Slovenian Cagliari loanee Nik Prelec, and
twice Austria's terrible defending allowed Ilves to get the aggregate
equaliser, as exemplified by youngster Marius Söderbäck's extra time
lob:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458587/27255-Record_2024_08_01_00_43_07_546.mp4
In the shootout, the first nine penalties were converted until Dominik
Fitz saw his effort saved by Ilves keeper Ville Seppä.
Only the second time in their history, and the first time since 1991,
that Ilves survive a round in Europe.
FC SPARTAK TRNAVA (SLK)* v FK Sarajevo (BIH) 3-0 (2-0), 3-0 on aggregate
(Ďuriš 15', 42', Karhan 90'+4)
Veteran striker Michal Ďuriš, 36 by now, scored a brace with a header
and a shot through the legs of Sarajevo keeper Rockov:
Loading Image...
Another veteran, 35-year-old Róbert Pich, late on duped Sarajevo
centre-back Nidal Čelik and provided the cross that Patrick Karhan, son
of former longtime Wolfsburg and Mainz midfielder Miroslav Karhan,
tapped into the gaping net for the third:
Loading Image...
FK MORNAR BAR (MNE)* v FK Radnički 1923 (SRB) 2-1 aet (1-0, 2-1), 2-2 on
aggregate, Mornar win 4-3 on penalties
(Ondong-Mba 45', 83'; Aleksić 90'+8; Red Cards: Baošić (Mor, on the
bench) 90'+10, Đurašković (Mor, assistant coach) 90'+10)
French journeyman striker Chris-Marlon Ondong-Mba headed in a corner
kick and also fired in from a long throw-in by former Željezničar right-
back Siniša Stevanović:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458589/27251-Record_2024_08_01_00_37_40_159.mp4
but deep in stoppage time Milan Aleksić levelled the aggregate score
with a precise shot from outside the box:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458589/27252-Record_2024_08_01_00_38_38_510.mp4
Mornar's assistant coach Zoran Đurašković and subbed out centre-back
Jovan Baošić weren't too happy with the three extra minutes of stoppage
time that had followed the five minutes originally indicated, and were
duly dismissed from the bench. Not much else happened in extra time, and
in the shoot-out Mornar's Marko Đurišič and Radnički's Miloš Ristić saw
their efforts saved, and the decisive effort was missed by Radnički
captain Slobodan Simović who hit the post.
Montenegro are the lowest-ranked league to still have a team other than
their champion alive.
August 1
Champions Path
FC ORDABASY (KAZ)* v FC Differdange 03 (LUX) 4-3 aet (1-1, 3-2), 4-4 on
aggregate, Ordabasy win 4-3 on penalties
(Brusco 24' (og), Tagybergen 55', Sadovsky 82', Tursynbay 117' (pen);
Trani 2', Jorginho 59', 120'; Red Card: Leandro (Dif) 105')
Now this is the kind of drama I'm here for. Just 90 seconds in Guillaume
Trani's shot was deflected to become an insidious lob over Ordabasy
keeper Shayzada:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458591/27494-Record_2024_08_01_22_22_04_573.mp4
but Differdange (or Differdingen, or Déifferdeng) gifted the reigning
Kazakh champions the equaliser due to Frenchman Théo Brusco's ridiculous
own goal:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458591/27495-Record_2024_08_01_22_22_59_290.mp4
Askhat Tagybergen tapped in after a goalmouth scramble to level the
aggregate score:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458591/27496-Record_2024_08_01_22_23_48_107.mp4
but the Luxembourgers retook the overall lead on the break through their
Portuguese striker Jorginho. Ten minutes from the end another goalmouth
scramble sent the tie to extra time where Differdange's Brazilian
defender Leandro received a second yellow for a foul in the box, but
Bauyrzhan Islamkhan missed the ensuing penalty. Nevertheless, three
minutes from the end another penalty, this time for a controversial
handball, gave Ordabasy what looked like the winning goal, only for ten-
man Differdange to once more find the aggregate equaliser when Gustavo
Simões, another Brazilian, found Jorginho on the break:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458591/27501-Record_2024_08_01_22_26_57_416.mp4
In a nervous shoot-out both sides had missed two spot kicks before
Shaizada kept out the decisive effort by Ajax youth product Adham El
Idrissi.
