From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Blueshirt wrote:

It's good to see UEFA tackle this issue head on and take on the
big boys of Europe over this... Dunajská Streda and Drogheda
are just the sort of teams that need to be taught a lesson.
That'll show 'em... who do these owners think they are
splashing their cash around owning multiple teams. So well
done UEFA for taking a stand against that sort of thing...

UEFA are at it again... taxing harmless clubs like the London
Dodgers... who are just trying to make a few dollars on their US
Tour, only to now have to turn over their winnings at the FIFA
Club World Casino to greedy European bureaucrats in Switzerland.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jul/4/uefa-fining-chelsea-365m-barcelona-177m-financial-monitoring-rules/
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 03.07.2025 16:03, Blueshirt wrote:

Werner Pichler wrote:

Official UEFA statement: Dunajská Streda are out,
same as Drogheda. A decision on Crystal Palace has
been postponed but as I read it only Lyon’s enforced
relegation will actually save their spot in Europe.

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-admission-to-the-/

It's good to see UEFA tackle this issue head on and take on the
big boys of Europe over this... Dunajská Streda and Drogheda are
just the sort of teams that need to be taught a lesson. That'll
show 'em... who do these owners think they are splashing their
cash around owning multiple teams. So well done UEFA for taking
a stand against that sort of thing...

Better?

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029b-1e280e8c0d89-0a2f9801ea14-1000--cfcb-first-chamber-finalises-the-assessment-of-the-financial/


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Werner Pichler wrote:

On 03.07.2025 16:03, Blueshirt wrote:

Werner Pichler wrote:

Official UEFA statement: Dunajská Streda are out,
same as Drogheda. A decision on Crystal Palace has
been postponed but as I read it only Lyon’s enforced
relegation will actually save their spot in Europe.

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-admission-to-the-/

It's good to see UEFA tackle this issue head on and take on
the big boys of Europe over this... Dunajská Streda and
Drogheda are just the sort of teams that need to be taught a
lesson. That'll show 'em... who do these owners think they
are splashing their cash around owning multiple teams. So
well done UEFA for taking a stand against that sort of
thing...

Better?

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029b-1e280e8c0d89-0a2f9801ea14-1000--cfcb-first-chamber-finalises-the-assessment-of-the-financial/


Too late, already covered it! ;-)
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Blueshirt wrote:

Blueshirt wrote:

It's good to see UEFA tackle this issue head on and take on
the big boys of Europe over this... Dunajská Streda and
Drogheda are just the sort of teams that need to be taught a
lesson. That'll show 'em... who do these owners think they
are splashing their cash around owning multiple teams. So
well done UEFA for taking a stand against that sort of
thing...

UEFA are at it again... taxing harmless clubs like the London
Dodgers... who are just trying to make a few dollars on their
US Tour, only to now have to turn over their winnings at the
FIFA Club World Casino to greedy European bureaucrats in
Switzerland.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jul/4/uefa-fining-chelsea-365m-barcelona-177m-financial-monitoring-rules/

More winnings at the FIFA casino last night, and as other
Premier League clubs return to pre-season training on Monday,
the London Dodgers USA Tour moves on to New York on Tuesday for
another round of show up and make some dollars...

Looks like they picked up a good player on their travels too...
It's strange how all these good young South American footballers
want to move to rainy London though isn't it? The food must be
tastier there, or something...

Just had a thought... if the London Dodgers have made it to the
semi-final at the FIFA Club World Casino, does that mean they're
now the fourth best club team in the world? Surely that's how it
works right?

<VBG>


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Blueshirt wrote:

More winnings at the FIFA casino last night, and as other
Premier League clubs return to pre-season training on Monday,
the London Dodgers USA Tour moves on to New York on Tuesday for
another round of show up and make some dollars...

Ker-ching...

A comfortable night at the casino table in New Jersey... and
even more dollars in the bank.

This has been a lucrative tour for the boys... they should do
these sort of exhibitions every summer.

Looks like they picked up a good player on their travels too...
It's strange how all these good young South American
footballers want to move to rainy London though isn't it? The
food must be tastier there, or something...

That Joao Pedro fella also looks like a good purchase...

If I was Nicholas Jackson I'd be worried.

Just had a thought... if the London Dodgers have made it to
the semi-final at the FIFA Club World Casino, does that mean
they're now the fourth best club team in the world? Surely
that's how it works right?

Second best team in the world?

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Werner Pichler <no_email@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Werner Pichler <no_email@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Werner Pichler <wpichler@gmail.com> wrote:

On 18.06.2025 16:44, Werner Pichler wrote:

UEFA, famously known for taking a hard-nosed stance on Multi-Club
Ownership, have now tackled the problem heads on, and so mighty Drogheda >>>> United Football Club have been disqualified from Europe for having
the same owners (Trivela Group) as Silkeborg IF from Denmark.

To add insult to injury, when Drogheda qualified for Europe by winning >>>> the FAI Cup in November 2024, Silkeborg hadn't yet even been part of the >>>> Trivela portfolio, they were acquired a month later. But according to
UEFA rules the Danes take precedence because of their higher league
finish, and Drogheda aren't even replaced in Europe by another Irish
team since none of them have applied for a European licence. Instead,
two teams from ConfLQ1 (Albania's Dinamo City and Ireland's own Shamrock >>>> Rovers) will move up directly to ConfLQ2.


There is also another UEFA investigation going on regarding Dunajsk|i
Streda and Gy+ar who are both owned by Slovakian-Hungarian businessman >>>> Oszk|ir Vil|igi, and we also haven't yet heard anything definite regarding >>>> the most high-profile case, i.e. John Textor's Crystal Palace and
Olympique Lyon.

Textor has just sold his share in Palace (to the worst owner in the NFL, >>> but that's not the issue right now), so that should satisfy UEFA
requirements.

Plot twist: Olympique Lyon just got forcibly relegated
from Ligue 1 (barring a successful appeal) for
financial reasons, which would see them lose their
European spot as well.

Official UEFA statement: Dunajsk|i Streda are out,
same as Drogheda. A decision on Crystal Palace has
been postponed but as I read it only LyonrCOs enforced
relegation will actually save their spot in Europe.

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-admission-to-the-/

Lyon won the appeal to stay in Ligue 1 and in all
likelihood keep their place in Europe.

ThatrCOs bad news for Crystal Palace. Textor only sold
his shares in the club way past the official UEFA
deadline (a detail I had originally missed).

If I had to bet on it I would now actually put my
money on Palace being disqualified from the Europa
League, and IrCOm pretty sure that would ruffle a bit
more feathers than Drogheda United did.


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Textor has just sold his share in Palace (to the worst owner in the NFL, >>>> but that's not the issue right now), so that should satisfy UEFA
requirements.

Plot twist: Olympique Lyon just got forcibly relegated
from Ligue 1 (barring a successful appeal) for
financial reasons, which would see them lose their
European spot as well.

Official UEFA statement: Dunajsk|i Streda are out,
same as Drogheda. A decision on Crystal Palace has
been postponed but as I read it only LyonrCOs enforced
relegation will actually save their spot in Europe.

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-admission-to-the-/

Lyon won the appeal to stay in Ligue 1 and in all
likelihood keep their place in Europe.

ThatrCOs bad news for Crystal Palace. Textor only sold
his shares in the club way past the official UEFA
deadline (a detail I had originally missed).

If I had to bet on it I would now actually put my
money on Palace being disqualified from the Europa
League, and IrCOm pretty sure that would ruffle a bit
more feathers than Drogheda United did.

Can't UEFA use its discretion and put one of Lyon or Crystal Palace in
the conference league instead ?

Out of curiosity what loophole allowed RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg to
play in the Champions' league last year ? Are they not both owned by
Red Bull GMBH ? What am I missing ?

Ciao,
Werner

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 10/07/2025 02:12, MH wrote:

Textor has just sold his share in Palace (to the worst owner in the >>>>> NFL,
but that's not the issue right now), so that should satisfy UEFA
requirements.

Plot twist: Olympique Lyon just got forcibly relegated
from Ligue 1 (barring a successful appeal) for
financial reasons, which would see them lose their
European spot as well.

Official UEFA statement: Dunajsk|i Streda are out,
same as Drogheda. A decision on Crystal Palace has
been postponed but as I read it only LyonrCOs enforced
relegation will actually save their spot in Europe.

https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/029a-1e1f6cbd9ca1-
f7e573c4c485-1000--update-on-multi-club-ownership-cases-for-
admission-to-the-/

Lyon won the appeal to stay in Ligue 1 and in all
likelihood keep their place in Europe.

ThatrCOs bad news for Crystal Palace. Textor only sold
his shares in the club way past the official UEFA
deadline (a detail I had originally missed).

If I had to bet on it I would now actually put my
money on Palace being disqualified from the Europa
League, and IrCOm pretty sure that would ruffle a bit
more feathers than Drogheda United did.

Can't UEFA use its discretion and put one of Lyon or Crystal Palace in
the conference league instead ?

UEFA can probably use their discretion however they like. They could
just be lenient since Textor is no longer involved with Palace - but
then there's the question of how serious they're taking their own
deadlines (see below).

But I don't really think it's feasible to put one of them in the
Conference League, because who would you take that spot away from?

In any case, according to official UEFA rules it would always be Crystal
Palace to suffer the consequences because of their lower league finish.

Out of curiosity what loophole allowed RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg to
play in the Champions' league last year ?

Not just last year. They even were in the same Europa League group in
2017-18. I wrote about it back then https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.soccer/c/2AmFqdzlsiM/m/Cmp1LOULAwAJ
and the gist of it is still true - that blueprint works with UEFA, who
care first and foremost about appearances.

The City group (Man City/Girona), Brighton and Union Saint-Gilloise, Milan/Toulouse or Aston Villa/Vit||ria Guimar|ues have all followed this template in recent years, and all of them were allowed to play in Europe despite having the same people/companies in their ownership structures.

Are they not both owned by Red Bull GMBH ?-a What am I missing ?

Unlike Leipzig, Salzburg are not officially owned by Red Bull anymore,
and haven't been for many years, they're sponsors. That Salzburg's club structure consists of only a very select number of associates, all of
them hand-picked by Red Bull (and none of them involved in Leipzig), is
a different story, as is Klopp's vague role as Global Head of Soccer.

And then Salzburg have also made a transfer profit of close to 500mre4
just in the last decade, so it's become difficult to argue that they're
really dependent on just Red Bull money.



What I believe is different now is that

a) UEFA have shifted the deadline by which the organizational unbundling
needs to be completed in order to be able to play in Europe - it used to
be after the end of the season, now it's March. So that's new, and
likely a reaction to the last-minute scrambling a lot of the above
mentioned teams did in the last couple of years.

b) The two cases that got disqualified this year (Drogheda and DAC)
clearly didn't take the threat seriously enough. Drogheda's owners
likely never thought of the issue since they never expected both of
their clubs to qualify for Europe (Drogheda's cup title was a major
surprise, and Silkeborg squeaked in at the last second through the
Danish play-offs), and DAC/Gy+ar's oligarchic owner thought he could
just sign over one of the clubs to his daughter and get away with it,
which was too much of a middle finger even for UEFA.


And I think Textor's case is similar - back in March European football
was still a pipe dream for both Lyon and Crystal Palace (Lyon needed a spectacular late-season collapse by Strasbourg while we all know how
much of an upset Palace's FA Cup win was) so the people in charge simply
didn't think about taking the necessary measures in time.



Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Werner Pichler wrote:

Lyon won the appeal to stay in Ligue 1 and in all
likelihood keep their place in Europe.

ThatrCOs bad news for Crystal Palace. Textor only sold
his shares in the club way past the official UEFA
deadline (a detail I had originally missed).

If I had to bet on it I would now actually put my
money on Palace being disqualified from the Europa
League, and IrCOm pretty sure that would ruffle a bit
more feathers than Drogheda United did.

It will upset the usual talking heads in the English media, and
it will be a big disappointment for Crystal Palace fans... if it
does happen. But, Crystal Palace as an organisation took
investment from a businessman who had ownership shares in
another club so they should have been aware of UEFA's multi-club
ownership rules and what it would mean should both clubs qualify
for the same European tournament.

I think it's harsh as it's always the innocent fans that suffer
from things like this, not the rich businessmen who have other
interests and investments. So I feel sorry for the Crystal
Palace fans who go week-in week-out and will probably not be
allowed to see their team compete in the Europa League next
season now.

Of course, in reality Crystal Palace didn't expect to qualify
for a European competition in the first place. So they didn't
consider the rule to be important.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

MH wrote:

Can't UEFA use its discretion and put one of Lyon or
Crystal Palace in the conference league instead ?

Yes, and they have done.

Crystal Palace FC have now been demoted to the UEFA
Conference League. (Announced by UEFA today.)

Crystal Palace are now appealing to CAS.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 11/07/2025 18:13, Blueshirt wrote:

MH wrote:

Can't UEFA use its discretion and put one of Lyon or
Crystal Palace in the conference league instead ?

Yes, and they have done.

Crystal Palace FC have now been demoted to the UEFA
Conference League. (Announced by UEFA today.)

Crystal Palace are now appealing to CAS.

Interesting. So they would be swapping spots with Nottingham Forest?


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Conference League 1st Qualifying Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team

I wanted to say that no team here has a snowball's chance in hell
to make it through four qualifying rounds and actually reach the
Conference League league phase, but then Armenia's FC Noah did exactly
that last year (they've been the only ones so far though).



July 8


St Joseph's FC (GIB)* v Cliftonville FC (NIR) 2-2 (0-1)
(Rey 55' (pen), 83'; Curran 39', Addis 78' (pen);
Red Card: Keaney (Cli) 54')

With Gibraltar's Victoria Stadium currently on the way to being
demolished to make way for a full-blown UEFA Category 4 national
arena (they had a farewell game called 'The Final Whistle' four
weeks ago), the Gibraltarian teams now play these early rounds at the
even more modest Europa Sports Park, formerly a cricket pitch. Ryan
Curran gave the Northern Irish the lead by heading in Rory Hale's free-
kick, but out of nowhere Cliftonville centre-back Jack Keaney figured it
would be an excellent idea to apply a rugby tackle on St Joseph's
striker Pablo Rodr|!guez in front of his own net, which resulted in a red
card and penalty, despatched by Rodr|!guez's fellow Spaniard |Ulvaro Rey.
St Joseph's then hit the woodwork twice, but despite having been reduced
to ten the Northern Irish were able to retake the lead thanks to an
unlucky handball penalty. Still, Rey - who eleven years ago featured in
22 MLS games with Toronto and Columbus - managed to secure a deserved
draw by crouching low to head in a deflected cross: https://giphy.com/media/x7LzyjngNZ2i40sCVU/giphy.gif


Floriana FC (MLT)* v Haverfordwest County AFC (WAL) 2-1 (0-1)
(Gamarra 42', Grech 59' (pen); Ahmun 27')

In their third ever European adventure Haverfordwest took a somewhat
surprising lead on Malta when Ben Ahmun tapped in a cross from close
range. But still in the first half Floriana's Argentine left-back
Gonzalo Gamarra headed in the equaliser, and a wrestling move in the box
led to the penalty that Jake Grech converted to give the Maltese the
narrow home win.



July 10


Atl|?tic Club d'Escaldes (AND) v F91 Diddeleng (LUX)* 2-0 (2-0)
(Gemelson 9', Carpio 15')

At the eighth attempt the first ever win in Europe for Atl|?tic. Bissau- Guinean midfielder Gemelson Vieira stuck out a leg to give them the
early lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497099/100601-Record_2025_07_10_16_09_01_139.mp4
and soon after Alav|-s-trained midfielder Yeray Carpio surprised
D|+delingen keeper Eldin Latik with a free-kick from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497099/100605-Record_2025_07_10_16_14_43_171.mp4

Last year at the same stage the Luxembourgers had won against the same opponents twice, but now they are left with quite some work to do in the
home leg.


FC Bruno's Magpies (GIB) v Paide Linnameeskond (EST)* 2-3 (1-2)
(Britto 38', Del Rio 54'; Saarma 8', 90'+8 (pen), Miller 43')

The Magpies have merged with Calpe City and from next year will be known
as Calpe City Magpies FC, but due to not having announced the merger in
time for the new European season Bruno's Bar & Restaurant is for one
last time the official eponym of the club. Paide on their part are still
a conduit for Gambian players into Europe, but it was their homegrown
Estonians who scored in this one - Robi Saarma converted a free-kick and
a last-minute penalty, while Martin Miller volleyed in a corner kick. On
the Gibraltarians part, Julian Britto likewise scored from a corner, and following a defensive mix-up Julian Del Rio got one on the break.


FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) v FC Ordabasy (KAZ)* 4-3 (2-2)
(Johnsen 30', 78', +aimi-c 45'+2, 90'+4; C-ap-a+c|<n-a 32', Imnadze 35', Tursynbay 69')

US-born former Norway international and certified globetrotter Bj|+rn
Johnsen has rarely stayed in any one country for longer than a year, but
he seems to like it in Georgia as he's now going into his second
European campaign with Torpedo, and he got them the lead by slotting in
a cross by former Salzburg and Austria Vienna winger Felipe Pires: https://giphy.com/media/aej5LQiUwNKodILer3/giphy.gif
The Kazakhs immediately hit back though thanks to Romanian midfielder
Mihai C-ap-a+c|<n-a whose shot from distance went through Torpedo keeper Goshadze: https://giphy.com/media/TjxFD6xSHw7B7f83mz/giphy.gif
and they took the lead when their own Georgian Luka Imnadze ran onto a
long ball over the top and rifled past Goshadze: https://giphy.com/media/KV2cICnqJDTUnhUHCu/giphy.gif
Just before the break Croatian centre-back Matej +aimi-c, who has found
his way to Georgia via the Spanish Tercera and the Bulgarian league,
volleyed in a corner kick for Torpedo's equaliser. Another corner,
another goal as Sagadat Tursynbay slid in to give the Kazakhs the lead
once more, but late goals by Johnsen on the break and +aimi-c from, you
guessed it, another corner gave Torpedo the 4-3 win.


SJK (FIN) v K|i (FAR)* 1-2 (0-1)
(Arsalo 47'; J. Andreasen 39', Tellechea 86')

July 10, 2025 was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day for
Finnish football - the ladies got eliminated at the last second from the
Euros, Ilves got pummelled by Shakhtar, and as for their two matches
against Faroe opposition... well.

Both sides had already missed a ton of chances before Klaksv|!k captain
J|ikup Andreasen headed in a pin-point cross by who else but |Urni Frederiksberg to give the Faroese the lead. Just after the break the
team from Sein|njoki equalised thanks to a great shot into the top corner
by Markus Arsalo, and the Finns then had several opportunities to add
another, but four minutes from time K|i's Argentine centre-back Gast||n Tellechea - I'm not exactly sure how Klaksv|!k enticed him to move from
the Argentine 2nd tier to some windswept islands in the Atlantic - dove
low to head in after a corner kick had thrown the Finnish defence into disarray: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497104/100675-Record_2025_07_10_19_43_51_962.mp4


FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU)* v Penybont FC (WAL) 3-0 (2-0)
(Kircough 18' (og), Sirg-udas 24', Pavlovi-c 46';
Red Card: Davies (Pen) 65')

Penybont's second ever European adventure doesn't appear to go very
different from their first (in which they got ousted by Andorran
opposition), but truth be told Kauno ++algiris had been the favourites
since they are currently comfortably leading the Lithuanian summer
league halfway through their season. Gabe Kircough steered a cross into
his own net, a mishit cross by Lithuania international Gratas Sirg-udas unluckily curved over Penybont's young keeper Luke Armstrong, and Serbian-Belgian midfielder Damjan Pavlovi-c slotted in ++algiris's third
from another cross. In the second half Penybont captain Mael Davis got
sent off with a second booking, too.


Racing FC Union Luxembourg (LUX) v FC Dila Gori (GEO)* 1-2 (0-0)
(Stolz 52'; Andronikashvili 60', Edudzi 78')

Dominik Stolz, a German veteran from the days when D|+delingen played
twice in the Europa League group stages, bundled the ball over the line
after the Dila defence had made a complete mess out of a long throw-in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497106/100673-Record_2025_07_10_19_42_42_97.mp4
but the Georgians turned the match around thanks to two set-pieces -
Aleko Andronikashvili scored with a direct free-kick and young Ghanaian
Cyril Edudzi headed in a corner.


FC Urartu (ARM)* v FC Neman Grodno (BLR) 1-2 (0-0)
(Kaloukian 68'; Suchkov 49', Savitski 54';
Red Card: Matinyan (Ura) 90'+4)

Urartu's Ukrainian centre-half Yevgeniy Tsymbalyuk stuck out a leg to
trip Oleg Yevdokimov, but Pavel Savitski saw his poor Panenka saved by
Gor Matinyan and his rebound attempt skimming the crossbar: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497107/100668-Record_2025_07_10_19_35_56_212.mp4
Just a minute later though Anton Suchkov did much better and from the
edge of the area sent a shot into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497107/100670-Record_2025_07_10_19_37_28_425.mp4
and Savitski made amends for his earlier miss by stealing the ball off
two Urartu defenders and slotting past Matinyan: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497107/100671-Record_2025_07_10_19_41_17_776.mp4
US-born and trained Nicholas Kaloukian then at least managed to halve
the deficit for the Armenians. In stoppage time goalkeeper Martinyan
went for a stroll near the centre circle, lost the ball, pushed over an opponent, grabbed the ball to prevent a quickly taken free-kick, got
into a scuffle with a Neman player, threw the ball into his face, and
collected both a yellow and a direct red for his troubles. With no substitutions left, field player Artemiy Gunko went into the Armenian
net for the remaining two minutes and kept a clean sheet.


N||mme Kalju FC (EST) v FK Partizani (ALB)* 1-1 (0-0)
(M|nnnilaan 47'; Skuka 51')

In Kalju's return to Europe after five years Mattias M|nnnilaan, back
home after a stint with the Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar, curled in a
shot to give the Estonians the lead, but Partizani soon equalised
through Xhuliano Skuka, likewise a homecomer after time spent in the
Romania, Slovenia, and the French and Portuguese second divisions.


FK De-ii-c (MNE)* v FK Sileks (MKD) 2-0 (1-0)
(Bajovi-c 39', Ndiaye 71'; Red Card: Mir-ievski (Sil) 50')

Andrej Bajovi-c gave the Montenegrins the lead with an angled shot, and
after Martin Mir-ievski had been sent off for a reckless studs-up
challenge they added a second through a header by Senegalese journeyman Ibrahima Ndiaye.


FC Torpedo-BelAZ (BLR)* v FK Rabotni-iki (MKD) 3-0 (1-0)
(Sedko 12', Pobudey 64', Alfred 90'+3)

The other North Macedonian team didn't do much better in a match played
- as has become usual when Belarusian teams are involved - in Hungary,
more precisely in Szombathely not far from the Austrian border. A simple
corner kick routine ended with Pavel Sedko rolling the ball in, Vadim
Pobudey's shot from distance was deflected past Rabotni-iki's young
keeper Vasilev, and late on Nigerian striker Steven Alfred added a third
on the break.


Birkirkara FC (MLT) v FC Petrocub (MDA)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Acheampong 54')

Petrocub played in the Conference League league stage last season, but
they fell on Malta to a solo effort by Ghanaian midfielder Geoffrey
Acheampong: https://giphy.com/media/ugnlzCqGaTYt7kPr7s/giphy.gif


KF Vllaznia (ALB)* v BFC Daugavpils (LAT) 0-1 (0-0)
(Lizunovs 85')

The Latvian debutants got a somewhat surprising away win thanks to a
perfectly looping header by Latvian Under-21 striker Valerijs Lizunovs: https://giphy.com/media/C3C91wdmbPaYWaUXGY/giphy.gif
which was their only shot on target.


KF Malisheva (KOS) v KF V|!kingur (ISL)* 0-1 (0-1)
(Hansen 45'+2)

V|!kingur's longtime Danish striker Nikolaj Hansen headed in a trademark free-kick cross by Gylfi Sigur|#sson for the only goal.


FK ++eljezni-iar (BIH) v FC Koper (SLO)* 1-1 (0-1)
(Boljevi-c 90'+6; Matondo 7')

Former French U-21 international Isaac Matondo beat ++eljezni-iar keeper Mufti-c with an angled shot for the early lead, but in the sixth minute
of stoppage time the Slovenians ran into a counter attack at the end of
which the Montenegrin substitute Aleksandar Boljevi-c, formerly of
Standard Li|?ge, headed in D++enan +aabi-c's looping cross, to much celebration.


FK Sutjeska (MNE)* v FC Dynamo Brest (BLR) 1-2 (0-1)
(Kalezi-c 90' (pen); Bykov 25', Jukovi-c 90'+4 (og))

Artyom Bykov scored one of the best goals of the matchday with a great
shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497115/100715-Record_2025_07_10_20_57_08_122.mp4
Things came to a head in stoppage time - the Montenegrins were awarded a
rather soft penalty converted by Vasko Kalezi-c, on occasion of a free-
kick Brest centre-back Aleksandr Pavlovets hit fresh air with the goal
at his mercy, but the Belarusians still got the win as Sutjeska's young substitute Medo Jukovi-c satisfied that old adage about forwards in their
own box and expertly headed a corner kick past his own keeper Giljen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497115/100752-Record_2025_07_10_22_20_31_425.mp4


FK Vardar (MKD) v SP La Fiorita (SMR)* 3-0 (0-0)
(Omeragib+# 47', Drudi 66' (og), Mato 68')

The Sammarinese kept the scoreless draw for one half before Azer
Omeragib+# slotted in a cross, 38-year-old Serie B/C veteran Mirko Drudi deflected another cross into his own net, and Ugandan international
Rogers Mato beat La Fiorita keeper Zavoli with a low drive.


NS|i (FAR) v HJK (FIN)* 4-0 (2-0)
(E. Joensen 12', Ness 35', Obbekj|ar 76', K. Olsen 83';
Red Card: Kallinen (HJK) 23')

Ouch! Youngster Emil Joensen opened the rout by latching on to a poorly defended cross, and things fell completely apart for the Finnish record champions after Jere Kallinen was a bit harshly sent off for a late
tackle. He did raise his foot at the last second though. Norwegian left-
back Fabian |ystig|Nrd Ness met a cross with a somewhat unconventional
volley that looped over HJK's Dutch keeper Nijhuis to make it two,
Danish centre-half Daniel Obbekj|ar headed in a corner kick for Runav|!k's third, and their captain Kl|amint Olsen finished the rout in style,
volleying in yet another cross from short range.


St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)* v FK Hegelmann (LTU) 1-0 (0-0)
(Keena 79' (pen))

A goalmouth scramble resulted in a late penalty to give Pat's the close
home win over the Lithuanian truckers.


SP Tre Fiori FC (SMR) v FC Pyunik (ARM)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Manfroni 63')

Matteo Manfroni, who spent part of his training in Juve's youth setup,
got the winner with a nice turn and volley: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497119/100756-Record_2025_07_10_22_20_17_827.mp4

Already Tre Fiori's fourth win (plus three draws) in 19 European
matches. Not so bad, actually.


Larne FC (NIR)* v FK Auda (LAT) 0-0 (0-0)

A bit disappointing scoreless draw for the team that last year brought a European group phase to Northern Ireland for the first time.


FK Borac Banja Luka (BIH)* v FC Santa Coloma (AND) 1-4 (0-3)
(Kula+iin 71'; Mourelo 29', Cistero 34' (pen), Virgili 40', Le||n 66')

But this is way worse. Last year Borac had reached the Conference League
Round of 16.

Spanish winger Mario Mourela put in the rebound past Borac's 17-year-old
keeper Mladen Jurkas who had parried a header by Mexican striker Armando
Le||n: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497121/100729-Record_2025_07_10_21_29_30_80.mp4
A clumsy challenge then led to a penalty despatched by Aleix Cister||,
and another Spaniard, David Virgili, curled in FCSC's third even before
the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497121/100735-Record_2025_07_10_21_40_50_21.mp4
Le||n then beat Borac's offside trap to make it four: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497121/100755-Record_2025_07_10_22_25_10_979.mp4
and the Bosnian Serbs only managed to pull one back through Enver
Kula+iin as another late goal was correctly disallowed for offside.

The Bosnian teams have a new nemesis. Last year Vele++ Mostar lost 1-5
against Inter Escaldes, but at least that was away in Andorra.

Andorra can now entertain realistic hopes of leaving the Bottom 5 in the
UEFA ranking, and for the first time ever send four teams to Europe.


Valur (ISL) v FC Flora (EST)* 3-0 (3-0)
(Magn||sson 12', 40', J||nsson 45')

Convincing win for the team currently sitting in second in the Icelandic
Besta deild. T||mas Bent Magn||sson volleyed into the empty net after
Flora keeper Gr|+nvald had made a mess of a corner kick, and headed in
another cross for his brace. J||natan Ingi J||nsson got the third with a
curled shot from just inside the area.




Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Werner Pichler wrote:

On 11/07/2025 18:13, Blueshirt wrote:

MH wrote:

Can't UEFA use its discretion and put one of Lyon or
Crystal Palace in the conference league instead ?

Yes, and they have done.

Crystal Palace FC have now been demoted to the UEFA
Conference League. (Announced by UEFA today.)

Crystal Palace are now appealing to CAS.

Interesting. So they would be swapping spots with
Nottingham Forest?

That hasn't been announced as yet, but it is the likeliest
scenario. Although with Crystal palace appealing to CAS I
wouldn't expect any decision from UEFA to be announced
before then.

UEFA has got itself into a right pickle over this... with
its softly softly approach to some clubs with the same
ownership, and then the letter of the law approach to others.
Meaning teams like Drogheda and Crystal Palace are the ones to
suffer... teams that don't have a lot of international clout.

It'll be interesting to see if CAS overturn the 'demotion'...
methinks that will really piss UEFA off!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Conference League 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Teams in CAPITALS (except NS|i and SJK) through to ConfLQ2 (Main Path)
* = seeded team



July 16


FK Auda (LAT) v LARNE FC (NIR)* 2-2 aet (1-0, 2-2), 2-2 on aggregate
Larne win 4-2 on penalties
(Traore 28', Monteiro 53'; McKendry 50', O'Neill 66')

After the lacklustre first leg, a much more eventful game in which both
sides had quite a lot of chances, and Abdoul Kader Traore had already
hit the post once before the young Ivorian winger was able to give the
Latvians the lead with a turn-and-volley. The woodwork then saved Larne
once more as a shot by Portuguese midfielder Matheus Clemente came off
the left post, but the Northern Irish were noticeably improved after the
break and got the equaliser thanks to Conor McKendry's shot from
distance that bounced past Auda keeper Roberts Ozols: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497123/101634-Record_2025_07_16_19_05_58_256.mp4
Auda soon took the lead again through Enzo Monteiro, a Bolivian
international that has come to Latvia on loan from Santos, who volleyed
in a feed by Oskars Rubenis, one of the few Latvian outfield players in
Auda's squad: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497123/101635-Record_2025_07_16_19_08_29_825.mp4
but Larne once more tied the game when Paul O'Neill emphatically headed
home an excellent cross by youngster Dylan Sloan: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497123/101637-Record_2025_07_16_19_22_00_78.mp4
Incidentally, both goalscorers McKendry and O'Neill are currently banned
for a bunch of matches in the NIFL due to punishments handed out after a
mass brawl against Glentoran at the close of last season. The two sides continued to exchange opportunities in extra time, with Larne's Scottish
keeper Rohan Ferguson pulling off a number of good saves and the
Northern Irish hitting the crossbar through Matt Ridley's header. In the shoot-out Auda's French midfielder Kemehlo Nguena saw his penalty saved
by Ferguson, and Burkinab|- international Ousmane Camara's effort came
back off the bar.



July 17


BFC Daugavpils (LAT) v KF VLLAZNIA (ALB)* 2-4 (2-2), 3-4 on aggregate
(Williams 33', Diallo 35'; Mensah 22', Andrey Yago 45'+1, Dodaj 74',
Mala 87')

Ghanaian striker Alfred Mensah volleyed Vllaznia into the lead, but two
headers by English centre-back Wasiri Williams (who had left the depths
of the Isthmian League for a stint in the Baltics) and Malian striker
Boubou Diallo (who had done the same coming from the Belgian 3rd
division) gave the Latvians a seemingly comfortable two-goal aggregate
lead. Still, Vllaznia halved that deficit just before the break thanks
to a precise shot from distance by their Brazilian left-back Andrey
Yago, and they turned the tie around completely in the last 20 minutes - 19-year-old winger Kevin Dodaj punished lax defending when the Latvians
failed to cut out a cross, and Esat Mala turned in a low cross by Dodaj
for the winner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497124/101868-Record_2025_07_17_22_14_31_656.mp4
Daugavpils seemingly scored the aggregate equaliser in the fifth minute
of stoppage time, but the goal was correctly disallowed for a foul on
Vllaznia keeper Qarri.


HJK (FIN)* v NS|i (FAR) 5-0 aet (1-0, 4-0), 5-4 on aggregate
(Lingman 18', Ring 53', Hostikka 79', 93', Antzoulas 90'+4;
Red Card: Ness (NS|i) 15')

The decisive moment of the match happened already after a quarter of an
hour when NS|i's Norwegian left-back Fabian |ystig|Nrd Ness was somewhat harshly sent off for DOGSO. Down to ten but with a four-goal lead the
Faroese quickly conceded when Lucas Lingman curled in a great shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497125/101741-Record_2025_07_17_18_18_31_125.mp4
Lingman later in the first half also hit the crossbar, and veteran
Alexander Ring, back home in Finland after years in the MLS, headed in a
corner kick to make it two, but time still appeared to be running out
for the Finns - that is, until NS|i keeper Kristian Joensen palmed a shot
by the substitute Santeri Hostikka into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497125/101769-Record_2025_07_17_19_36_54_622.mp4
So things happened as they were bound to happen, and in the fourth
minute of stoppage time, and with keeper Nijhuis having joined the
attack, HJK's Greek centre-back Georgios Antzoulas headed in a looping
cross to complete the comeback and send the tie to extra time: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497125/101782-Record_2025_07_17_19_52_00_694.mp4
where Hostikka only needed three minutes to get the winner with a fine free-kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497125/101795-Record_2025_07_17_20_01_54_572.mp4

Very, very tough for the Faroese, but 18-0 shots on goal and 20-2 corner
kicks speak for themselves.


FC Ordabasy (KAZ)* v FC TORPEDO KUTAISI (GEO) 1-1 (0-1), 4-5 on aggregate (Zhumabek 90'+6; Bidzinashvili 13'; Red Card: Kvirkvelia (Tor) 49')

Against the run of play Irakli Bidzinashvili's speculative shot from
distance bounced over the arms of Ordabasy's Moldovan keeper Celeadnic
to give Torpedo the early lead, and despite having been reduced to ten
after veteran centre-back Solomon Kvirkvelia had been sent off with a
second booking the Georgians held on until deep into stoppage time when
they failed to cut out a cross and the substitute Abylaykhan Zhumabek
pounced for the equaliser which came too late.


FC PYUNIK (ARM)* v SP Tre Fiori FC (SMR) 5-0 (3-0), 5-1 on aggregate
(Otubanjo 14' (pen), 85', Alem|uo 24', Noubissi 40' (pen),
Manfroni 89' (og))

A handball penalty despatched by Nigerian former Austrian Bundesliga
striker Yusuf Otubanjo levelled the aggregate score early on, and a nice
curled shot by Pyunik's Brazilian right-back Alem|uo and another penalty
put the result out of reach already in the first half. The Sammarinese
had one big chance to pull within one when they were awarded a penalty
of their own, but Pyunik keeper Henri Avagyan saved against Matteo
Prandelli. Late on Otubanjo slotted in a cross for his second, and
Matteo Manfroni, who had scored Tre Fiori's winning goal in the first
leg, stumbled another cross into his own net.


FK Hegelmann (LTU) v ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC FC (IRL)* 0-2 (0-1), 0-3 on aggregate
(Melia 6', Leavy 56')

The Irish took an early lead when 17-year-old striker Mason Melia turned
in the rebound after Hegelmann keeper Vincentas +aarkauskas had parried a
shot by Jason McClelland: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497128/101748-Record_2025_07_17_18_49_48_299.mp4
St Pat's then also hit the woodwork, and just when the Lithuanians grew
a bit more adventurous after the break Kian Leavy sidestepped a defender
and chipped in the second.

After four matches the Lithuanian-German trucking company team are still waiting to score their first ever goal in Europe.


FK Rabotni-iki (MKD) v FC TORPEDO-BELAZ (BLR)* 0-1 (0-1), 0-4 on aggregate (Alfred 14')

Nigerian journeyman striker Steven Alfred headed in a corner kick for
the only goal.


FC Flora (EST)* v VALUR (ISL) 1-2 (1-1), 1-4 on aggregate
(Sappinen 41'; Haraldsson 29', J.I. J||nsson 90'+3)

Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson scored the goal of the matchday from inside his
own half after Valur had intercepted a bad pass: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497130/101743-Record_2025_07_17_18_29_29_891.mp4
A nice headed one-two led to Rauno Sappinen getting the equaliser, and
the Estonians had a couple more chances to pull within one goal on
aggregate, but deep in stoppage time Jonatan Ingi J||nsson chipped over
Flora keeper Evert Gr|+nvald to deny them even any coefficient points.