KF Egnatia (ALB) v KF VÍKINGUR (ISL)* 0-2 (0-1), 1-2 on aggregate
(Dulysse 28' (og), Þrándarson 48')
In what was an otherwise tough matchday for Iceland, their best chance
to get a team into a group stage remained alive. Haiti international
Francois Dulysse unluckily deflected in a shot by 19-year-old Gísli
Þórðarson:
Loading Image...
and Aron Elís Þrándarson fired in a loose ball after the Albanian
defence had failed to clear a free-kick.
Main Path
[PUSKÁS AKADÉMIA FC (HUN) v SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)* 3-0 awarded, 6-0 on
aggregate]
FC ASTANA (KAZ)* v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA) 1-0 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
(Tomasov 49'; Red Card: Ndon (Mil) 55')
Astana's Croatian mainstay Marin Tomasov headed in the decisive goal
from Nazim Gripshi's looping cross:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458590/27413-Record_2024_08_01_18_22_25_905.mp4
and after their young Nigerian winger Ime Ndon was sent off with a
second booking the Moldovans weren't able to stage a comeback.
NK Bravo (SLO) v HŠK ZRINJSKI MOSTAR (BIH)* 1-3 (1-1), 2-3 on aggregate
(Tučić 21'; Mulahusejnović 16', Jakovljević 66', Mlinar 80')
In pouring rain, the two sides quickly exchanged goals, but the Bosnians
decided the tie thanks to two free-kicks - Slobodan Jakovljević headed
in a delivery by Antonio Ivančić, and Frano Mlinar's effort was
deflected in.
FC Urartu (ARM) v FC BANÍK OSTRAVA (CZE)* 0-2 (0-2), 1-7 on aggregate
(Ewerton 22', Chaluš 51')
Ewerton fired in a low cross and centre-back Matěj Chaluš headed in a
corner kick for another easy win for the Czech Silesians.
KF Llapi (KOS) v BRØNDBY IF (DEN)* 2-2 (1-0), 2-8 on aggregate
(Gashijan 42', Mikkelsen 66' (og); Yeboah 53', Omoijuanfo 61' (pen))
Elvir Gashijan collected Ilir Blakçori's cross before turning and
shooting past Brøndby keeper Mikkelsen to give the Kosovars the lead.
Emmanuel Yeboah's well-placed shot:
Loading Image...
and a penalty awarded for Llapi right-back Diar Vokrri tripping US boy
Christian Cappis turned the match around, but the Kosovars at least got
the equaliser and some coefficient points when Gashijan's shot came back
off the crossbar and hit Mikkelsen in the back to go in:
Loading Image...
FC ARARAT-ARMENIA (ARM)* v FC Zimbru Chișinău (MDA) 3-1 (1-0), 6-1 on
aggregate
(Yenne 28', Serobyan 68' (pen), Duarte 88'; Ohajunwa 62')
Two Nigerians scored on either side - winger Tenton Yenne gave Ararat-
Armenia the lead on the break while Justice Ohajunwa tapped in
Jessie Guera Djou's centre for the equaliser. Still, a late challenge by
Zimbru keeper Cebotari gave away a penalty and late on Colombian
Jonathan Duarte added a third on the break to give the Armenians another
surprisingly comfortable win.
FCI Levadia (EST) v NK OSIJEK (CRO)* 0-1 (0-0), 1-6 on aggregate
(Pušić 63')
Former Swiss Under-21 international Petar Pušić scored the only goal
with an angled shot after a bad pass had caught the Estonian defence
flat-footed.
FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO)* 1-2 (1-1), 1-4
on aggregate
(Kushnirenko 1'; Florucz 11', Durdov 90'+3)
In Gliwice, Polissya quickly halved the first-leg deficit when Bohdan
Kushnirenko slotted in Oleksandr Nazarenko's cut-back cross:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458597/27472-Record_2024_08_01_21_43_04_90.mp4
but Olimpija soon restored their aggregate lead through their Austrian
winger Raul Florucz, who had already scored in the first leg and who
left former Dnipro-1 centre-back Eduard Sarapiy in the dust:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458597/27474-Record_2024_08_01_21_43_29_551.mp4
In stoppage time the Slovenians even took all the coefficient points,
too, when from a poorly defended free-kick Ivan Durdov's volley squirmed
through the legs of Polissya keeper Kudryk:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458597/27475-Record_2024_08_01_21_44_18_651.mp4
In addition to Dnipro-1's forfeit, the next blow for the Ukrainian
coefficient. They are by far the highest-ranked league to have already
lost two starters.