FC DILA GORI (GEO)* v Racing FC Union Luxembourg (LUX) 1-0 (0-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Dram|- 90'+1; Red Card: Ruffier (Rac) 35')

Due to his defence losing the ball in front of him Racing's French
goalkeeper Romain Ruffier was forced to make a spectacular diving save,
the only problem being that he did so way outside his penalty area.
Reduced to ten the Luxembourgers at least held on to the scoreless draw,
also thanks to excellent saves by reserve keeper Patricio Sancho, but in stoppage time substitute Senegalese winger Ibrahima Dram|-, formerly of
the Austrian second division, slalomed through the Luxembourger defence
and surprised Sancho from a tight angle: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497131/101779-Record_2025_07_17_19_49_18_825.mp4


FC SANTA COLOMA (AND) v FK Borac Banja Luka (BIH)* 0-2 (0-0), 4-3 on
aggregate
(Herrera 71', Peri-c 88'; Red Card: Ferreira (FCSC) 69')

Almost following the NS|i script, but the red card (a second yellow) for
the underdogs happened later, and so Borac ran out of time to complete
what would have been a very, very rare European comeback after a defeat
at home by three goals. Colombian left-back Sebasti|in Herrera volleyed
in the rebound after David Vukovi-c's free-kick had come off the wall: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497132/101764-Record_2025_07_17_19_29_20_728.mp4
and Karlo Peri-c punished Alex Ruiz's hesitation when going for youngster Stefan Mar-ieti-c's cross, but Santa Coloma's French keeper redeemed
himself in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he punched out Amer
Hiro+i's goal-bound effort: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497132/101786-Record_2025_07_17_19_54_33_994.mp4


PAIDE LINNAMEESKOND (EST)* v FC Bruno's Magpies (GIB) 4-1 (1-0), 7-3 on aggregate
(Miller 36', Corr 66', 71', Cham 89'; Del Rio 76')

Martin Miller rifled in a loose ball, and young Gambian Pa Assan Corr
got one from a long ball over the top, and one when the Gibraltarian
defence failed to cut out a cross. A misunderstanding between Paide's
- Gambian, of course - keeper Ebrima Jarju and his defenders gifted
Julian del Rio a consolation goal, but Pa Abdou Cham, yet another young Gambian, cheekily back-heeled a cross past Magpies keeper Sergio F||nez
for Paide's fourth.


FK Sileks (MKD) v FK DE-iI-a (MNE)* 2-1 (1-1), 2-3 on aggregate
(Ali-c 28', Hrvanovi-c 80'; Strikovi-c 3')

Appropriately named forward Vuk Strikovi-c gave the Montenegrins an early three-goal aggregate lead on the break, but Bosnian striker Adi Ali-c
soon headed in the equaliser, and Sileks were the better team in the
second half and came within one when Aldin Hrvanovi-c, another Bosnian, volleyed in a cross by Darko Dodev. In stoppage time a shot by Hrvanovi-c whistled just inches over the crossbar.


Haverfordwest County AFC (WAL) v FLORIANA FC (MLT)* 2-3 (2-2), 3-5 on aggregate
(Walters 11', Ahmun 17'; Zammit Lonardelli 19', Grech 45'+1 (pen),
M'Mbombwa 67'; Red Cards: Jones (Hav) 44', Abbruzzese (Hav) 90'+3)

This was played in the Scarlets' rugby stadium in Llanelli, and the Pembrokeshire team had an excellent start - Greg Walters volleyed in
after a corner kick had spelled confusion in the Maltese box, and Ben
Ahmun curled in a nice shot from just inside the box: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497135/101783-Record_2025_07_17_19_53_20_393.mp4
Just two minutes later though a shot by right-back Carlo Zammit
Lonardelli got deflected in, and the decisive moment of the tie came
just before half-time when Haverfordwest centre-back Alaric Jones
inadvertently elbowed Mustapha Jah, yet another young Gambian striker in
these qualifiers, which resulted in a second booking and a penalty
despatched by Jake Grech. Against ten Welsh, Australia-trained Tanzania international Charles M'Mombwa fired in from a very tight angle, and
very late on Rhys Abbruzzese also collected a second booking.


FC PETROCUB H|ANCE+yTI (MDA)* v Birkirkara FC (MLT) 3-0 (1-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Lupan 39', 55', Rotaru 76')

The other Maltese team didn't do nearly as well away. Petrocub, who
played in the Conference League phase last year, levelled the aggregate
score through Mihai Lupan's turn-and-shot, and in the second half the
Moldovan Under-21 international also tapped in the deserved go-ahead
goal. Bad passing from the back then resulted in 19-year-old Nicolae
Rotaru surprising Birkirkara's Spanish keeper Miguel |Ungel Mart|!nez,
formerly of Serie C with Catania and Triestina, with a toe-poked shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497136/101815-Record_2025_07_17_20_36_49_613.mp4


F91 Diddeleng (LUX)* v ATL|eTIC CLUB D'ESCALDES (AND) 2-3 (1-1), 2-5 on aggregate
(Agostinho 41', Rotundo 71'; Segura 34', Emanoel 74', Valero 89')

Yet more proof of the great strides Andorran club football has made,
admittedly mostly based on the skill of Spanish players. One of them,
David Segura, ran onto a ball over the top to give Atl|?tic a three-goal aggregate lead, and while D|+delingen managed to get within one thanks to
a shot from distance by Bissau-Guinean forward Agostinho and a looping
header by former US youth international Evan Rotundo, the Andorrans
still managed to get the away win as well since both Brazilian winger
Emanoel and David Valero, yet another Spaniard with a past in Segunda B, managed to punish the Luxembourgers on the break.


Penybont FC (WAL) v FK KAUNO ++ALGIRIS (LTU)* 1-1 (1-1), 1-4 on aggregate
(Wood 17'; Hern|indez 13'; Red Card: Warlow (Pen, on the bench) 45'+4)

Both sides exchanged early goals - Colombian centre-back Aldayr
Hern|indez headed in a corner kick and the team from Bridgend equalised
after the Lithuanian defence hadn't been able to clear a cross, but a
proper comeback was never in the cards.


FC KOPER (SLO)* v FK ++eljezni-iar (BIH) 3-1 (3-1), 4-2 on aggregate (Mijailovi-c 44', Manseri 45'+1, Longonda 45'+8; Krpi-c 26' (pen))

The Bosnians took the lead through Sulejman Krpi-c's penalty after ++eljezni-iar captain Mad++id +ao+ii-c had been brought down in the box by
Maj Mittendorfer. But a crazy finish to the first half decided the tie
- Koper's Serbian right-back Veljko Mijailovi-c converted a trademark
weighted through ball by old man Josip Ili-ii-c, who had joined Koper
after three not altogether successful years in Maribor: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497139/101948-Record_2025_07_18_13_12_56_135.mp4
Ili-ii-c also provided the cut-back cross that Frenchman Kamil Manseri
slotted in for the second, and Belgian midfielder Jean-Pierre Longonda
got the third after a corner kick, delivered by who else but Ili-ii-c.


FK Partizani (ALB)* v N|oMME KALJU FC (EST) 0-1 aet (0-0, 0-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Ivanov 104')

Xhuliano Skuka had a golden opportunity to win it for Partizani ten
minutes from time but he saw his penalty saved by Kalju's young keeper
Maksim Pavlov. Instead, the winning goal was scored in extra time at the
other end when two Estonian Under-21 internationals combined and Nikita
Ivanov swept in a cut-back cross by Aleksandr Nikolajev: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497140/101865-Record_2025_07_17_22_11_09_594.mp4


FC NEMAN GRODNO (BLR) v FC Urartu (ARM)* 4-0 (1-0), 6-1 on aggregate
(Savitski 42', Zubovich 58', Pushnyakov 82', Kravtsov 88')

The Belarusian teams have gone through some very lean years, and playing
all their European home matches in empty stadia in Hungary certainly
hasn't helped, but there seem to be signs of improvement. Pavel Savitski
ran onto a through ball to open the scoring, Egor Zubovich and Sergey Pushnyakov headed in crosses, and Maksim Kravtsov ran the length of the
field to finish off a counter attack.


FC Dynamo Brest (BLR) v FK SUTJESKA (MNE)* 0-2 (0-0), 2-3 on aggregate (Vuk-ievi-c 74', -iavor 89')

But only small signs of improvement. While Neman played their match in
Gyirm||t south of Gy+ar, Dynamo did so further south in Zalaegerszeg, and
with much less success. Ivan Vuk-ievi-c volleyed in after a corner kick
to level the aggregate score, and two minutes from time Vasilije -iavor finished off a one-two to somewhat surprisingly send Sutjeska through to
the next round: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497142/101870-Record_2025_07_17_22_13_45_790.mp4


K|i (FAR)* v SJK (FIN) 2-0 (0-0), 4-1 on aggregate
(Frederiksberg 61', Klettskar|# 73')

In proper foggy Faroese weather who else but |Urni Frederiksberg to open
the scoring, albeit in an uncharacteristically unspectacular fashion: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497143/101863-Record_2025_07_17_22_07_44_2.mp4
Klaksv|!k's other veteran forward P|ill Klettskar|# headed in a corner kick
for the second.


KF V|iKINGUR (ISL)* v KF Malisheva (KOS) 8-0 (5-0), 9-0 on aggregate
(Hansen 11', 21', 36', Ekroth 29', Hafsteinsson 42', Ingimundarson 68', J||nasson 72' (pen), S.G. |Rorkelsson 82'; Red Card: Agon (Mal) 72')

Will we read something about this match on the BBC website in three
year's time? I sincerely hope not. Still, one wonders: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497144/101893-Record_2025_07_17_23_24_29_736.mp4


Cliftonville FC (NIR) v ST JOSEPH'S FC (GIB)* 2-3 aet (1-1, 2-2), 4-5 on aggregate
(Glynn 32', Gormley 65'; Rodr|!guez 1', Juanma 68', Jessl|-n 92';
Red Card: Casey (Cli) 61')

Hapless defending of a long ball allowed the Gibraltarians to open the
scoring already in the first minute. Cliftonville managed to get the
equaliser thanks to a shot from distance by Miche|il Glynn, and despite
being reduced to ten after right-back Odhran Casey had seen a second
booking the Belfast team even took the lead through a scissor kick by
their all-time top scorer Joe Gormley: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497145/101901-Record_2025_07_17_23_33_26_733.mp4
But match-ups between Gibraltarian and lesser Home Nation teams have
usually been close affairs in recent years, and it was no different here
as St Joseph's Spanish captain Juanma soon rifled in the equaliser to
send the tie to extra time, where it didn't take long until Hugo
Jessl|-n, a young Swedish midfielder that had come to the Rock from the
Ettan Norra, stuck out a leg to steer in a cross for the winner.


SP La Fiorita (SMR)* v FK VARDAR (MKD) 2-2 (1-0), 2-5 on aggregate
(Jo|uo Felipe 10' (pen), Jankulov 90'+3 (og); Mato 59' (pen),
Grandoni 84' (og))

Both sides exchanged handball penalties and own goals, with Georgije
Jankulov's last-second header an especially nice gift: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497146/101889-Record_2025_07_17_23_15_55_35.mp4
Honi soit qui mal y pense.





Draw for Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round (July 24 and July 31)
* = seeded team


Champions Path

FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST)* v FC Iberia 1999 (GEO)
FK ++algiris (LTU)* v Linfield FC (NIR)
The New Saints FC (WAL)* v FC Differdange 03 (LUX)

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)*
FK Budu-cnost Podgorica (MNE) v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)*
FC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)* v KF Egnatia (ALB)

Byes: V|!kingur (FAR) and AC Virtus (SMR)



Main Path


Dundee United FC (SCO)* v FC UNA Strassen (LUX)
Larne FC (NIR)* v FC Prishtina (KOS)
FC DAC 1904 (SLK) replaced by FC Ko+iice (SLK)* v FC Neman Grodno (BLR)
FC Vaduz (LIE)* v Dungannon Swifts FC (NIR)

Silkeborg IF (DEN)* v KA (ISL)
Rosenborg BK (NOR)* v FK Banga (LTU)
Atl|?tic Club d'Escaldes (AND)* v FC Dinamo City (ALB)
FK Austria Wien (AUT)* v FC Spaeri (GEO)

FC Ballkani (KOS)* v Floriana FC (MLT)
Viking FK (NOR)* v FC Koper (SLO)
AEK FC (GRE)* v Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR)
FC Pyunik (ARM)* v ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN)

Riga FC (LAT)* v FC Dila Gori (GEO)
RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL)* v M+aK ++ilina (SLK)
FC Petrocub (MDA)* v Sabah FC (AZE)
FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM)* v FC Universitatea Cluj (ROM)

NK Vara++din (CRO) v CD Santa Clara (POR)*
FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU) v Valur (ISL)*
Paksi FC (HUN) v NK Maribor (SLO)*
KF Vllaznia (ALB) v KF V|!kingur (ISL)*

Hammarby IF (SWE) v Royal Charleroi SC (BEL)*
FK Radni-iki 1923 (SRB) v K|i (FAR)*
FK Novi Pazar (SRB) v Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)*
FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v FC Santa Coloma (AND)*

FK Vardar (MKD) v FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI)*
HB (FAR) v Br|+ndby IF (DEN)*
FC Oleksandriya (UKR) v FK Partizan (SRB)*
Hibernians FC (MLT) v FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)*

St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v N||mme Kalju FC (EST)*
AIK (SWE) v Paide Linnameeskond (EST)*
FK Sarajevo (BIH) v CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM)*
Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v Pusk|is Akad|-mia FC (HUN)*

St Joseph's FC (GIB) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)*
Tampereen Ilves (FIN) v AZ (NED)*
Zir+O FK (AZE) v HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)*
PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL) v HJK (FIN)*

FC Aktobe (KAZ) v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)*
FC Zimbru Chi+Oin-au (MDA) v FC Astana (KAZ)*
FK De-ii-c (MNE) v SK Rapid Wien (AUT)*
FC Torpedo-BelAZ (BLR) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)*

Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE) v Aris FC (GRE)*
AC Omonoia (CYP)* v FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO)
PFC Cherno More Varna (BUL) v -#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)*
FK Sutjeska (MNE) v Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR)*


Dunajsk|i Streda, banned because of Multi-Club Ownership with ETO Gy+ar,
have been replaced at the last second by fellow Slovakians FC Ko+iice.

Which is generally fine, but since UEFA took far too long to come to
this decision it means that Ko+iice are taking over DAC's seeded status
even though they would not have been seeded themselves. The ones that
should feel most aggrieved about this are HB from T||rshavn, who as the highest-ranked unseeded team probably lost out on a much more favourable
draw than Br|+ndby, but on the other hand a competitive match against a
team from Denmark is probably exactly what the Faroese would have wanted anyway.


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 12/07/2025 16.33, Werner Pichler wrote:

What I'm now curious about - with Crystal Palace in the Conference
League there might a new conflict with Br|+ndby. David Blitzer holds
the majority there, and he holds a stake in Palace as well.

I can come up with a very simple solution to that. A solution that all
right thinking people will consider fair and just.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 11/07/2025 21.49, Werner Pichler wrote:

FC Bruno's Magpies (GIB) v Paide Linnameeskond (EST)* 2-3 (1-2)
(Britto 38', Del Rio 54'; Saarma 8', 90'+8 (pen), Miller 43')

The Magpies have merged with Calpe City and from next year will be known
as Calpe City Magpies FC,

The game is gone.

SJK (FIN) v K|i (FAR)* 1-2 (0-1)
(Arsalo 47'; J. Andreasen 39', Tellechea 86')

another, but four minutes from time K|i's Argentine centre-back Gast||n Tellechea - I'm not exactly sure how Klaksv|!k enticed him to move from
the Argentine 2nd tier to some windswept islands in the Atlantic - dove

Argentinians are obsessed with windswept Atlantic islands.


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

On 12/07/2025 16.33, Werner Pichler wrote:

What I'm now curious about - with Crystal Palace in the
Conference League there might a new conflict with Br|+ndby.
David Blitzer holds the majority there, and he holds a stake
in Palace as well.

I can come up with a very simple solution to that. A solution
that all right thinking people will consider fair and just.

Yeah, but shooting people with machine guns is generally frowned
upon...
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

Argentinians are obsessed with windswept Atlantic islands.

It's the sheep they want.

I hope it's because Lamb is a culinary delicacy in Argentina
and nothing else...
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 2025-07-21 03:33, Blueshirt wrote:

Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

Argentinians are obsessed with windswept Atlantic islands.

It's the sheep they want.

I hope it's because Lamb is a culinary delicacy in Argentina
and nothing else...

Maybe it is more about pulling the wool over their population's eyes to distract them from the mess they are in economically ?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 21/07/2025 12:33, Blueshirt wrote:

Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

Argentinians are obsessed with windswept Atlantic islands.

It's the sheep they want.

I hope it's because Lamb is a culinary delicacy in Argentina
and nothing else...

https://satwcomic.com/sheepish-food-cravings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skerpikj%C3%B8t

I've had it. It's not bad honestly, tastes almost like cheese.


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Draw for Conference League 3rd Qualifying Round (August 7 and 14)
* = seeded team

Winners go to ConfLPO


Champions Path
(again, it's the losers of these ties that enter these matches)

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)/Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)* v FC Dinamo
Minsk (BLR)/KF Egnatia (ALB)
FK Budu-cnost Podgorica (MNE)/FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)* v AC Virtus (SMR)

The New Saints FC (WAL)/FC Differdange 03 (LUX)* v FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST)/FC Iberia 1999 (GEO)
V|!kingur (FAR) v FK ++algiris (LTU)/Linfield FC (NIR)*



Main Path


FK De-ii-c (MNE)/SK Rapid Wien (AUT)* v Dundee United FC (SCO)/FC UNA
Strassen (LUX)
FC Aktobe (KAZ)/AC Sparta Praha (CZE)* v FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM)/FC Universitatea Cluj (ROM)
Tampereen Ilves (FIN)/AZ (NED)* v FC Vaduz (LIE)/Dungannon Swifts FC (NIR) (Loser of:) FC Lugano (SUI)/FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)* v (Loser of:) NK
Celje (SLO)/AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)

FK Radni-iki 1923 (SRB)/K|i (FAR)* v FC Ko+iice (SLK)/FC Neman Grodno (BLR) Riga FC (LAT)/FC Dila Gori (GEO)* v FK Sutjeska (MNE)/Beitar Jerusalem
FC (ISR)
KF Vllaznia (ALB)/KF V|!kingur (ISL)* v HB (FAR)/Br|+ndby IF (DEN)
Zir+O FK (AZE)/HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)* v Atl|?tic Club d'Escaldes (AND)/FC Dinamo City (ALB)

(Loser of:) RSC Anderlecht (BEL)/BK H|ncken (SWE) v (Loser of:) FC
Sheriff (MDA)/FC Utrecht (NED)*
FK Vardar (MKD)/FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI) v FC Zimbru Chi+Oin-au (MDA)/FC
Astana (KAZ)*
Larne FC (NIR)/FC Prishtina (KOS) v NK Vara++din (CRO)/CD Santa Clara (POR)* Aris Limassol FC (CYP)/Pusk|is Akad|-mia FC (HUN) v AEK FC (GRE)/Hapoel
Be'er Sheva FC (ISR)

Viking FK (NOR)/FC Koper (SLO) v PFC Cherno More Varna (BUL)/-#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)*
Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE)/Aris FC (GRE) v AC Omonoia (CYP)/FC Torpedo
Kutaisi (GEO)*
FC Ballkani (KOS)/Floriana FC (MLT) v St Joseph's FC (GIB)/Shamrock
Rovers FC (IRL)*
RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL)/M+aK ++ilina (SLK) v FC Torpedo-BelAZ (BLR)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)*

AIK (SWE)/Paide Linnameeskond (EST)* v FC Pyunik (ARM)/ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN)*
FK Sarajevo (BIH)/CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM) v Hibernians FC
(MLT)/FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)*
FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR)/FC Santa Coloma (AND) v Paksi FC (HUN)/NK
Maribor (SLO)*
(Loser of:) PFC Levski Sofia (BUL)/SC Braga (POR) v FC Petrocub
(MDA)/Sabah FC (AZE)

Silkeborg IF (DEN)/KA (ISL) v FK Novi Pazar (SRB)/Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)*
FC Oleksandriya (UKR)/FK Partizan (SRB)* v (Loser of:) FC Midtjylland (DEN)/Hibernian FC (SCO)
(Loser of:) FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE)/Legia Warszawa (POL)* v FK Austria
Wien (AUT)/FC Spaeri (GEO)
Rosenborg BK (NOR)/FK Banga (LTU) v Hammarby IF (SWE)/Royal Charleroi SC (BEL)*
St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)/N||mme Kalju FC (EST) v (Loser of:)
Be+fikta+f JK (TUR)/FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)*
FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU)/Valur (ISL) v PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL)/HJK (FIN)*



Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 2025-07-21 10:18, Werner Pichler wrote:

On 21/07/2025 12:33, Blueshirt wrote:

Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

Argentinians are obsessed with windswept Atlantic islands.

It's the sheep they want.

I hope it's because Lamb is a culinary delicacy in Argentina
and nothing else...

https://satwcomic.com/sheepish-food-cravings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skerpikj%C3%B8t

I've had it. It's not bad honestly, tastes almost like cheese.

It is gems like this that keep me coming back to RSS!>

Ciao,
Werner

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 20/07/2025 17:23, Jesper Lauridsen wrote:

On 11/07/2025 21.49, Werner Pichler wrote:

SJK (FIN) v K|i (FAR)* 1-2 (0-1)
(Arsalo 47'; J. Andreasen 39', Tellechea 86')

another, but four minutes from time K|i's Argentine centre-back Gast||n
Tellechea - I'm not exactly sure how Klaksv|!k enticed him to move from
the Argentine 2nd tier to some windswept islands in the Atlantic - dove

Argentinians are obsessed with windswept Atlantic islands.

:D

Ciao,
Werner

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round 1st leg
* = seeded team


July 22


Main Path


FC Ballkani (KOS)* v Floriana FC (MLT) 4-2 (3-2)
(Tolaj 13', 32', Adetunji 27', 76'; Grech 8' (pen), Jah 25')

In an eventful first half the Maltese took the early lead thanks to a controversial handball penalty, while Bleart Tolaj headed in the cross
for the equaliser. Gambian forward Mustapha Jah then finished off a solo
run after Ballkani had lost the ball in midfield, and again the Kosovars quickly levelled the score through Nigerian forward Sunday Adetunji who side-stepped a defender before firing past Floriana's Brazilian keeper Guilherme Cioletti: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501755/102344-Record_2025_07_22_20_59_33_401.mp4
Adetunji then also provided the assist for Tolaj's second, and got the
fourth himself by heading in Geralb Smajli's perfectly weighted cross.



July 23


Champions Path


FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST)* v FC Iberia 1999 (GEO) 1-0 (0-0)
(Agyiri 80')

Iberia were the better team with more chances throughout, but as it's
well known that Georgian teams just can't catch a break in Europe it was Levadia who got the winner thanks to Iberia keeper Makaridze who let a
shot by former Manchester City Academy alumnus Ernest Agyiri, taken from
the same tight angle as Aitana Bonmat|!'s goal against Germany the same
day, go straight through him: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501757/102628-Record_2025_07_24_00_02_57_255.mp4


The New Saints FC (WAL)* v FC Differdange 03 (LUX) 0-1 (0-1)
(Abreu 37')

In an even game it proved decisive that Artur Abreu managed to collect a
long ball in between two Welsh defenders before firing past TNS keeper Shepperd: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501759/102587-Record_2025_07_23_20_38_13_498.mp4



NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO) v Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)* 4-2 (0-1)
(Pinto 55', 61', 65', Muhamedbegovi-c 80'; Humanes 13', Rafinha 50')

It's become more than clear that the Andorran teams are not to be underestimated this season, but it still came as a major shock that
Inter took a two-goal lead away in Ljubljana. Spanish centre-back David
Humanes headed into the empty net following a misunderstanding between
Olimpija keeper Daj-iar and Austrian centre-back Ahmet Muhamedbegovi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501760/102579-Record_2025_07_23_20_14_50_995.mp4
Daj-iar had only got a chance to be in net because Olimpija's other
reserve keeper Lubej-Fink had messed up in the previous qualifying round against Kairat. Rafinha then made it two with a great shot into the top
corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501760/102602-Record_2025_07_23_21_08_34_312.mp4
but three goals in ten minutes by their Portuguese midfielder Diogo
Pinto still turned the match around for the Slovenian champions - he
headed in a cross by fellow countryman Diga, chipped Marko Brest's
through ball over Inter keeper Javi D|!az: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501760/102604-Record_2025_07_23_21_19_00_178.mp4
and emphatically rifled in a loose ball at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501760/102607-Record_2025_07_23_21_23_17_708.mp4
Late on Muhamedbegovi-c made amends for his earlier mistake by heading in
a corner kick.


FK Budu-cnost Podgorica (MNE) v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)* 0-0 (0-0)

The Montenegrin champions had more of the game and several good
opportunities to score, so will likely be the ones more disappointed
with the result.



Main Path


Zir+O FK (AZE) v HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)* 1-1 (1-0)
(Konat|- 31'; Kalik 68')

With a deft back-heel longtime Ligue 2 midfielder and latter-day
journeyman Brahim Konat|- deflected a shot by fellow Frenchman Iron
Gomis past Hajduk keeper Ivu+ii-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501756/102532-Record_2025_07_23_18_01_11_957.mp4
The Croatians, perennial underachievers in Europe (no group phase since
2010-11 despite having been in the qualifiers every season since), got
the equaliser when Aussie Anthony Kalik tapped in a cross by young left-
back +aimun Hrgovi-c, and in stoppage time they were lucky that a shot by
Zir+O substitute R||vlan Muradov came off the left post.


Silkeborg IF (DEN)* v KA (ISL) 1-1 (1-0)
(McCowatt 39'; H. M. Steingr|!msson 90'+1)

New Zealand winger Callum McCowatt gave Silkeborg the lead with a
precise shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501758/102575-Record_2025_07_23_19_39_19_102.mp4
but in stoppage time they still conceded the equaliser to the team from Iceland's remote north coast that's currently three points from the
bottom in the Besta deild. A loose ball fell to Hallgr|!mur Mar
Steingr|!msson and he unceremoniously sent it into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501758/102590-Record_2025_07_23_20_48_40_961.mp4

Drogheda died for this.



July 24


Champions Path


FK ++algiris (LTU)* v Linfield FC (NIR) 0-0 (0-0)

Not a bad away result for Linfield. It shows that halfway through the Lithuanian season the reigning champions ++algiris are only a mid-table
team.


FC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)* v KF Egnatia (ALB) 0-2 (0-1)
(Lushkja 28', Bakayoko 88')

In Dinamo's usual base in Mez+ak||vesd in Northern Hungary Egnatia proved
that they had recovered well from their drubbing at the hands of
Brei|#ablik, and Regi Lushkja volleyed them into an early lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501797/102794-Record_2025_07_24_21_35_53_113.mp4
After having wasted chances all match Ivorian forward Soumaila Bakayoko
finally scored when he collected Mohammed Yahaya's through ball and
sent both Dinamo left-back Kalinin and keeper Shpakovski the wrong way: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501797/102847-Record_2025_07_24_22_34_05_742.mp4



Main Path


Atl|?tic Club d'Escaldes (AND)* v FC Dinamo City (ALB) 1-2 (1-0)
(Gemelson 43'; Zab|2rgja 65', Qardaku 86')

Bissau-Guinean midfielder Gemelson Vieira headed in a corner kick to
give the Andorrans the lead, but the former Dinamo Tirana that has been rebranded in 2023 to sound more 'international' equalised thanks to a
gift by Atl|?tic's Argentine keeper Jure Marinovich who lost the ball
to Baton Zab|2rgja: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501762/102822-Record_2025_07_24_22_04_34_49.mp4
Following a corner kick the substitute Eridon Qardaku tapped in at the
far post to get the Albanians the away win.


FC Astana (KAZ)* v FC Zimbru Chi+Oin-au (MDA) 1-1 (0-1)
(Ba+ii-c 56'; Dahan 45'+1)

A shot from distance by Israeli former Austrian Bundesliga transfer flop
Guy Dahan surprised Astana keeper -iondri-c, leaving the Croatian rooted
to the spot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501763/102675-Record_2025_07_24_16_46_48_397.mp4
Bosnia and Herzegovina international Ivan Ba+ii-c, newly arrived in the
Kazakh capital, deservedly levelled the score also with a sumptuous shot
from the edge of the D: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501763/102682-Record_2025_07_24_17_14_53_326.mp4


Paide Linnameeskond (EST)* v AIK (SWE) 0-2 (0-1)
(Celina 7', Csongvai 68')

Manchester City youth product Bersant Celina headed in an early opener,
and Hungarian international |Uron Csongvai got the second with a shot
from twenty metres.


Rosenborg BK (NOR)* v FK Banga (LTU) 5-0 (1-0)
(Islamovi-c 22', 61', 82', Nordli 64', M. Ce|>de 86';
Red Card: Ramanauskas (Ban) 50')

Swedish-Montenegrin forward Dino Islamovi-c headed in a corner kick for Rosenborg's first, but things only really went pear-shaped for the
Lithuanian mid-table club when Matas Ramanauskas collected two stupid
yellow cards in the space of two minutes, one for mouthing off to the
ref and the second for a tackle from behind. Usually those two happen in
the reverse order. Against ten men Islamovi-c tapped in a low cross from
the left side, Simen Bolkan Nordli in his debut match for Rosenborg
volleyed in a rebound following another low cross from the left,
Islamovi-c completed his hat trick with yet another header from a cross
from the left, and the substitute Mikkel Konradsen Ce|>de finished the
rout by latching onto a loose ball after, you guessed it, a cross from
the left.


FC Pyunik (ARM)* v ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN) 2-1 (1-0)
(Noubissi 22' (pen), Kulikov 66'; Miljkovi-c 78' (og))

Swedish centre-back Alexander Abrahamsson got off to an inauspicious
start with his new club when he caused a first-half penalty, converted
by Cameroonian forward Marius Noubissi. The Hungarians had more of the
game, but it was the Armenians who got the second goal, as following a
quick break Noubissi provided the cross that former Lokomotiv Moscow
midfielder Daniil Kulikov tapped in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501766/102832-Record_2025_07_24_22_13_01_887.mp4
Still, a rather spectacular own goal by Pyunik's Serbian centre-back
Aleksandar Miljkovi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501766/102833-Record_2025_07_24_22_13_56_410.mp4
made Gy+ar's task in the return leg quite a bit easier.


FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM)* v FC Universitatea Cluj (ROM) 0-0 (0-0)

In their return to Europe after 53 years the Romanians were held to a
scoreless draw in Yerevan. The biggest chance of the game actually fell
to the home team, but a shot by Brazilian in the East Jo|uo Marcos came
off the crossbar. Incidentally, Jo|uo Marcos's career has spanned
practically the entire width of UEFA, before he came to Armenia he used
to play for Santa Clara on the Azores.


FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU) v Valur (ISL)* 1-1 (0-0)
(Jansonas 58'; Haraldsson 88')

The Lithuanian league leaders were the dominant team throughout, hit the woodwork twice, and took the fully deserved lead when 20-year-old
Romualdas Jansonas reacted quickly to meet Fabien Ourega's completely
miscued shot with a header that looped over Valur's excellent keeper
Frederik Schram: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501768/102701-Record_2025_07_24_19_15_47_517.mp4
But the Lithuanians continued to waste their opportunities, and they
were duly punished when two minutes from time Tryggvi Hrafn Haraldsson
stole in between two defenders to nod in Adam P|ilsson's weighted cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501768/102725-Record_2025_07_24_19_46_02_112.mp4


Hibernians FC (MLT) v FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)* 1-2 (0-1)
(Charleston 79'; Hol|!k 27', Proch|izka 84' (pen))

Czech right-back Libor Hol|!k slid in right next to the post, with no
little danger to himself, in order to volley in Martin Mikovi-i's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501769/102834-Record_2025_07_24_22_16_12_929.mp4
The Slovakians then failed to use their opportunities to add to their
tally, and that was punished when Brazilian journeyman centre-back
Charleston (his previous career stops had been in Bulgaria, North
Macedonia, Moldova, Hungary, and Kazakhstan) headed in a corner kick.
But Charleston also became the culprit at the other end of the pitch as
it was his bad back pass header that led to a collision between
Hibernians' Romanian keeper Lauren+ciu Br-anescu (whose own career path
has taken him from the Juventus Primavera to Malta via Hungary, Cyprus, Romania, Slovenia, Lithuania, Scotland, and Greece) and Timotej
Kudli-ika, and Spartak captain Roman Proch|izka converted from the spot.


Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v Pusk|is Akad|-mia FC (HUN)* 3-2 (2-0)
(Montnor 6', Kvilitaia 16' (pen), Semedo 87'; Colley 78', 81')

Suriname international Jaden Montnor, previously of the Austrian 2nd
division, stabbed in a cross by Yannick Gomis for the early lead, and
Georgian striker Giorgi Kvilitaia, also a guy with a past in Austrian
football, soon added a second from the spot after young Norwegian winger
Dennis Gaustad had been floored by Pusk|is Academy captain Zsolt Nagy.
Not much happened after that until the Gambian substitute Lamin Colley
scored twice in three minutes to bring the Hungarians level, first by shouldering in a free-kick delivered by Finnish winger Mikael Soisalo: https://giphy.com/media/U8uECLdV5HgvCsJAlQ/giphy.gif
then by turning in another Soisalo cross at the second attempt.
Portuguese forward Edi Semedo still salvaged the win for the Cypriots by heading in a cross from former Santos left-back Caju.


St Joseph's FC (GIB) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* 0-4 (0-1)
(Gaffney 13', Mandroiu 67', McGovern 73', Byrne 75')

St Joseph's have enjoyed quite some success against Northern Irish teams
in recent years, having eliminated Larne and Cliftonville, but their
record against the rest of the island is a bit worse. Veteran striker
Rory Gaffney ran onto a ball over the top before lobbing over St
Joseph's keeper Banda, a shot by former Ireland youth international
Danny Mandroiu got deflected in, new Northern Irish signing John
McGovern volleyed in a cross for the third, and Jack Byrne got the
fourth with a shot from outside the box.


Tampereen Ilves (FIN) v AZ (NED)* 4-3 (2-1)
(Riski 8', 45'+2, Akinyemi 68', S||derb|nck 71'; Parrott 16', Mijnans 61', Meerdink 90'+1)

A long ball wrong-footed Alkmaar's defence, and Roope Riski slotted past
AZ keeper Zoet for the early opener. Troy Parrott soon equalised from a
one-two with Kees Smit, but just before half-time Riski headed in
Vincent Ulundu's cross from short range for his brace. The Dutch once
more got the equaliser when Sven Mijnans just minutes after having come
on as a substitute volleyed in after a goalmouth scramble, only for
Ilves to surprisingly score twice in three minutes - Nigerian forward
Adeleke Akinyemi on the break muscled his way past two defenders before chipping over Zoet, and youngster Marius S||derb|nck sent in a precise
angled shot from the edge of the area. Still, AZ limited the damage in
stoppage time when Mexx Meerdink scored from Mijnans's through ball.


PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL) v HJK (FIN)* 0-0 (0-0)

Arda were the better team, but still haven't scored a goal yet in Europe
after what has been their third attempt.


FC Aktobe (KAZ) v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)* 2-1 (1-0)
(Sosah 29', Omirtayev 83'; Birman-ievi-c 90' (pen))

On a water-logged pitch in Western Kazakhstan Sparta had the better
start, but soon found things getting more difficult, and they left
Nigerien international Daniel Sosah all alone to head in a perfect cross
by Romanian left-back Bogdan V-at-ajelu, formerly a Sparta Prague transfer flop: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501774/102692-Record_2025_07_24_18_30_06_803.mp4
The Czechs had their chances to equalise, with a shot by their Slovakian captain Luk|i+i Harasl|!n grazing the crossbar, but a quick counter-attack
led to a two-on-one situation at the end of which Oralkhan Omirtayev was
played in by Sosah to make it two. A last-minute penalty for a shirt
grab after a corner kick still made the result more palatable for
Sparta.


Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE) v Aris FC (GRE)* 2-1 (0-0)
(Felipe Santos 75', Andrade 78'; Loren 66')

Araz played their European debut in a Baku suburb rather than in their
proper home in the Azeri exclave of Nakhchivan. They fell behind when
the substitute Giannis Gianniotas, newly returned to his original team
after twelve years spent between D|+sseldorf and Cyprus, sent a through
ball towards Loren, and the Spaniard had no problems beating Araz's
Moldovan keeper Cristian Avram: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501775/102754-Record_2025_07_24_20_40_00_105.mp4
Some great passing by Frenchman Charles Boli, Basile's nephew, led to a goalmouth scramble at the end of which Brazilian winger Felipe Santos
fired in the equaliser: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501775/102755-Record_2025_07_24_20_41_11_582.mp4
and just three minutes later the Azeri debutants got the surprising
winner on the break thanks to Cape Verde international Patrick Andrade
expertly volleying in a cross by the Portuguese substitute Nuno
Rodrigues: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501775/102757-Record_2025_07_24_20_41_45_683.mp4


Viking FK (NOR)* v FC Koper (SLO) 7-0 (1-0)
(Svendsen 6', 59', B|artelsen 57', Tripi-c 68', Mikaelsson 78' (pen), 85', Bj|+rshol 90'+3)

The Norwegian league leaders got an early opener when Sander Svendsen
volleyed in a cut-back cross by New Zealand international Joe Bell: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501777/102764-Record_2025_07_24_20_53_47_229.mp4
and they steamrollered the Slovenians after the break. Koper keeper
(there's an alliteration for you) Metod Jurhar was made to look silly
when Anders B|artelsen's bouncing shot was slightly deflected to skip
right past him, Svendsen collected another cross at the far post before
rolling in his second, and yet another low cross was slotted in by
Viking captain Zlatko Tripi-c. A clumsy challenge by Koper captain Maj Mittendorfer then led to a penalty despatched by Hilmir Rafn Mikaelsson,
and the young Icelandic forward also scored following a good solo run by
Simen Kvia-Egeskog. Right-back Sondre Bj|+rshol finished the rout by
heading in at the far post for goal number seven.


Riga FC (LAT)* v FC Dila Gori (GEO) 2-1 (1-0)
(Reginaldo Ramires 45'+6, Iago Siqueira 66'; Ngom 86' (og))

Reginaldo Ramires headed in a cross by Costa Rica international Orlando
Galo, and Riga's other Brazilian Iago Siqueira nodded in a corner kick
by Peruvian winger Joao Grimaldo, on loan from Partizan Belgrade. Riga's
squad is indeed very Latin American flavoured, but they've also got
African players like Senegalese centre-back Mouhamed El Bachir Ngom, who unluckily deflected the ball into his own net after Riga keeper Zviedris
had saved against Dila's Congolese striker D|-o Bassinga: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501778/102761-Record_2025_07_24_20_48_44_207.mp4


FC Petrocub (MDA)* v Sabah FC (AZE) 0-2 (0-0)
(+aafranko 82', Parris 90')

Last year's league phase participants fell to two late blunders by their
keeper Silviu +Rmalenea - Slovakian forward Pavol +aafranko punished an ill-judged foray outside the Petrocub net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501779/102853-Record_2025_07_24_23_08_07_265.mp4
and then so did Jamaican winger Kaheem Parris: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501779/102854-Record_2025_07_24_23_08_39_681.mp4


Hammarby IF (SWE) v Royal Charleroi SC (BEL)* 0-0 (0-0)

Dominance by Hammarby, but no goals.


FK Novi Pazar (SRB) v Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)* 1-2 (1-1)
(Opara 19'; Rallis 9', Pululu 90'+5; Red Card: Davidovi-c (Nov) 88')

Novi Pazar conceded less than ten minutes into their European debut when
Greek Under-21 striker Dimitris Rallis chipped Jes||s Imaz's assist over
keeper ++eljko Sam-iovi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501781/102864-Record_2025_07_25_01_39_05_655.mp4
but they soon equalised through Nigerian forward Ejike Opara who rolled
in an excellent feed by Milan youth product (and 2 minutes played for
the senior team) Bob Omoregbe: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501781/102865-Record_2025_07_25_01_39_21_935.mp4
Novi Pazar kept the match open for the longest time, but in the end
weakened themselves when Ivan Davidovi-c got sent off with a second
yellow, and deep in stoppage time last year's Conference League top
scorer Afimico Pululu expertly finished off a one-two with Imaz for Jagiellonia's winner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501781/102866-Record_2025_07_25_01_39_49_67.mp4


FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v FC Santa Coloma (AND)* 1-2 (1-2)
(Hutsulyak 21'; Remolins 27', Crespo 44')

In Pre+iov in Eastern Slovakia the Ukrainians took the lead when Oleksiy Hutsulyak rounded FC Santa Coloma's French keeper Alex Ruiz: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501782/102707-Record_2025_07_24_19_21_27_737.mp4
but it didn't even come as much of a surprise when just minutes later
Ot Remolins, for once an actual Andorran youth international, volleyed
in the equaliser from the shortest of ranges: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501782/102711-Record_2025_07_24_19_27_39_387.mp4
Just before the break Spanish right-back David Crespo scored the winner
for the Andorrans with a great shot into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501782/102723-Record_2025_07_24_19_44_24_181.mp4

Third European match, third defeat for Polissya. On the other hand, with
five wins in nine matches, and only dividing by three, Andorra are
currently the eighth-best league in the 2025-26 UEFA ranking. The top
two will get an extra Champions League spot, just saying.


FC Oleksandriya (UKR) v FK Partizan (SRB)* 0-2 (0-1)
(B. Kosti-c 14', Ugre+ii-c 56')

The other Ukrainian team played in Katowice in Poland, but didn't really
do any better. A fast counter attack after a corner kick ended with
Montenegrin playmaker Milan Vukoti-c sending a diagonal ball towards 18-year-old Bogdan Kosti-c who had no problems beating Oleksandriya
keeper Shevchenko. At the other end, Partizan keeper Kruni-c did much
better one-on-one to deny Albanian striker Tedi Cara, and last year's runners-up in the Ukrainian league wasted some more opportunities before
Ognjen Ugre+ii-c, another Partizan youngster, curled one in to make it
two.


AC Omonoia (CYP)* v FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) 1-0 (1-0)
(Joveti-c 20')

Stevan Joveti-c, 35 by now and starting his second season on Cyprus, took advantage of a poor clearance attempt and volleyed in the sole goal: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501784/102791-Record_2025_07_24_21_34_49_430.mp4


PFC Cherno More Varna (BUL) v -#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)* 0-1 (0-0) (+Rahiner 52')

The Bulgarian underdogs put up a good fight, but a nice piece of
trickery by veteran winger |umer Ali +Rahiner gave Ba+fak+fehir the away
win:
https://www.onlajny.com/match/index/date/2025-07-24/id/501785
Cherno More hit the woodwork late on.


FC Vaduz (LIE)* v Dungannon Swifts FC (NIR) 0-1 (0-0)
(McAllister 54')

In their return to Europe after eighteen years the Swifts got a smash-
and-grab win in Liechtenstein when following a corner they broke quickly
and from more than 40 metres former Everton academy player Sean
McAllister lobbed Vaduz's German keeper Leon Schaffran who didn't manage
to get back into his net in time: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501786/102787-Record_2025_07_24_21_25_54_613.mp4


FC Ko+iice (SLK)* v FC Neman Grodno (BLR) 2-3 (2-0)
(Miljani-c 8', -ierepkai 16'; Savitski 55', 66', Kravtsov 79' (pen))

Dunajsk|i Streda's last-minute replacement raced into an early two-goal
lead - Croatian winger Karlo Miljani-c converted a quick ball over the
top by youngster Jakub Jakubko: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501787/102858-Record_2025_07_24_23_57_20_571.mp4
and Roman -ierepkai beat Neman keeper Belov with a precise shot from
distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501787/102859-Record_2025_07_24_23_57_42_761.mp4
But things went pear-shaped for the Slovakians in thee second half as
Pavel Savitski first headed in Anton Suchkov's perfectly weighted cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501787/102804-Record_2025_07_24_21_52_53_61.mp4
and then finished off a route-one attack with a powerful volley. In the
end, Jakubko's hospital back pass even gifted the Belarusians the winner
as it forced Ko+iice keeper +a|!po+i into bringing down Maksim Kravtsov,
who then converted the penalty himself. In the last minute the
Slovakians were awarded a rather soft penalty themselves for an alleged
trip by Ivan Sadownichy, but Dominik Kru++liak's spot kick was met with
a great save by Belov.


AEK FC (GRE)* v Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR) 1-0 (0-0)
(Relvas 50')

In his debut for AEK newly signed Portuguese centre-back Relvas headed
in a corner kick for the only goal.


NK Vara++din (CRO) v CD Santa Clara (POR)* 2-1 (1-0)
(Mamut 10' (pen), Dabro 85'; Adriano 55')

The Croatian underdogs took an early lead from the spot following a
rather clumsy challenge by Brazilian right-back Lucas Soares on Leon
Belcar, back from a failed loan stint at Dinamo Zagreb. Former Cruzeiro midfielder (during their S|-rie B years) Adriano scored the equaliser
with an excellent volley from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501789/102868-Record_2025_07_25_01_42_54_956.mp4
but Marko Dabro's deflected free-kick five minutes from time: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501789/102869-Record_2025_07_25_01_43_30_726.mp4
meant that Vara++din will still travel to the Azores with a lead in hand.


Paksi FC (HUN) v NK Maribor (SLO)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Windecker 52')

In an open match only the Hungarians were able to convert one of their opportunities as J||zsef Windecker headed in Bal|izs Balogh's cross from
close range while at the other end a shot by Jan Repas thundered off the crossbar.
I've said it before, but with their consistently all-Hungarian squad
Paks are what the fake Pusk|is Akad|-mia only pretends to be.


FK Radni-iki 1923 (SRB) v K|i (FAR)* 0-0 (0-0)

The Serbians from Kragujevac were the better team, but Klaksv|!k held on
to a result that makes them slight favourites in the return leg on the
Faroes.


FC Torpedo-BelAZ (BLR) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)* 1-1 (0-1)
(Premudrov 48'; Seck 45'+1)

The rare case where neither side can play their European matches at
home, and both chose Hungary as neutral ground, albeit at opposite ends
of the country (Szombathely and Kisv|irda). Senegalese centre-back
Abdoulaye Seck gave Maccabi the lead by volleying in at the far post
after Dia Saba's free-kick had been flicked on, but a great shot from
distance by Kirill Premudrov salvaged the draw for the Belarusians.


FK Austria Wien (AUT)* v FC Spaeri (GEO) 2-0 (1-0)
(Fischer 8', Fitz 90'+1 (pen))

Despite their captain Manfred Fischer slotting in an early goal that
should have calmed nerves, Austria subsequently hit the crossbar twice
and missed a million more chances against the valiantly fighting cup
winners from the Georgian second division, with especially Spaeri
goalkeeper Bukhuti Putkaradze playing a blinder. Just when it could have
got embarrassing a last-gasp handball penalty made the result a bit more appropriate.


KF Vllaznia (ALB) v KF V|!kingur (ISL)* 2-1 (0-1)
(Bajrami 67', Mala 75'; Gunnarsson 10')

Right-back Karl Fri|#leifur Gunnarsson headed in a Gylfi Sigur|#sson
corner kick to give V|!kingur the quick lead, and early in the second
half they also hit the crossbar through Helgi Gu|#j||nsson, but Vllaznia centre-back Melos Bajrami likewise nodded in a corner kick for the
equaliser, and eight minutes later a quick counter attack ended with
Esat Mala taking a shot that Sveinn G|!sli |Rorkelsson deflected past his
own keeper Ingvar J||nsson.


FK Vardar (MKD) v FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI)* 2-1 (1-0)
(Mato 45'+2, Omeragib+# 78'; Diakit|- 58')

Young Ugandan international Rogers Mato rifled in the rebound after
Lausanne's Croatian keeper Karlo Letica had spilled a shot by Dimitar Todorovski. Malian Salzburg loanee Gaoussou Diakit|- curled a great shot
into the top corner for the equaliser: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501795/102872-Record_2025_07_25_01_47_52_757.mp4
but Azer Omeragib+# volleyed in the surprising winner from short range
after the Swiss had failed to clear a corner kick.


FK Sutjeska (MNE) v Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR)* 1-2 (1-1)
(To+ikovi-c 28'; Shua 34', Atzili 87')

A carelessly lost ball in defence led to Bal+ia To+ikovi-c heading the Montenegrins in front, but Beitar captain Yarden Shua likewise headed in
a cross by Dor Micha for the equaliser, and late on veteran forward Omer
Atzili also scored with a header to give the Israeli the win.


Dundee United FC (SCO)* v FC UNA Strassen (LUX) 1-0 (0-0)
(Sapsford 47')

Dundee United made controversial history by not fielding a single
British player in their starting eleven (Ryan Strain and Will Ferry
are England-born but represent Australia and Ireland internationally, respectively). This line-up at least resulted in a win, courtesy of a
shot from the edge of the box by Aussie Zac Sapsford which wrong-footed
UNA's French keeper Koray |uzcan, but it was also definitely not a bad
away result for the Luxembourgers. Still, after three matches Strassen
are still waiting to score their first ever goal in Europe.


HB (FAR) v Br|+ndby IF (DEN)* 1-1 (0-0)
(Thomsen 89'; Bundgaard 62')

Br|+ndby needed more than one half to get going, but took the lead when
Filip Bundgaard tapped into the empty net following good passing by
Nicolai Vallys and Clement Bischoff: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501799/102827-Record_2025_07_24_22_06_45_999.mp4
The chances that Havnar B||ltfelag created got ever more dangerous
though, and two minutes from time Br|+ndby's Austrian keeper Patrick
Pentz was beaten when a blocked shot fell kindly for J|ikup Thomsen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501799/102845-Record_2025_07_24_22_33_46_548.mp4


St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v N||mme Kalju FC (EST)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Forrester 90'; Red Cards: Siht (Kal) 64', Mashchenko (Kal) 69')

Two second yellows in the space of five minutes appeared to spell
disaster for Kalju, but nine Estonians held on until the last minute
when their keeper Maksim Pavlov failed to hold on to Conor Carty's shot,
and Chris Forrester calmly side-stepped a tackle to bury the rebound: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501799/102848-Record_2025_07_24_22_37_34_174.mp4


Larne FC (NIR)* v FC Prishtina (KOS) 0-0 (0-0)

Few shots on target on either side, and consequently no goals.


RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL)* v M+aK ++ilina (SLK) 3-0 (0-0)
(Repka 48', Brunes 58' (pen), Diaby-Fadiga 73';
Red Card: Min|irik (++il) 63')

The Slovakians didn't start badly but wasted several good opportunities
even when alone through on goal, and that profligacy was punished when
Oskar Repka stabbed home from a goalmouth scramble following a corner
kick. Things got worse for ++ilina when they conceded a handball penalty, despatched by Erling Haaland's cousin Jonatan Braut Brunes, and J|in
Min|irik got himself sent off with a second yellow when he tried to make
up for his lack of speed with an ill-timed tackle. Finally, a shot by
Frenchman Lamine Diaby-Fadiga was deflected past ++ilina's helpless
keeper -+ubom|!r Belko.


FK Sarajevo (BIH) v CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM)* 2-1 (2-0)
(Kyeremeh 10', Guliashvili 20'; Romanchuk 69')

Ghanaian winger Francis Kyeremeh with a little luck got the ball past
two Romanian defenders, side-stepped a third, and curled a shot past
Craiova's new Ukrainian keeper Pavlo Isenko. Georgian striker Giorgi Guliashvili emphatically volleyed in Mihael Mlinari-c's cut-back cross
for the second, but the Romanians pulled one back thanks to a great goal
by their other new Ukrainian, centre-back Oleksandr Romanchuk, who
waltzed up towards the edge of the Bosnian area before unleashing a
screamer into the top corner.


FK De-ii-c (MNE) v SK Rapid Wien (AUT)* 0-2 (0-2)
(Horn 17', Seidl 40' (pen))

Not exactly convincing, but enough. New German signing Jannes Horn,
previously playing on loan in the MLS, headed in a corner kick by
Rapid's Montenegrin midfielder Andrija Radulovi-c, and another corner led
to Stefan Golubovi-c committing a bone-headed handball, with Matthias
Seidl converting the ensuing penalty.




Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS (except HJK, HB, and KA) go to ConfLQ3



July 29


Champions Path


FC Iberia 1999 (GEO) v FCI LEVADIA TALLINN (EST)* 2-2 aet (1-0, 2-1),
2-3 on aggregate
(Goshteliani 40', Agyakwa 87'; Torres 48', Kirss 109')

The Georgian champions hit the woodwork early on, and levelled the
aggregate score when Guram Goshteliani headed in a cross by young left-
back Giorgi Tabatadze. Right after the break 19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Torres, who was brought to Estonia from Levante's youth setup likely due
to the fact that his father Curro Torres has now for several years been Levadia's manager, scored the equaliser with a thumping shot from just
outside the box. Iberia managed to send the tie to extra time when
Levadia keeper Karl Andre Vallner, who up to that point had been
impeccable, made an ill-judged attempt to go for a free-kick cross, and
Dutch centre-back Derek Agyakwa, one of only two foreigners in the
Georgian squad, headed into the empty net. Nevertheless, the Estonians
still managed to score the overall winner when the substitute Robert
Kirss somehow chested a cross by Brazilian midfielder Alexandre over the
line.

Georgia are the only nation in the last five years (since the
introduction of the Conference League) that haven't managed even once to
bring their domestic champions past the Conference League 2nd Qualifying
Round, and that includes the likes of San Marino. Considering the
strides Georgian football has made in recent years, having developed a
world class player like Kvaratskhelia, that's a bit tragic.


FC DIFFERDANGE 03 (LUX) v The New Saints FC (WAL)* 1-0 (0-0), 2-0 on
aggregate
(Hadji 68' (pen))

The tie was decided for good when after a corner kick Ben Clark stopped
a goal-bound effort on the goal line with his arm, somehow escaped with
a booking, but Mustapha Hadji's son Samir, 35 by now and for many years
a fixture in Luxembourg club football, converted from the spot.

With this loss the Cymru Premier became the first league to lose all
their European starters, and it hadn't even been August yet. A
terrible season for Wales (two draws, six losses, zero wins), their
worst since 2014-15, and one which is setting their position in the
Bottom Five of the UEFA ranking in stone. It won't be easy to escape.


Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)* v NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO) 1-1 (0-1),
3-5 on aggregate
(Mart|!n 55'; Pinto 42')

Inter were absolutely on a par with the Slovenian champions in the first
half but failed to take any of their chances, and they conceded on the
break when Diogo Pinto, who had already scored a hat trick in the first
leg, volleyed in Ivan Durdov's assist: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502311/103358-Record_2025_07_29_21_11_28_191.mp4
Real Madrid Castilla-trained midfielder Mart|!n got the deserved
equaliser with a perfectly struck free-kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502311/103367-Record_2025_07_29_21_41_07_554.mp4

Inter have really acquitted themselves well this year but have had some
rotten luck with the draw, seeing how they got one of the strongest
possible opponents in each round. They could have been a serious
candidate to reach a first ever Andorran group stage otherwise. Perhaps
next year.