PAFOS FC (CYP) v FK Žalgiris (LTU)* 3-0 aet (1-0, 1-0), 4-2 on aggregate
(Tanković 21', Anderson Silva 101', Dragomir 118';
Red Card: Zahary (Žal) 37')
Swedish journeyman Muamer Tanković levelled the aggregate score already
early on when he volleyed in an assist by Pafos's Brazilian captain
Jairo:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458598/27434-Record_2024_08_01_20_00_23_637.mp4
but despite a ton of chances, and Žalgiris being reduced to ten after
Comoros international Younn Zahary had been sent off for a last-man foul
on Jairo, the Cypriot cup winners had to wait until extra time to find
the breakthrough. Jairo's fellow Brazilian Anderson Silva met Derrick
Luckassen's deflected cross with an acrobatic overhead kick:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458598/27505-Record_2024_08_01_22_33_00_296.mp4
and Romanian winger Vlad Dragomir headed in a third on the break.
FC Tobol (KAZ) v FC ST. GALLEN 1879 (SUI)* 0-1 (0-0), 1-5 on aggregate
(Cissé 73'; Red Cards: Essien (Tob) 68', Galym (Tob) 90')
Nigerian midfielder Ededem Essien was sent off with a second yellow, and
20-year-old Guinean substitute Moustapha Cissé, a loanee from Bologna,
got the only goal by intercepting Mihailo Stevanović's rather feeble
shot and wrong-footing Tobol keeper Pokatilov:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458599/27466-Record_2024_08_01_21_34_02_384.mp4
Late on the young substitute Beybit Galym was also sent off for a studs-
up tackle on Christian Witzig, so Tobol ended the match in nine.
FK TransINVEST (LTU) v FK MLADÁ BOLESLAV (CZE)* 0-1 (0-0), 0-3 on aggregate
(Vojta 78')
Similar to Baník in Armenia, doing just enough to get all the
coefficient points. That sort of thing is really helpful for climbing in
the UEFA ranking, as the Czechs have done in the last couple of seasons.
Young striker Matyáš Vojta got his first goal for the senior team by
firing in from a very tight angle.
SABAH FK (AZE) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)* 3-6 aet (0-1, 2-5), 6-6 on
aggregate, Sabah win 3-2 on penalties
(Šafranko 47', Parris 71', Mickels 103'; Haziza 17', Pierrot 67', 90',
Šimić 70', Refaelov 73', David 112')
Whoa.
Following their 0-3 defeat in the first leg, after the first 45 minutes
little suggested that Maccabi Haifa would mount a comeback despite
Dolev Haziza rifling in an angled shot from Pierre Cornud's cross:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458601/27419-Record_2024_08_01_18_31_28_761.mp4
and even less would have suggested that when right after the break Pavol
Šafranko slotted in an assist by Jamaican international Kaheem Parris.
Frantzdy Pierrot chesting in Lior Refaelov's free-kick followed by
Croatian centre-back Lorenco Šimić firing in from a goalmouth scramble:
Loading Image...
meant that the Israeli were only one goal away from sending the tie to
extra time, but Parris immediately threw cold water on that idea when
he stole the ball off Dynamo Kyiv loanee Oleksandr Syrota as last man:
Loading Image...
Refaelov immediately restored the two-goal lead though following good
work by the young substitute Ilay Hagag:
Loading Image...
and in the last minute the improbable comeback was complete when
Frantzdy Pierrot steered in another Cornud cross:
Loading Image...
Now in the olden days that would have been it, and Haifa through on away
goals, but in these more enlightened times it meant extra time, where
Sabah retook the aggregate lead through German journeyman striker Joy-
Lance Mickels who from a tight angle fired through the legs of
Maccabi keeper Keouf:
Loading Image...
The drama wasn't over yet as in response the Israeli scored their sixth
again from a cross, this one headed in by Dean David. A shoot-out seemed
like the only proper way to end this match anyway. Mickels sent his
spot kick against the crossbar, but three Maccabi players also missed -
Kenny Saief's shot was deflected by Sabah keeper İmanov against the
post, Dia Saba sent his effort wide, and erstwhile hero Frantzdy Pierrot
fired over the bar.
A very wild match, and a historic comeback averted. I believe Maccabi
Haifa would have been only the second team in close to 70 years of
European cup history to go through in a two-legged tie after having lost
at home by three goals.
AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)* v PAKSI FC (HUN) 0-2 (0-2), 0-5 on aggregate
(Haraszti 19', Papp 42')
I would have expected much more from the Cypriots on their sizzlingly
hot home turf, but Zsolt Haraszti's cross-turned-shot:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458602/27467-Record_2024_08_01_21_36_34_154.mp4
and Kristóf Papp's solo effort on the break gave the Hungarians a
comfortable away win.
Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND) v AEK FC (GRE)* 0-4 (0-1), 3-8 on aggregate
(García 29', 74', 86', Amrabat 83')
Awww. Levi Garcia's solo run dampened Andorran hopes already in the
first half, and the Trinidadian quite ruthlessly finished Inter Escaldes
off late in the game.
PAIDE LINNAMEESKOND (EST) v UMF Stjarnan (ISL)* 4-0 (1-0), 5-2 on aggregate
(He. Ojamaa 29', Saarma 46', Ceesay 57', Lilander 85')
Paide captain and veteran traveller across European football Henrik
Ojamaa (his younger brother Hindrek is also in Paide's squad) tapped in
Daniel Luts's centre from the shortest of ranges. Robi Saarma fired in
a loose ball for the second, and Gambian forward Abdoulie Ceesay
punished another error in the Icelandic defence for the third:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458604/27479-Record_2024_08_01_21_48_33_147.mp4
Right-back Michael Lilander finished off the rout with a nicely struck
free-kick:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458604/27480-Record_2024_08_01_21_49_12_146.mp4
Considering how Flora - who are currently practically level with Paide
in the Estonian Meistriliiga - did against Sammarinese opposition, this
was quite the surprising margin of victory.
SK BRANN (NOR) v Go Ahead Eagles (NED)* 2-1 (1-1), 2-1 on aggregate
(Finne 42', Knudsen 62'; Tengstedt 2')
Danish striker Søren Tengstedt gave the team from Deventer the early
lead by latching onto a through ball by his fellow countryman Jakob
Breum:
Loading Image...
but Bård Finne got the equaliser before the break from a nice assist
by one-time Chile international Niklas Castro:
Loading Image...
and Castro also delivered the corner kick that centre-back Fredrik
Knudsen headed in for the winner.
The Netherlands, Israel, and Austria are the only top-15 leagues to have
already lost a team.
FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) v AC OMONOIA (CYP)* 1-2 (0-1), 2-5 on aggregate
(Yansané 47'; Stępiński 25', Semedo 81' (pen))
Former Chievo forward Mariusz Stępiński tapped in a cross by Cape
Verdean international Willy Semedo to give Omonoia the lead while
Guinean striker Momo Yansané, previously of Rijeka and Sheriff,
emphatically volleyed in a cut-back cross by former Botafogo winger
Warley for the equaliser:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458606/27437-Record_2024_08_01_20_19_51_149.mp4
The Cypriots still scored the late winner after Nika Sandokhadze had
collided with Andronikos Kakoullis in the box, similar to the penalty
that Harry Kane got at the Euros against the Netherlands.
TROMSØ IL (NOR) v KuPS (FIN)* 1-0 (1-0), 2-0 on aggregate
(Hjertø-Dahl 29')
The Finns conceded a penalty after just two minutes but Lasse Nordås saw
his effort saved by Kuopio's Austrian keeper Johannes Kreidl. Didn't
really matter though as 18-year-old Jens Hjertø-Dahl ran onto a long
ball by brilliantly named fellow youngster Jakob Napoleon Romsaas and
slotted past Kreidl for the sole goal.
CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM)* v NK MARIBOR (SLO) 3-2 (0-0), 3-4 on
aggregate
(Mitriță 52', Grego 72', Koljić 90'+5; Iličić 68', Jakupović 82')
U Craiova halved the first-leg deficit early in the second half when
Alexandru Mitriță curled a shot past Maribor keeper Jug, but old man
Josip Iličić soon equalised by volleying in Jan Repas's assist:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458608/27509-Record_2024_08_01_22_36_27_912.mp4
Craiova's new Spanish signing Grego once more put the Romanians within
one with a great finish underneath the crossbar:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458608/27510-Record_2024_08_01_22_37_04_213.mp4
and once more the Slovenians equalised, this time through the Austrian
substitute Arnel Jakupović who fired in through the legs of Craiova
captain Nicușor Bancu. Elvir Koljić's last-minute goal came too late.