July 31


Champions Path


FC MILSAMI ORHEI (MDA)* v FK Budu-cnost Podgorica (MNE) 2-1 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
(Jardan 65', G|<nsari 90'+1; Bojovi-c 55')

Two minutes before the break Marko Mili-ikovi-c saw his penalty saved by Milsami keeper T|<mbur, and while the Montengrin champions nevertheless
took the lead when a counter-attack ended with Ivan Bojovi-c slotting in
Ognjen Ga+ievi-c's low cross, they still came to rue the penalty miss as
Vasile Jardan swept in a cross by French left-back Nabil Khali: https://giphy.com/media/e7saTJSiBwoVQRAVAa/giphy.gif
and in stoppage time Milsami captain Radu G|<nsari volleyed in the
winner:
https://giphy.com/media/0Ho6z3WajN89VvSV1f/giphy.gif

Another year with no European group phase for Montenegro, and now they
will have to wait and see whether they will drop back down among the
Bottom Five leagues in the UEFA ranking.


LINFIELD FC (NIR) v FK ++algiris (LTU)* 2-0 (2-0), 2-0 on aggregate (Fitzpatrick 6', Offord 33')

Early on young Scottish forward Kieran Offord provided the cross that
Matthew Fitzpatrick dove low to head in, and despite Chris Shields
seeing his penalty saved by ++algiris's Venezuelan keeper Carlos Olses,
the Northern Irish champions still made it two when Offord sent a
precise shot from 20 metres into the bottom corner: https://giphy.com/media/dwUAlNdzpXUPlRDQRg/giphy.gif
Linfield calmly controlled the match in the second half while the very
tame Lithuanian champions didn't manage a single shot on target.


KF EGNATIA (ALB) v FC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)* 1-0 (0-0), 3-0 on aggregate
(Selmani 77')

The Albanian champions were never in any real danger, and Kastriot
Selmani curled in a lovely winner from the corner of the penalty box.



Main Path


FC SPARTAK TRNAVA (SLK)* v Hibernians FC (MLT) 5-1 (2-1), 7-2 on aggregate (Hol|!k 4', +akrbo 13', Tomi-i 47', Pedr|uo 54' (og), Azango 57';
Miullen 37')

The Slovakians took an early two-goal lead through Libor Hol|!k who
curled into the far corner after Hibernians' Romanian keeper Br-anescu
had misjudged a long cross, and newly signed Austrian winger Stefan
+akrbo side-stepped a defender and fired into the empty net after having
been teed up by Hol|!k: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502312/103725-Record_2025_07_31_20_19_46_291.mp4
Both sides then missed a penalty - first Hibernians' Danish-Maltese
captain Bjorn Kristensen, now going into his 16th season with the club,
saw his weak spot kick saved by Spartak's Slovenian keeper ++iga Frelih,
and veteran Michal -Auri+i sent his effort against the right post. The
Maltese actually pulled one back when a shot by their Brazilian striker
Miullen (he's up there regarding strange Brazilian first names)
surprised Frelih at his near post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502312/103729-Record_2025_07_31_20_21_53_802.mp4
but Spartak strolled to a comfortable win thanks to three goals in ten
minutes early in the second half - a blocked shot fell kindly for Michal
Tomi-i who volleyed in, Hibernians' Brazilian defender Pedr|uo headed a
cross by Martin Mikovi-i into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502312/103732-Record_2025_07_31_20_23_17_670.mp4
and Nigerian winger Philip Azango capped off a solo run with a precise
low shot into the bottom corner.


FK Banga (LTU) v ROSENBORG BK (NOR)* 0-2 (0-0), 0-7 on aggregate
(Nordli 61', Holm 64')

Rosenborg made certain to get all coefficient points thanks to a direct free-kick by Simen Bolkan Nordli and Noah Holm reacting quickly to
turn and volley in a deflected shot.


FC Spaeri (GEO) v FK AUSTRIA WIEN (AUT)* 0-5 (0-3), 0-7 on aggregate
(Plavoti-c 40', Fitz 43', Malone 45'+2 (pen), 55', Eggestein 72')

In sweltering heat in Tbilisi three goals in seven minutes gave Austria
an easy win against the second-division Georgian cup winners. A looping
header by Tin Plavoti-c was headed by Spaeri centre-back Giorgi Bunturi
into his own net but would have crossed the goal line regardless,
Dominik Fitz sent a volley from the edge of the box into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502314/103818-Record_2025_07_31_23_33_27_585.mp4
and Maurice Malone converted a handball penalty. After the break the
former German Under-21 forward also ran onto Manfred Fischer's through
ball and slotted past Spaeri keeper Butkaradze for his brace, and new
signing Johannes Eggestein made it five with a solo run against four
Georgian defenders: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502314/103822-Record_2025_07_31_23_35_29_762.mp4


ETO FC GY+ER (HUN) v FC Pyunik (ARM)* 3-1 (1-0), 4-3 on aggregate
(Benbouali 16', 69', +atefulj 90'; Ocansey 84')

The 1964-65 European Cup semifinalists took an early lead when Algerian
forward Nadhir Benbouali headed in a cross by youngster Rajmund T||th.
The Hungarians then had plenty of chances to add to their score, mostly
through Romanian winger Claudiu Bumba, but it was another header by
Benbouali that finally made it two. In a dramatic finish to the game the Armenians levelled the aggregate score when one of their few dangerous
attacks culminated in a clever back-heel by Cameroonian striker Marius
Noubissi that left Ghanaian winger Eric Ocansey with a simple finish: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502323/103704-Record_2025_07_31_19_43_52_875.mp4
but in the 90th minute a Gy+ar corner kick created havoc in the Armenian
box, and Croatian left-back Daniel +atefulj turned quickly to shovel the
loose ball into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502323/103708-Record_2025_07_31_19_50_41_511.mp4


FC Dila Gori (GEO) v RIGA FC (LAT)* 3-3 (1-1), 3-4 on aggregate
(Jo|uo Ara||jo 15', Bassinga 51', Anoff 81';
Reginaldo Ramires 45'+7 (pen), Musah 64', -iernomordijs 90'+6)

Brazilian youngster Jo|uo Ara||jo, who had joined the Georgians from Novorozontino's youth set-up, headed in a corner kick to level the
aggregate score, but in the last minute of stoppage time of the first
half Otar Parulava unceremoniously hacked down Costa Rica international
Orlando Galo, and Riga's own Brazilian Reginaldo Ramires equalised from
the spot. The Georgians took the lead again when Congolese youngster D|-o Bassinga tapped into the empty net after Cyril Edudzi's effort had come
off the crossbar: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502315/103827-Record_2025_07_31_23_38_22_904.mp4
Riga's Ghanaian centre-back Baba Musah then decided to join the attack
and headed in a cross by Peruvian winger Joao Grimaldo, but nine minutes
from time Dila tied on aggregate for the third time in this match - and
also thanks to a header by a Ghanaian as Blankson Anoff, formerly of the Austrian second division, emphatically nodded home a cross by Tedo
Kikabidze: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502315/103829-Record_2025_07_31_23_39_12_84.mp4
But just as in the first half stoppage time was the Georgians' undoing
as the substitute Antonijs -iernomordijs rose to head in a free-kick by
El Bachir Ngom: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502315/103830-Record_2025_07_31_23_40_00_893.mp4

Just another European heartbreak for a Georgian club.


SABAH FC (AZE) v FC Petrocub (MDA)* 4-1 (4-1), 6-1 on aggregate
(Mickels 22', 28', 44', +aafranko 45'+1; Solvet 41' (og))

German striker Joy-Lance Mickels got his hat trick with a goal on the
break, a precise shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area,
and from a one-two with Pavol +aafranko, and Mickels returned the favour
by providing the cross that the Slovakian forward tapped in for Sabah's
fourth. Guadeloupe international Steve Solvet chesting a cross into his
own net wasn't anything more than a blip in what was ultimatively a
quite unceremonious exit from Europe for last year's league stage
participants.


FC Santa Coloma (AND)* v FC POLISSYA ZHYTOMYR (UKR) 1-4 (0-1), 3-5 on aggregate
(Krushynskyi 49' (og); Mykhaylichenko 4', Filippov 48',
Andriyevskiy 60', Hayduchyk 77')

Awww. The Ukrainians immediately levelled the aggregate score when
Bohdan Mykhaylichenko took advantage of a lost ball by curling into the
top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502317/103664-Record_2025_07_31_18_04_54_304.mp4
but Santa Coloma held on until right after the break when Oleksandr
Filippov volleyed in from a goalmouth scramble. The Andorrans weren't
yet beaten though as immediately afterwards Spanish winger Mario Mourelo
broke through on the left wing and his cross was turned into his own net
by Borys Krushynskyi: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502317/103680-Record_2025_07_31_19_08_11_691.mp4
but they had no more answer when Oleksandr Andriyevskyi was first to a
low cross by Oleksandr Nazarenko and beat Santa Coloma keeper Alex Ruiz
at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502317/103690-Record_2025_07_31_19_18_32_783.mp4
Late on Ruiz was far too late to challenge for a long ball, and despite
his attempt to punch out Nazarenko's shot outside his area (for which he received a yellow) the loose ball fell to Mykola Hayduchyk who was left
with an empty-netter: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502317/103703-Record_2025_07_31_19_35_39_410.mp4


HJK (FIN)* v PFC ARDA 1924 KARDZHALI (BUL) 2-2 aet (1-1, 2-2), 2-2 on aggregate, Arda win 4-3 on penalties
(Meriluoto 38', Pukki 69'; Idowu 25', Karagaren 86')

Bad passing from the back led to David Idowu gathering the ball and
powering past two Finnish defenders, and just when it appeared that the
angle had become too tight his shot squeaked in past HJK keeper Nijhuis
at his near post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502318/103864-Record_2025_08_01_00_23_52_71.mp4
HJK scored the equaliser when Kai Meriluoto's shot was deflected and wrong-footed Arda keeper Anatoli Gospodinov. Teemu Pukki, 35 by now,
might have lost his luxurious hair somewhere between Gelsenkirchen and
Norfolk but he still knows when to pounce, and he was quickest to react
to Alexander Ring's blocked shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502318/103866-Record_2025_08_01_00_25_07_458.mp4
Still, four minutes from time the Bulgarians somewhat surprisingly sent
the tie to extra time when an angled shot by Birsent Karagaren once more
beat Nijhuis at his near post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502318/103867-Record_2025_08_01_00_25_37_180.mp4
No goals in the additional thirty minutes, and in the shoot-out
Gospodinov saved against US boy Benji Michel and Greek centre-back
Georgios Antzoulas while on Arda's side only Idowu's effort went against
the crossbar.


N||mme Kalju FC (EST)* v ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC (IRL) 2-2 aet (1-0, 2-1),
2-3 on aggregate
(Patrikejevs 43', M|nnnilaan 49'; Redmond 90'+1, Mulraney 93')

The Estonians made up the first-leg deficit when Kristjan Kask dribbled
past two defenders on the left wing and centred for Liep-Uja loanee Ivans Patrikejevs to tap in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502316/103836-Record_2025_07_31_23_47_25_586.mp4
and they took the aggregate lead soon after the break through Mattias M|nnnilaan who headed in Nikita Ivanov's cross. But the plucky Irish
got the overall equaliser in stoppage time when their captain Joe
Redmond volleyed in the rebound after Kalju keeper Pavlov had awkwardly
parried a free-kick by Jake Mulraney: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502319/103839-Record_2025_07_31_23_53_13_177.mp4
and soon after the restart the former Atlanta United midfielder got the decisive goal himself when his cross turned into an unstoppable shot
into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502319/103840-Record_2025_07_31_23_54_04_934.mp4


AZ (NED)* v Tampereen Ilves (FIN) 5-0 (4-0), 8-4 on aggregate
(Parrott 22', 26', Poku 36', Kasius 42', de Wit 74')

Ilves can always be dangerous on their artificial pitch in Tampere, but
it's a very different story away from home. Alkmaar only needed one half
to pull away decisively - Irishman Troy Parrott was twice left
completely alone near the 6-yard-box for his brace, Dutch Under-21
striker Ernest Poku tapped in the third, and Denso Kasius inadvertently deflected in a wayward shot by Mijnans for the fourth: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502320/103699-Record_2025_07_31_19_28_35_253.mp4
Mees de Wit collected Mexx Meerdink's back-heel before firing past Ilves
keeper Virtanen for number five.


FC UNA Strassen (LUX) v DUNDEE UNITED FC (SCO)* 0-1 (0-0), 0-2 on aggregate (Iovu 64')

Dundee United's highly international squad made rather heavy work of it
in Luxembourg as well, but Moldovan defender Iurie Iovu rose to head in
Zac Sapsford's free-kick.


FC Universitatea Cluj (ROM) v FC ARARAT-ARMENIA (ARM)* 1-2 aet (1-0,
1-1), 1-2 on aggregate
(Luki-c 13'; Hovhannisyan 53', Ayongo 117';
Red Card: Ghazaryan (Ara, assistant manager) 50')

Bosnian striker Jovo Luki-c headed in a cross by Iulian Cristea, but
while a first-half tally by Ararat-Armenia was chalked off for a close
off-side the Armenians still got the deserved equaliser when Kamo
Hovhannisyan volleyed in a cut-back cross by Brazilian in the East
Jo|uo Marcos: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502324/103718-Record_2025_07_31_20_10_44_483.mp4
In extra time a free-kick by Colombian winger Jonathan Duarte surprised
the Romanian defence, and new Ghanaian striker Paul Ayongo tapped in at
the far post to make Universitatea's return to Europe after five decades
a rather short-lived adventure: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502324/103768-Record_2025_07_31_21_31_37_831.mp4


AIK (SWE) v Paide Linnameeskond (EST)* 6-0 (3-0), 8-0 on aggregate
(Baranov 16' (og), Miller 24' (og), Hove 45', 54',
Sal|-tros 50' (pen), 76')

Two own goals inside the first thirty minutes paved the way to a
comfortable home win. Nikita Baranov stumbled Mads Thychosen's deflected
cross past his own keeper Jarju: https://giphy.com/media/G1mGLx6KeUWei5wKpz/giphy.gif
and Martin Miller likewise deflected a ping-pong shot over his own goal
line: https://giphy.com/media/0pLegD2wh5ezkL97BS/giphy.gif
Norwegian midfielder Johan Hove surprised Jarju at his near post and
finished off a counter-attack to score a brace, and the lesser-known
Swedish NT player with Hungarian roots Anton Sal|-tros got one from the
spot and one from a tight angle to do likewise.


FC Zimbru Chi+Oin-au (MDA) v FC ASTANA (KAZ)* 0-2 (0-2), 1-3 on aggregate (Chinedu 18', Camara 21')

Two goals by Astana's African contingent decided the tie already early
on. Nigerian forward Geoffrey Chinedu did well to control a pass into
the area before unleashing a fierce shot into the near top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502326/103692-Record_2025_07_31_19_21_13_846.mp4
and Guinean winger Ousmane Camara beat Zimbru keeper Nicolae Cebotari
with a little luck: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502326/103696-Record_2025_07_31_19_23_56_96.mp4


FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO) v AC OMONOIA (CYP)* 0-4 (0-1), 0-5 on aggregate (Joveti-c 30', 63', Semedo 47', 78')

Stevan Joveti-c, who had already been responsible for the sole goal in
the first leg, opened the scoring in Georgia as well with an excellent
volley from Senou Coulibaly's ball over the top: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502327/103700-Record_2025_07_31_19_30_40_496.mp4
After the break Cape Verde international Willy Semedo finished one-on-
one with Torpedo keeper Goshadze, and both Joveti-c and Semedo also added
to their tally on the break.

All four Georgian teams have been eliminated, the only nation with four starters where this has already happened. Point-wise this hasn't even
been a below-average season for them, and so they will finish firmly
in the Bottom Five and lose a European starter in 2027-28.


BR|yNDBY IF (DEN)* v HB (FAR) 1-0 (1-0), 2-1 on aggregate
(Fukuda 31')

Br|+ndby's new Japanese signing Sh+i Fukuda tapped in Clement Bischoff's centre: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502328/103713-Record_2025_07_31_20_02_15_683.mp4
but since Bischoff later only hit the post, Br|+ndby's other Japanese
signing K+itar+i Uchino missed the target from short range, and HB keeper Bjarti M|+rk kept out point-blank headers by Bundgaard and K||hlert, the
tie remained close until the final seconds when both Emil Gr|+nn Pedersen
and HB's Latvian centre-back Kl-Uvs Kram-ons failed to connect properly
with an inviting cross into the Danish box.


CS UNIVERSITATEA CRAIOVA (ROM)* v FK Sarajevo (BIH) 4-0 (0-0), 5-2 on aggregate
(Al-Hamlawi 51', 79', 83', Cic|old-au 68')

The first half was quite even, but Assad Al-Hamlawi made all the
difference after the break - the Sweden-born Palestine international
scored with a bicycle kick after the Bosnian defence had failed to
clear a corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502329/103745-Record_2025_07_31_20_49_34_945.mp4
and he completed his hat trick with an angled shot on the break from
Alexandru Cretu's through ball and by tapping in a low centre by Costa
Rican winger Carlos Mora. In between those goals Alexandru Cic|old-au also headed in a cross by Mora.


BEITAR JERUSALEM FC (ISR)* v FK Sutjeska (MNE) 5-2 (2-2), 7-3 on aggregate (Atzili 42', Shua 45'+5, Morozov 51', Kalu 83', Muzie 88';
To+ikovi-c 11' (pen), Kopitovi-c 28')

Played in Ploie+Oti in Romania the match started very badly for the
Israeli as Uri Dahan's trailing leg brought down Vasilije -iavor in the
box, with Bal+ia To+ikovi-c converting the ensuing penalty with a Panenka,
and the Montenegrins even took the surprising aggregate lead when a
shot by Aleksa Golubovi-c came off the upright and Boris Kopitovi-c
volleyed in the rebound: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502330/103711-Record_2025_07_31_19_58_17_656.mp4
Importantly for Beitar they managed to equalise before half-time as
Omer Atzili headed in a corner kick, and their captain Yarden Shua
tapped a rebound into the empty net after Sutjeska keeper Vladan Giljen
had saved from short range against Atzili. After the break Russian-
Israeli right-back Grigori Morozov headed in another corner kick to
make it three, and Beitar added two late goals through Nigerian striker Johnbosco Kalu, newly signed from V|nrnamo in Allsvenskan, who scored on
the break, and Timothy Muzie who rifled in a low cross by Shua.