FC KØBENHAVN (DEN)* v FC Bruno's Magpies (GIB) 5-1 (1-1), 8-1 on aggregate
(Diks 40' (pen), Froholdt 54', Óskarsson 61', 84', Højer 80';
Bayode 17')
FCK's Icelandic reserve keeper Rúnarsson in his competitive debut for
the Danes gifted the Magpies the early lead, just for the lulz:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458609/27535-Record_2024_08_01_23_03_18_177.mp4
and even though the Danes had to wait for the equaliser until they were
awarded a penalty just before half-time, their youngsters were ruthless
in the second half. A shot by 18-year-old Victor Froholdt's was
deflected in, 19-year-old Icelandic striker talent Orri Óskarsson got a
brace, and 17-year-old Oliver Højer also volleyed one in.
Caernarfon Town FC (WAL) v LEGIA WARSZAWA (POL)* 0-5 (0-0), 0-11 on
aggregate
(Kapustka 46', Jędrzejczyk 48', Pekhart 54', Nsamé 72', Barcia 83';
Red Card: Sears (Cae) 86')
Caernarfon held on for one half, then fell apart. Bartosz Kapustka
volleyed in a long ball by Legia's new Spanish defender Sergio Barcia
that eluded the Welsh defence, Legia's veteran captain Artur Jędrzejczyk
headed in a free-kick, fellow oldie Tomáš Pekhart tapped in a cross, and
former Young Boys striker and Como loanee Jean-Pierre Nsamé lobbed in
another long ball that wrong-footed Caernarfon's defenders. Barcia
finished off a great debut for his new club by heading in a corner kick.
FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX) v DJURGÅRDENS IF (SWE)* 1-0 (1-0), 1-3 on
aggregate
(Karamoko 3'; Red Card: Une Larsson (Dju) 36')
At least the Luxembourgers made Djurgården sweat a little after their
French centre-back Hamadou Karamoko had headed them into an early lead
from a corner kick, and Jacob Une Larsson was sent off for a rash
tackle. Progrès had a couple of good opportunites to make the tie even
more interesting, but Djurgården keeper Zetterström was up to the task.
Sweden are the lowest-ranked nation that still has all four of their
teams alive.
Sliema Wanderers FC (MLT) v FC NOAH (ARM)* 0-0 (0-0), 0-7 on aggregate
Yeah, that works.
FC Vaduz (LIE)* v ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC FC (IRL) 2-2 (1-1), 3-5 on aggregate
(Cavegn 22' (pen), 76'; Elbouzedi 28', Palmer 81')
Fabrizio Cavegn, the only Rumantsch football player I know, gave Vaduz
the lead from the spot after St Patrick's Swedish right-back Axel
Sjöberg (not to be confused with the former MLS defender of the same
name) had pulled down Lorik Emini, and just minutes later Vaduz's
Spanish winger Javi Navarro could have levelled the aggregate score, but
his shot came off the right post. Instead, Zach Elbouzedi fired in a
cut-back cross by Jake Mulraney that had thrown the Liechtensteiner
defence into disarray. Cavegn once more brought Vaduz within one when
his harmless-looking shot was deflected past St Pat's keeper Anang, but
former Barnsley midfielder Romal Palmer once more got the equaliser
thanks to a ping-pong goal when he steered in an attempted clearance.
PFC Cherno More Varna (BUL) v HAPOEL BE'ER SHEVA FC (ISR)* 1-2 (1-1),
1-2 on aggregate
(Calcan 33'; Lopes 25', 64')
Be'er Sheva's Portuguese left-back Hélder Lopes headed in a corner kick,
but the Bulgarians equalised thanks to a Romanian as Andreias Calcan
scored with a pretty great free-kick:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458614/27514-Record_2024_08_01_22_40_25_909.mp4
Still, a free-kick by a Romanian also spelled doom for Cherno More since
Antonio Sefer's delivery was once more headed in by Lopes.
Víkingur (FAR) v KAA GENT (BEL)* 0-2 (0-0), 1-6 on aggregate
(Mitrović 64', Fernández-Pardo 69')
It's likely that Víkingur and not Klaksvík will win the Faroese title
this year, but Gent were too much for them to handle. Veteran Serbian
centre-back Stefan Mitrović headed in a corner kick and 19-year-old
Belgian youth international Matías Fernández-Pardo fired in following a
nice assist from Pieter Gerkens.