-#STANBUL BA+RAK+REHIR FK (TUR)* v PFC Cherno More Varna (BUL) 4-0 (3-0),
5-0 on aggregate
(Brni-c 17', Crespo 31', Da Costa 36', Op|-ri 80')

Ba+fak+fehir made sure of qualification already in the first half -
Croatian winger Ivan Brni-c headed in a cross by Marseille-trained
Yusuf Sar-#, and Miguel Crespo stabbed in a rebound after Cherno More
keeper Plamen Iliev had parried against Sar-#: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502331/103723-Record_2025_07_31_20_17_23_927.mp4
Cape Verdean forward Nuno da Costa ran onto Crespo's through ball and
fired past Iliev to score the third, and with the match decided Ivorian right-back Christopher Op|-ri late on headed in a corner kick that Iliev
had flapped at.

to be continued

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 03/08/2025 04:12, Werner Pichler wrote:

to be continued

FC Prishtina (KOS) v LARNE FC (NIR)* 1-1 aet (1-0, 1-1), 1-1 on
aggregate, Larne win 5-4 on penalties
(Taipi 10'; Bent 56'; Red Card: O'Neill (Lar) 117')

A brain fart by Larne's Scottish keeper Rohan Ferguson, who on occasion
of a goal kick picked up the ball after a teammate had already touched
it, led to a rather rare indirect free-kick at the edge of the six-yard
box that Gjelbrim Taipi fired in straight over the nine Larne players
bunched together on their own goal line: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502332/103841-Record_2025_07_31_23_56_38_372.mp4
The Northern Irish equalised when Prishtina keeper Ardit Nika failed to
punch out Mark Randall's free-kick, and Gibraltarian international Dan
Bent volleyed the rebound into the empty net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502332/103842-Record_2025_07_31_23_58_58_413.mp4
Late in extra time Larne striker Paul O'Neill saw a straight red for a
flying elbow against Diar Halili, but that didn't matter as in the
shoot-out Ferguson stopped Ramiz Bytyqi's decisive spot kick with a
smooth one-handed save.

Larne win their second European shoot-out in a row. The prize is a trip
to the Azores.


FC NEMAN GRODNO (BLR) v FC Ko+iice (SLK)* 1-1 (0-0), 4-3 on aggregate (Yevdokimov 90'+1; Domik 90'+3)

In Szeged in Southeastern Hungary the biggest chance of the first half
fell to the Slovakians, but a header by US journeyman Zyen Jones went
off the right post. In stoppage time Oleg Yevdokimov nodded in a cross
by Yegor Zubovich, and even though Ko+iice immediately replied through
the substitute Michal Domik who volleyed in a loose ball: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502333/103856-Record_2025_08_01_00_09_15_223.mp4
there wasn't enough time left for the Slovakians to force extra time.


KA (ISL) v SILKEBORG IF (DEN)* 2-3 aet (1-0, 2-2), 3-4 on aggregate
(H.M. Steingr|!msson 34' (pen), Kjartansson 86'; Adamsen 54', 62', 114')

I'm a bit surprised that the rather bare-bones Akureyrarv||llur stadium
on Iceland's remote north coast is UEFA-approved, but that's where
Silkeborg had to travel. The Danes were awarded an early penalty for a
handball that KA's veteran keeper Stein|+||r M|ir Au|#unsson kept out
against Tonni Adamsen, while at the other end Silkeborg's keeper Nicolai
Larsen was too late to a wayward back pass and his collision with KA
captain |ivar |urn |Urnason resulted in a penalty that was despatched by Hallgr|!mur Mar Steingr|!msson. In the second half Adamsen made amends for
his earlier miss by tapping in Jens Martin Gammelby's cross, and he also chipped Younes Bakiz's back-heel assist over Au|#unsson to give Silkeborg
the aggregate lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502334/104063-Record_2025_08_01_22_22_57_219.mp4
Four minutes from time Vi|#ar |urn Kjartansson levelled the score once
more by also tapping into an empty net from |Usgeir Sigurgeirsson's
centre: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502334/104066-Record_2025_08_01_22_27_02_366.mp4
but Adamsen completed his hat trick in extra time with a shot from
distance that left Au|#unsson rooted to the spot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502334/104067-Record_2025_08_01_22_28_19_72.mp4


FC Koper (SLO) v VIKING FK (NOR)* 3-5 (2-1), 3-12 on aggregate
(D. Juri-c 3' (pen), 45', Manseri 56'; Svendsen 19', 52', 90',
Austb|+ 76', 89')

With the tie obviously already decided by Koper's first-leg drubbing it
appears almost as if the two teams decided to play one for fun. Deni
Juri-c, younger brother of former Australian international and fellow
Koper teammate Tomi Juri-c, converted an early penalty and got one on the
break from Victor Ehibe's through ball for his brace, while at the other
end Sander Svendsen scored a hat trick with a tap-in, a lovely free-
kick, and when his solo run late on was left unchallenged by the
Slovenian defence. Frenchman Kamil Manseri also scored for Koper when he
beat Viking keeper Klaesson with an angled shot, and Edvin Austb|+ got
two for the Norwegians by tapping a rebound into the empty after Metod
Jurhar had saved against Kristoffer Haugen's point-blank volley, and
also when he was left unbothered by any Koper defenders to slot in Ruben
Alte's assist.


Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR) v AEK FC (GRE)* 0-0 (0-0), 0-1 on aggregate

AEK hit the woodwork twice, in the first half Be'er Sheva keeper Niv
Eliasi pushed a shot by Mauritania international Aboubakary Ko|>ta onto
the post, and a quarter hour from time Haitian former Maccabi Haifa
forward Frantzdy Pierrot fired against the crossbar.


CD SANTA CLARA (POR)* v NK Vara++din (CRO) 2-0 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate (Vin|!cius Lopes 5', Gabriel Silva 68')

The team from the Azores had eight Brazilians in their starting line-up
and levelled the aggregate score early on when one of them, Vin|!cius
Lopes, volleyed in the loose ball after Vara++din keeper Zelenika hadn't punched a corner kick far enough: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502337/103746-Record_2025_07_31_20_53_24_963.mp4
Unsurprisingly it was another Brazilian, former Palmeiras forward
Gabriel Silva, who got Santa Clara the winner by tapping the rebound
into the empty net after Zelenika had saved one-on-one against Vin|!cius
Lopes.


NK Maribor (SLO)* v PAKSI FC (HUN) 1-1 (1-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Tshipamba 34'; Papp 57')

Maribor's new Ghanaian midfielder Eric Taylor played in Isaac Tshipamba,
a fellow new signing, and the French-Congolese striker left Paks keeper Kov|icsik no chance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502338/103862-Record_2025_08_01_00_19_54_160.mp4
The Hungarians got the decisive equaliser when Krist||f Papp finished off
a one-two with Barna Toth with a well-placed volley: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502338/103863-Record_2025_08_01_00_21_10_571.mp4


Royal Charleroi SC (BEL)* v HAMMARBY IF (SWE) 1-2 aet (0-1, 1-1), 1-2 on aggregate
(+atuli-c 47'; Erabi 21', Eriksson 120')

In pouring rain and on a soaked pitch young forward Jusef Erabi gave
Hammarby the lead by sweeping in Oscar Johansson Schellhas's cut-back
cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502339/103859-Record_2025_08_01_00_16_18_112.mp4
Early in the second half Serbian striker Nikola +atuli-c surprised
Hammarby's Surinamese keeper Warner Hahn by immediately latching on to a
loose ball: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502339/103860-Record_2025_08_01_00_16_59_690.mp4
but with a penalty shoot-out just around the corner Hammarby centre-back
Victor Eriksson headed in a looping free-kick cross by Shaquille Pinas, Hammarby's other Suriname international: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502339/103861-Record_2025_08_01_00_18_11_473.mp4

Belgium are the highest-ranked league to have already lost a team.


Pusk|is Akad|-mia FC (HUN)* v ARIS LIMASSOL FC (CYP) 0-2 (0-0), 2-5 on aggregate
(Kvilitaia 77', Kakoullis 78'; Red Card: Colley (Pus) 63')

Aris dominated from the start, and the Pusk|is Academy were reduced to
ten when Gambian forward Lamin Colley was sent off with a second yellow
for a reckless challenge on veteran German-Nigerian centre-back Leon
Balogun, 37 by now. Still, even against ten the Cypriots needed a gift
from the Hungarians to score - keeper Tam|is Markek, who up to that point
had virtually single-handedly kept the match scoreless, saw his punt
blocked by Jaden Montnor, and the Surinamese international squared for
Georgian striker Giorgi Kvilitaia to tap into the empty net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502340/103857-Record_2025_08_01_00_12_05_976.mp4
Just a minute later Andronikos Kakoullis, back home in Cyprus on loan
from AIK after an unsuccessful stint in Sweden, curled home the second: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502340/103858-Record_2025_08_01_00_12_53_656.mp4


AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE)* v FC Aktobe (KAZ) 4-0 (0-0), 5-2 on aggregate (Birman-ievi-c 57', Ryne+i 60', Kuchta 64', Rrahmani 90'+4)

Sparta played a lack-lustre first half, but still managed to turn the
tie around after the break when they scored three times in seven
minutes. Veljko Birman-ievi-c was left all alone in the six-yard box to
stoop low and push Jan Kuchta's header over the line: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502341/103761-Record_2025_07_31_21_21_32_183.mp4
Mat-cj Ryne+i rifled in a cut-back cross by |Ungelo Preciado, and the Ecuadorian right-back also provided the assist that Kuchta turned in on
the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502341/103764-Record_2025_07_31_21_24_12_282.mp4
In stoppage time Albion Rrahmani volleyed into the empty net after
Aktobe's Romanian keeper Vlad had punched out a cross by Pavel
Kade+O|ibek, back with Sparta after ten years in Hoffenheim.

to be continued

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 03/08/2025 04:13, Werner Pichler wrote:

to be continued

MACCABI HAIFA FC (ISR)* v FC Torpedo-BelAZ (BLR) 3-0 (2-0), 4-1 on aggregate (Saba 14', Haziza 22', Stewart 78')

Dia Saba intercepted a bad pass and capped off a solo run by bending a
great shot past Torpedo keeper Malashchitskiy: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502342/103719-Record_2025_07_31_20_14_11_980.mp4
A quickly executed throw-in then found Dolev Haziza breaking through on
the left wing, and Maccabi's captain chipped over Malashchitskiy from a
tight angle. Now that Frantzdy Pierrot has left for Athens it's Jamaican forward Trivante Stewart and Cura|oao winger Kenji Gorr|- who are flying
the CONCACAF flag in Haifa, and the former scored the third by tapping
in a low cross by the latter.


JAGIELLONIA BIA+UYSTOK (POL)* v FK Novi Pazar (SRB) 3-1 (0-0), 5-2 on aggregate
(Pululu 50', 73' (pen), Romanczuk 90'+4; Abdullahi 85')

Afimico Pululu can't seem to stop scoring in the Conference League -
despite a somewhat heavy first touch he stabbed home a feed by Jes||s
Imaz on the break, and he added a second from the spot after Novi
Pazar's 17-year-old centre-back Ahmed Had++imujovi-c had scythed down
fellow youngster Dawid Drachal. Dutch-born Somalia international (not
sure I've ever encountered one of those in these qualifiers?) Abdulsamed Abdullahi scored a consolation goal for the Serbian debutants by heading
into the empty net after Jagiellonia keeper Abramowicz had parried a
point blank shot by former Serie A mainstay Adem Ljaji-c: https://giphy.com/media/iGt5w3RDiBQWGDZgne/giphy.gif
In stoppage time Jagiellonia's long-time captain Taras Romanczuk
volleyed in the third from a corner kick.


FC LAUSANNE-SPORT (SUI)* v FK Vardar (MKD) 5-0 (3-0), 6-2 on aggregate (Dussenne 16', S|?ne 33', 45'+2, Ajdini 55', Traor|- 84')

Lausanne needed just one half to decisively repair the first-leg
damage - Belgian centre-back No|2 Dussenne headed in a corner kick, and Juventus youth product Kaly S|?ne first chipped a through ball by young Mauritanian international Beyatt Lekoueiry over Vardar keeper Taleski,
and then did likewise from Dussenne's long ball over the top. Alban
Ajdini made it four by rifling in the loose ball after Taleski had
parried twice against Lekoueiry, and Ivorian youngster Seydou Traor|- got
the fifth from yet another ball over the top, this one delivered by
Bryan Okoh, back home in Switzerland after a disappointing time in
Salzburg.


Aris FC (GRE)* v ARAZ-NAX|cIVAN PFK (AZE) 2-2 (0-2), 3-4 on aggregate
(Fabiano 62', Monchu 90'; Boli 11', Felipe Santos 38' (pen);
Red Cards: Igor Ribeiro (Ara) 52'; Fabiano (Ari) 90'+8)

Basile's nephew Charles Boli slotted in an excellent assist by Felipe
Santos: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502345/103801-Record_2025_07_31_22_49_45_386.mp4
and the Brazilian got the second himself from the spot after German-
Congolese forward Ba-Muaka Simakala, who had embarked for Nakhchivan
from rather less exotic Osnabr|+ck, had got clipped from behind by Aris's Spanish captain Monchu. Araz's Brazilian centre-back Igor Ribeiro left
for league rivals Neft|oi directly after this game, and in his last match
for his old team he did them a disservice by getting sent off for a
last-man shirt grab against young Senegalese winger Clayton Diandy.
Against ten men Aris scored a pretty shambolic goal when Giannis
Gianniotas twice went for a scissor kick and at the second attempt his
miscued effort was headed in at the far post by Brazilian centre-back
Fabiano Leismann: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502345/103808-Record_2025_07_31_23_06_52_317.mp4
Monchu made amends for his earlier penalty foul when he curled in a
free-kick in the last minute: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502345/103810-Record_2025_07_31_23_14_31_23.mp4
Aris laid siege to the Azeri box in stoppage time, but it all fizzled
out when the match deteriorated into a brawl after Diandy had bloodied Simakala's shin with a studs-up challenge, and Fabiano saw a second
yellow for his role in the altercation.


M+aK ++ilina (SLK) v RKS RAK|oW CZ-ySTOCHOWA (POL)* 1-3 (1-1), 1-6 on aggregate (-Auri+i 13'; Makuch 37', Brunes 52', Diaby-Fadiga 72')

D|ivid -Auri+i, back in ++ilina after an unsuccessful loan stint with Ascoli
in Serie B, volleyed in a loose ball to open the scoring, but all hopes
for a comeback were soon over as ++ilina keeper -+ubom|!r Belko completely misjudged a long ball, and when he tried to shepherd it into his penalty
area to pick it up he comically volleyed it against his own face,
leaving Rak||w forward Patryk Makuch with an empty-net finish: https://giphy.com/media/uKENPGAUx7OW93eoOd/giphy.gif
Erling Haaland's cousin Jonatan Braut Brunes swept in the rebound after
Belko had parried a shot from distance by Karol Struski, and Frenchman
Lamine Diaby-Fadiga finished off a nice one-two with Portuguese forward Leonardo Rocha to give Rak||w an easy win.


Valur (ISL)* v FK KAUNO ++ALGIRIS (LTU) 1-2 (1-1), 2-3 on aggregate
(|omarsson 45'+4; Chogadze 38', Benchaib 51')

Georgian midfielder Temur Chogadze curled in a shot from just inside the
box to give the Lithuanians the lead. Orri Sigur|#ur |omarsson soon after headed in a corner kick for the equaliser, but Belgian journeyman Amine Benchaib, who had found his way to Kaunas via Romania, scored the
decisive goal from a solo run that was met with only tepid Icelandic
defending.


SK RAPID WIEN (AUT)* v FK De-ii-c (MNE) 4-2 (0-0), 6-2 on aggregate
(Dahl 17', Radulovi-c 27', Weixelbraun 69', Mbuyi 71'; Strikovi-c 60', Sekulovi-c 82')

Rapid hit the woodwork five times inside the first half hour, but on two
of these occasions the rebounds were turned into goals, once by new
Norwegian signing Petter Dahl, and once by Montenegrin midfielder
Andrija Radulovi-c. After the break Vuk Strikovi-c headed in a corner kick
to pull one back. Two new arrivals at Rapid then scored the first goal
for their new club - youngster Dominik Weixelbraun volleyed in the loose
ball after De-ii-c keeper Niki-c had failed to punch out a corner kick, and French-Congolese striker Claudy Mbuyi, last year's top scorer in the
Austrian 2nd division, headed in a Radulovi-c cross. Late on a free-kick
by Petar Sekulovi-c got deflected by the Rapid wall past a helpless
Niklas Hedl.

All three Montengrin teams have been eliminated, and now they will have
to wait and see whether or not they will be overtaken by two out of
Belarus, Luxembourg, and North Macedonia and finish in the Bottom Five
in the UEFA Ranking, a position that they had just escaped.


Dungannon Swifts FC (NIR) v FC VADUZ (LIE)* 0-3 aet (0-0, 0-1), 1-3 on aggregate
(Hammerich 79', Eberhard 105'+3, N. Hasler 120'+2;
Red Card: Kelly (Dun) 44')

The Northern Irish controversially had a player sent off when Tiernan
Kelly was adjudged to have entered an aerial duel elbow first (didn't
look like much to be honest), and against ten men Swiss substitute Mats Hammerich beat Swifts keeper Declan Dunne with a low shot from the edge
of the D: https://giphy.com/media/0awi8I7OpXKfvJnf1W/giphy.gif
In extra time Mischa Eberhard, another Swiss, scored with a very similar
shot to give Vaduz the aggregate lead, and when in the dying seconds
Dunne left his net to join the attack it was Nicolas Hasler, the player
with the most caps for Liechtenstein among currently active ones, who
instead scored an empty-netter.

After two eliminations in a row at the first hurdle the erstwhile
Conference League group stage participants once again survive a
qualifying round. Liechtenstein's coefficient needed that.


FC DINAMO CITY (ALB) v Atl|?tic Club d'Escaldes (AND)* 1-1 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Zab|2rgja 18'; Berlanga 49'; Red Cards: Gassama (Din) 52',
Andrade (Atl) 77')

Baton Zab|2rgja gave the Albanians the early lead when he intercepted a
bad pass and slotted past Atl|?tic's Argentine keeper Jure Marinovich. Moroccan-Spanish winger Domi Berlanga volleyed in a slightly miscued
feed by Gemelson for the equaliser, and both sides subsequently saw a
player sent off with a second booking, but despite some good
opportunities the goal that would have sent the tie to extra time eluded
the Andorrans.

All Andorran teams have been eliminated, but what a difference to the
Welsh or Georgian washouts. I think it's safe to say that all three
clubs exceeded expectations, and Andorra look quite certain to escape
the Bottom Five and get a fourth team in Europe for the first time ever.