FC Neman Grodno (BLR) v FC CFR 1907 CLUJ (ROM)* 0-5 (0-2), 0-5 on aggregate
(Muhar 17', Bîrligea 40', 57', Korenica 59', Nkololo 90'+3)
I believe I've seen that before, Cluj following up a lacklustre home
performance with a convincing one away. Croatian midfielder Karlo Muhar
volleyed in Ciprian Deac's free-kick while Daniel Bîrligea first scored
on the break and then with a great lob over Neman keeper Belov:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458617/27543-Record_2024_08_01_23_12_55_420.mp4
New signing from Ballkani Meriton Korenica got the fourth with a
sumptuous shot from just outside the area, and French journeyman winger
Béni Nkololo (previously in Ligue 2, Australia, and Saudi-Arabia) made
it five by pushing the ball through Belov's legs from short range:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458617/27545-Record_2024_08_01_23_14_38_39.mp4
Belarus are by now firmly established in the bottom five in the UEFA
ranking, which will reduce the number of teams they are allowed to send
to Europe to three.
FK Partizani (ALB)* v FC IBERIA 1999 (GEO) 0-0 (0-0), 0-2 on aggregate
While the last Albanian club has been eliminated (it's been a pretty bad
season for them), Iberia as their last remaining team are still keeping
the Georgian flag flying. Georgia are also the only nation to still have
a team alive even though their national champion (Dinamo Batumi) has
already been eliminated.
FC DAC 1904 (SLK)* v ZIRƏ FK (AZE) 1-2 (1-1), 1-6 on aggregate
(Méndez 40'; Utzig 25', Alıyev 57' (pen); Red Card: Yapi (DAC) 56')
Nigerien (not Nigerian) international Issa Djibrilla irresistibly
powered past the indisposed Slovakian defence and centred for Zirə's
Brazilian striker Raphael Utzig who was left with an easy finish:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458619/27484-Record_2024_08_01_22_02_06_343.mp4
Following a poorly defended free-kick Dunajská Streda's Spanish left-
back Alex Méndez fired in a curling shot from a tight angle for the
equaliser:
https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2024/458619/27486-Record_2024_08_01_22_06_00_930.mp4
but right after the home team had wasted four great opportunites in a
row Romaric Yapi was sent off for a last-man foul in the box and Zirə
captain Qismət Alıyev scored from the spot to give the Azeri a somewhat
surprising win also in Slovakia.
WKS ŚLĄSK WROCŁAW (POL) v Riga FC (LAT)* 3-1 (1-1), 3-2 on aggregate
(Nahuel 6' (pen), 52', Petrov 49'; Babec 33';
Red Card: Orosco (Rig) 61')
The Polish favourites erased the first-leg deficit already after a
couple of minutes following Mouhamed El Bachir Ngom's ill-timed tackle
against Piotr Samiec-Talar, and former Spanish Under-21 international
Nahuel converted from the spot. Virslīga record signing Hrvoje Babec
equalised from a corner kick at the second attempt:
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but Simeon Petrov, one of Śląsk's Bulgarian centre-back pairing,
likewise scored with an emphatic header:
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Nahuel scored the goal that eventually saw the Poles through to next
round with a curved shot from distance that Riga keeper Matrevics
should have probably saved:
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as the Latvians weren't able to mount a comeback after their Argeninian
midfielder Brian Orosco had been sent off for a lunging tackle.
ST MIRREN FC (SCO)* v KF Valur (ISL) 4-1 (1-0), 4-1 on aggregate
(Rooney 16', Olusanya 52', O'Hara 65', Iacovitti 88';
Haraldsson 75' (pen))
Early on Shaun Rooney headed in a corner kick to calm Scottish nerves,
and St Mirren made sure of things in the second half - the Icelandic
defence failed to deal with a long ball and Irish youngster Roland
Idowa flicked it into the path of Toyosi Olusanya, and Saints captain
Mark O'Hara volleyed in a really nice goal from Rooney's long throw-in:
Loading Image...
Valur pulled one back from the spot after Jaden Brown had felled Jonatan
Jónsson, but Alex Iacovitti scored a fourth, again after a corner.
SP La Fiorita (SMR) v İSTANBUL BAŞAKŞEHIR FK (TUR)* 0-4 (0-3), 1-10 on
aggregate
(Piątek 13', 90'+1, Şahiner 31', Güreler 35')
Pretty OK home performance by the last remaining Sammarinese team, but
they also completely messed up their offside trap for Krzysztof Piątek's
opener:
Loading Image...
Ömer Ali Şahiner fired in a loose ball for the second, and 18-year-old
centre-back Hamza Güreler scored from a free-kick to make it three.
Late on Piątek tapped in a rebound into the empty net after La Fiorita
keeper Zavoli had pulled off a quite spectacular save against Philippe
Kény's point blank header.
Shelbourne FC (IRL) v FC ZÜRICH (SUI)* 0-0 (0-0), 0-3 on aggregate
Always in control, and Zürich could have won it when after a corner kick
a volley by their Argentinian centre-back Mariano Gómez, freshly signed
from Atlético B, came crashing off the crossbar.
FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)* v FC CSKA 1948 SOFIA (BUL) 1-1 aet (0-0,
1-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Perišić 65'; Serdiuk 102')
CSKA 1948 keeper Marinov did well to parry Milan Vukotić's deflected
shot, but he was helpless against Vladimir Perišić's rebound header:
Loading Image...
In extra time the Ukrainian substitute Yevheniy Serdyuk on the break
scored the goal that sent the Bulgarians through.
BTW it's notable that CSKA 1948 got into Europe by winning a play-off
final against their enemy twins CSKA-Sofia.
HB (FAR) v HNK HAJDUK SPLIT (CRO)* 0-0 (0-0), 0-2 on aggregate
Ivan Rakitić made his Hajduk debut by coming on as a substitute, but had
little impact.
VITÓRIA SC (POR)* v Floriana FC (MLT) 4-0 (4-0), 5-0 on aggregate
(Kaio César 8', Fernandes 11', Mangas 37', 43')
The first leg on Malta had been a bit of a slog, but at home in
Guimaraes Vitória only needed one half to make sure they were going
through. Brazilian youngster Kaio César jumped into Ricardo Mangas's
looping cross to head them into the lead:
Loading Image...
centre-back Jorge Fernandes headed in a corner kick, and Mangas scored a
brace by first tapping in Bruno Gaspar's cross followed by a pretty
sweet bicycle kick.
Since the last Maltese team bowed out Malta are the highest-ranked
league to have already lost all four of their teams. It's been a subpar
season for them.
Draw for Conference League 3rd Qualifying Round (August 8 and 15)
* = seeded team
Winners go to ConfLPO (Champions and Main Path)
Champions Path
KF Víkingur (ISL) v FC Flora (EST)*
FC Ordabasy (KAZ) v FC Pyunik (ARM)*
KF Ballkani (KOS)* v Larne FC (NIR)
HJK (FIN)* v FK Dečić (MNE)
Main Path
FK Mladá Boleslav (CZE) v Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR)*
Kilmarnock FC (SCO) v Tromsø IL (NOR)*
FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v Puskás Akadémia FC (HUN)*
FC Zürich (SUI) v Vitória SC (POR)*
Paksi FC (HUN)* v FK Mornar Bar (MNE)
BK Häcken (SWE)* v Paide Linnameeskond (EST)
NK Maribor (SLO)* v FK Vojvodina (SRB)
FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)* v TS Wisła Kraków (POL)
St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v Sabah FK (AZE)*
St Mirren FC (SCO) v SK Brann (NOR)*
FC CSKA 1948 Sofia (BUL) v Pafos FC (CYP)*
Tampereen Ilves (FIN) v Djurgårdens IF (SWE)*
CS Corvinul Hunedoara (ROM) v FC Astana (KAZ)*
MFK Ružomberok (SLK) v HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)*
FC Noah (ARM) v AEK FC (GRE)*
FK Auda (LAT) v KF Drita (KOS)*
FC Iberia 1999 (GEO) v İstanbul Başakşehir FK (TUR)*
Brøndby IF (DEN) v Legia Warszawa (POL)*
Maccabi Petah Tikva FC (ISR) v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)*
Silkeborg IF (DEN) v KAA Gent (BEL)*
NK Osijek (CRO)* v Zirə FK (AZE)
FC St. Gallen 1879 (SUI) v WKS Śląsk Wrocław (POL)*
PFC Botev (BUL) v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)*
AC Omonoia (CYP)* v Fehérvár FC (HUN)
FC København (DEN)* v FC Baník Ostrava (CZE)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v FC Sheriff (MDA)
Ciao,
Werner