Floriana FC (MLT) v FC BALLKANI (KOS)* 1-1 (1-1), 3-5 on aggregate
(Vella 38'; Adetunji 45'+1)

Following a fine passing move Dunstan Vella brought the Maltese within
one goal of levelling the aggregate score: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502352/103904-Record_2025_08_01_02_31_40_833.mp4
but the Kosovars soon put paid to that when they punished bad ball
control in the Maltese defence, and after Brazilian in the Balkans
Giovanni had intercepted a pass it fell for Nigerian forward Sunday
Adetunji who beat Floriana keeper Guilherme Cioletti, also a Brazilian,
with a low shot into the bottom corner.


KF V|iKINGUR (ISL)* v KF Vllaznia (ALB) 4-2 aet (1-0, 3-2), 5-4 on aggregate (Hafsteinsson 10', Hansen 55', 86', R.O. |Rorkelsson 94';
Balaj 26' (pen), 85' (pen); Red Card: Tafili (Vll) 111')

Dan|!el Hafsteinsson gave the Icelanders the early lead by emphatically volleying in a loose ball after a corner kick. Former Sturm Graz
transfer flop Bekim Balaj equalised from the spot after Danish
midfielder Tarik Ibrahimagi-c had caught the ankle of Vllaznia's new
Ghanaian signing Bismark Charles. In the second half V|!kingur's Danish mainstay in attack Nikolaj Hansen slotted in following an excellent solo
run by Valdimar |R||r Ingimundarson: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502353/103785-Record_2025_07_31_22_01_42_25.mp4
and |oskar Borg|+||rsson's cross-turned-shot came off the left post, but
five minutes from time the Albanians were awarded a very soft penalty
for an alleged push, and Balaj once more converted from the spot. Just a
minute later though the aggregate tie was level again as Hansen finished
off a nice one-two with Gylfi Sigur|#sson, and Sigur|#sson's trademark
touch also provided the corner kick that R||bert Orri |Rorkelsson headed
in for the decisive goal in extra time.


K|i (FAR)* v FK Radni-iki 1923 (SRB) 1-0 (1-0), 1-0 on aggregate
(Klettskar|# 39')

The Serbians actually had more of the game, but P|ill Klettskar|# headed
in the winning goal from what else but a corner kick delivered by |Urni Frederiksberg.


FK PARTIZAN (SRB)* v FC Oleksandriya (UKR) 4-0 (3-0), 6-0 on aggregate
(J. Milo+ievi-c 13', 23', 45', Vukoti-c 63';
Red Cards: Behiratche (Ole) 11', Ndicka (Ole) 58', Stojkovi-c (Par) 60')

Oleksandriya were quickly reduced to ten when their Ivorian centre-
back Jocelin Behiratche, newly arrived from Sheriff, brought down 20-
year-old Jovan Milo+ievi-c as last man. What's more, Milo+ievi-c then sent
the resulting free-kick in underneath the shoddily constructed Ukrainian
wall. The youngster followed this up with sweeping in a cross by Nemanja Trifunovi-c, and he completed his first-half hat trick by stealing the
ball off right-back Danil Skorko and surprising Oleksandriya keeper
Mykyta Shevchenko with a turn-and-shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502356/103778-Record_2025_07_31_21_44_11_222.mp4
The Ukrainians had another player sent off when French left-back Th|-o
Ndicka saw a second booking, but at least Partizan right-back Aran-ael Stojkovi-c soon followed suit, also with a second yellow. Ten against
nine Montenegrin midfielder Milan Vukoti-c added a fourth when he
collected a loose ball in the box and calmly side-stepped Denys Shostak
before firing past Shevchenko: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502356/103791-Record_2025_07_31_22_22_20_646.mp4


SHAMROCK ROVERS FC (IRL)* v St Joseph's FC (GIB) 0-0 (0-0), 4-0 on aggregate

A bit of a lost chance to collect some more coefficient points.


HNK HAJDUK SPLIT (CRO)* v Zir+O FK (AZE) 2-1 aet (1-0, 1-1), 3-2 on aggregate (Krovinovi-c 19', Benrahou 95'; Djibrilla 90'+3;
Red Card: Guima (Zir) 77')

In a packed Poljud stadium Hajduk took the lead through Filip Krovinovi-c
who volleyed in Marko Livaja's cut-back cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502358/103825-Record_2025_07_31_23_40_01_708.mp4
The Croatians dominated and missed several good chances to extend their
lead, but they looked at least safe to qualify, especially after
Mozambique international Guima had been sent off with a second yellow
for a high boot. But Hajduk't reputation as perennial qualification
bottlers came back to haunt them as in stoppage time ten-man Zir+O scored
an improbable equaliser - Nigerien international Issa Djibrilla broke
through on the left wing, and what should have been a cross instead
turned into a curved shot that beat Hajduk's unprepared keeper Ivu+ii-c at
his near post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502358/103920-Record_2025_08_01_10_01_44_507.mp4
Still, Hajduk got the winner against ten Azeri in extra time as French- Moroccan midfielder Yassin Benrahou scored with a nicely struck free-
kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/502358/103823-Record_2025_07_31_23_38_30_156.mp4



Draw for Conference League 3rd Qualifying Round (August 7 and 14)
* = seeded team
Winners go to ConfLPO


Champions Path

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v KF Egnatia (ALB)
FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)* v AC Virtus (SMR)

FC Differdange 03 (LUX)* v FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST)
V|!kingur (FAR) v Linfield FC (NIR)*


Main Path

SK Rapid Wien (AUT)* v Dundee United FC (SCO)
AC Sparta Praha (CZE)* v FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM)
AZ (NED)* v FC Vaduz (LIE)
FC Lugano (SUI)* v NK Celje (SLO)

K|i (FAR)* v FC Neman Grodno (BLR)
Riga FC (LAT)* v Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR)
KF V|!kingur (ISL)* v Br|+ndby IF (DEN)
HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)* v FC Dinamo City (ALB)

RSC Anderlecht (BEL) v FC Sheriff (MDA)*
FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI) v FC Astana (KAZ)*
Larne FC (NIR) v CD Santa Clara (POR)*
Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v AEK FC (GRE)*

Viking FK (NOR) v -#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)*
Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE) v AC Omonoia (CYP)*
FC Ballkani (KOS) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)*
RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)*

AIK (SWE)* v ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN)*
CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM) v FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)*
FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v Paksi FC (HUN)*
PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v Sabah FC (AZE)*

Silkeborg IF (DEN) v Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)*
FK Partizan (SRB)* v Hibernian FC (SCO)
FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE)* v FK Austria Wien (AUT)
Rosenborg BK (NOR) v Hammarby IF (SWE)*
St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v Be+fikta+f JK (TUR)*
FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU) v PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL)*


The difficulty of some of these ties appears to be quite uneven to me,
likely because a couple of smaller teams are seeded now after having
collected more coefficient points than usual in the last couple of
seasons in the Conference League.


Ciao,
Werner

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

On 03/08/2025 04:14, Werner Pichler wrote:

On 03/08/2025 04:13, Werner Pichler wrote:

to be continued

Had to split this because Eternal September's automatic spam filter
rejected the original message. Too many weird names and characters,
I suppose.


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Draw for Conference League Playoff (August 21 and 28)
* = seeded team
Winners go to ConfL League Stage


Champions Path

(Loser of:) -aamrun Spartans FC (MLT)/Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR) v (Loser
of:) FK RFS (LAT)/KuPS (FIN)*
(Loser of:) HNK Rijeka (CRO)/Shelbourne FC (IRL) v V|!kingur (FAR)/Linfield
FC (NIR)*
(Loser of:) H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)/Brei|#ablik (ISL)* v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)/AC Virtus (SMR)
(Loser of:) FC FCSB (ROM)/FC Drita (KOS)* v FC Differdange 03 (LUX)*/FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)/KF Egnatia (ALB)* v (Loser of:) Lincoln Red
Imps FC (GIB)/FC Noah (ARM)


Main Path

Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (FRA)* v KF V|!kingur (ISL)/Br|+ndby IF
(DEN)
Silkeborg IF (DEN)/Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)* v HNK Hajduk Split
(CRO)/FC Dinamo City (ALB)
(Loser of:) Panathinaikos FC (GRE)/FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* v (Loser of:) Servette FC (SUI)/FC Utrecht (NED)

RSC Anderlecht (BEL)/FC Sheriff (MDA)* v Aris Limassol FC (CYP)/AEK FC
(GRE)
Viking FK (NOR)/-#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)* v CS Universitatea
Craiova (ROM)/FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)
Crystal Palace FC (ENG)* v (Loser of:) Fredrikstad FK (NOR)/FC Midtjylland (DEN)

FC Lugano (SUI)/NK Celje (SLO)* v FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE)/FK Austria Wien
(AUT)
RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)* v FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU)/PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL)
FK Partizan (SRB)/Hibernian FC (SCO)* v (Loser of:) AEK Larnaca FC
(CYP)/Legia Warszawa

PFC Levski Sofia (BUL)/Sabah FC (AZE) v AZ (NED)/FC Vaduz (LIE)*
FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR)/Paksi FC (HUN) v ACF Fiorentina (ITA)*
AIK (SWE)/ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN) v SK Rapid Wien (AUT)/Dundee United FC (SCO)*

K|i (FAR)/FC Neman Grodno (BLR) v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (ESP)*
FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI)/FC Astana (KAZ) v St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL)/Be+fikta+f JK (TUR)*
Larne FC (NIR)/CD Santa Clara (POR) v FC Ballkani (KOS)/Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)*

Rosenborg BK (NOR)/Hammarby IF (SWE) v 1. FSV Mainz 05 (GER)*
AC Sparta Praha (CZE)/FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM)* v Riga FC (LAT)/Beitar
Jerusalem FC (ISR)
(Loser of:) BK H|ncken (SWE)/SK Brann (NOR) v (Loser of:) FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)/SC Braga (POR)*
(Loser of:) PAOK FC (GRE)/Wolfsberger AC (AUT) v Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE)/AC Omonoia (CYP)*


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

To wrap this up before the return legs start:


Conference League 3rd Qualifying Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team


August 5


Main Path


K|i (FAR)* v FC Neman Grodno (BLR) 2-0 (2-0)
(Joensen 26', Klettskar|# 45'+1)

P|ill Klettskar|#'s header from a cross by right-back J||annes Danielsson (incidentally, Klaksv|!k have also a left-back named Daniel Johansen in
their squad) came off the crossbar, but Ren|- Joensen was on hand to turn
in the rebound at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503134/104370-Record_2025_08_05_21_10_56_961.mp4
Klettskar|# still got his goal when he stuck out a leg to expertly flick
on a cross by Patrik Johannesen: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503134/104373-Record_2025_08_05_21_31_25_571.mp4



August 7


Champions Path


FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)* v AC Virtus (SMR) 3-2 (1-0)
(Nwaeze 31', Khali 61', Ndon 89'; Scappini 51', 73' (pen);
Red Cards: Cobe+c (Mil) 45', Takyi (Mil) 83')

Now this was a surprisingly wild game. Things appeared to go as expected
when Milsami's Nigerian centre-back Christopher Nwaeze, on loan from
Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk, headed in a free-kick by Frenchman Nabil
Khali, but things got a bit more complicated for the Moldovan champions
when their striker Andrei Cobe+u punched Virtus captain Manuel Battistini
in the chest and VAR correctly upgraded the original yellow to a red.
Against ten men the Sammarinese equalised after the break when 37-year-
old new arrival Stefano Scappini, a guy with more than 400 Serie C
matches under his belt, slotted in an excellent through ball by Nicola
Gori: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503135/104757-Record_2025_08_07_22_28_11_815.mp4
Still, Khali sent a free-kick through the shoddily constructed Virtus
wall to give Milsami the lead again: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503135/104758-Record_2025_08_07_22_28_39_978.mp4
Virtus equalised once more thanks to a VAR handball penalty, and it got
even worse for Milsami when their Ghanaian left-back Frederick Takyi,
newly signed from the Portuguese fourth tier, saw a second yellow for a
late challenge on Alessandro Golinucci. But nine against eleven a comedy
of errors still gave the Moldovans the win - substitute centre-back
Umberto De Lucia under no pressure directed a cross towards his own net,
and Virtus keeper Passaniti spilled the harmless ball, allowing the
Nigerian substitute Ime Ndon to pounce: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503135/104761-Record_2025_08_07_22_30_05_546.mp4


NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v KF Egnatia (ALB) 0-0 (0-0)
(Red Cards: Fangaj (Egn) 90')

Olimpija continue (o?)limping through the competition. They should at
least have scored one from the spot, but Estonian striker Alex Tamm sent
his penalty pitifully wide. The Albanian champions played pretty rough, collecting nine bookings (compared to none for Olimpija), and right-back Abdurraman Fangaj received two of them.


FC Differdange 03 (LUX)* v FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST) 2-3 (1-2)
(Hadji 17', 60'; Musaba 14', 52', Ainsalu 20')

A mistake by the Luxembourgers playing from the back led to the ball
breaking for Richie Musaba, and the Dutchman chipped over D|-ifferdeng's veteran Brazilian keeper Felipe. Three minutes later Felipe provided the
punt that turned into a perfect assist for Artur Abreu, and while he was stopped by Levadia keeper Vallner the loose ball fell for Samir Hadji to
roll it into the empty net. Again just three minutes later though the
Estonians went in front once more as a long ball split the Luxembourger
defence and while Felipe managed to deflect Musaba's shot onto the post,
Mihkel Ainsalu tapped the rebound into the gaping net. After the break
Levadia went up by two when Musaba's turn-and-shot surprised Felipe at
his near post, but Hadji at least pulled one back for Differdange when
he tapped in a cross by young Cameroonian winger Boris Mfoumou.


V|!kingur (FAR) v Linfield FC (NIR)* 2-1 (1-1)
(Hall 3' (og), Jonhardsson 56'; Fitzpatrick 9')

It's been a rather tough domestic season for reigning champions V|!kingur
in the Faroese Betri deildin (Klaksv|!k are once more running away with
the title this year), but they took an early lead when Linfield centre-
back Ben Hall slid into Aron Ellingsgaard's cross, inadvertently
steering it past his own keeper Chris Johns: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503147/104851-Record_2025_08_08_06_29_07_0.mp4
The Northern Irish were soon level though as Matthew Fitzpatrick met a
cross by Chris Shields with a looping header that curved over V|!kingur's
young reserve keeper Hans J|ikup Arngr|!msson: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503147/104852-Record_2025_08_08_06_29_22_367.mp4
Both sides then had good opportunities to get the winning goal, and it
was the Faroese who managed to take one of theirs, left-back Ingi
Jonhardsson collected a loose ball, ran a couple of metres, and beat
Johns with a precise shot into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503147/104853-Record_2025_08_08_06_29_40_461.mp4



Main Path


Aris Limassol FC (CYP) v AEK FC (GRE)* 2-2 (2-2)
(Kakoullis 18', Goldson 31'; Pereyra 9', Relvas 14')

AEK took an early two-goal lead as former Udinese and Juventus forward
Roberto Pereyra slotted in a fine through ball by Petros Mantalos: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503136/104777-Record_2025_08_07_22_54_33_90.mp4
and Portuguese centre-back Relvas got the second by shovelling in after
a corner kick, and perhaps a sneaky push by Pereyra, had thrown the Aris defence into disarray: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503136/104778-Record_2025_08_07_22_55_09_357.mp4
It just took a couple of minutes though for the Cypriots to pull one
back - a simple long ball out of defence by splendidly named Charalampos Charalampous completely wrong-footed the Greek defence, and Andronikos Kakoullis raced clear to beat AEK keeper Strakosha one-on-one: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503136/104779-Record_2025_08_07_22_55_58_35.mp4
Former Rangers centre-back Connor Goldson met a loose ball from a corner
kick with a fine volley to level the score even before the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503136/104780-Record_2025_08_07_22_56_45_107.mp4
The second half was far less entertaining though.


Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE) v AC Omonoia (CYP)* 0-4 (0-2)
(Loizou 13', 22', Ewandro 55', Joveti-c 58')

Omonoia scored an absolutely shambolic opener that started with Cape
Verdean international Patrick Andrade making the questionable decision
to dribble in a circle in front of his own defence before playing a bad
pass straight into the legs of his fellow countryman Willy Semedo,
Semedo immediately got off a shot that was parried by Araz's
Moldovan keeper Cristian Avram in an awkward manner, and when Burkinabe centre-back Issouf Paro tried to whack the rebound away he was blocked
by Ewandro and the ball fell for youngster Loizos Loizou (I'm beginning
to see a pattern in Cypriot naming conventions) to tap in from short
range: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503137/104749-Record_2025_08_07_22_18_18_951.mp4
Loizou got his brace by firing into the gaping net after Fotis Kitsos's
low cross had found him at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503137/104750-Record_2025_08_07_22_19_04_598.mp4
In the second half Stefan Joveti-c provided the cut-back cross that
Ewandro swept in for Omonoia's third, and Ewandro repaid the favour by providing the cross that a completely unmarked Joveti-c volleyed in from
point blank range: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503137/104753-Record_2025_08_07_22_20_27_920.mp4


Rosenborg BK (NOR) v Hammarby IF (SWE)* 0-0 (0-0)

Rosenborg had a bit more of the game, but didn't really threaten until
the dying seconds when a couple of promising shots missed the target,
while at the other end a header by substitute Paulos Abraham went
straight into the arms of Rosenborg keeper Tangvik.


FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU) v PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Vutov 53'; Red Card: Pavlovi-c (++al) 2')

Just two minutes in a studs-up tackle by ++algiris's Serbian midfielder
Damjan Pavlovi-c resulted in a card, upgraded by VAR from yellow to red.
Down a man for almost the entire match the Lithuanians kept the result
close, but they did concede once when former Udinese transfer flop
Antonio Vutov collected a pass by Svetoslav Kovachev, side-stepped a
tackle and fired past ++algiris keeper +avedkauskas: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503139/104620-Record_2025_08_07_19_14_07_261.mp4


FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE)* v FK Austria Wien (AUT) 4-3 (2-1)
(Koh||t 36', Buchta 45', Holzer 49', Prekop 82'; Malone 4', Fitz 67',
Sarkaria 79')

A typical Austria Vienna game in Europe - rarely boring, and rarely
successful. They took an early lead when Maurice Malone ran onto a
through ball by Dominik Fitz and despite pressure from Michal Frydrych
the German striker managed to push the ball past Ban|!k's Slovakian
keeper Dominik Holec: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104586-Record_2025_08_07_18_39_54_97.mp4
But just after a curving shot by Fitz had fallen onto the crossbar, the
Czechs were level since Austria keeper +Rahin-Radlinger, who looked shaky
all match, failed to keep out a shot by Michal Koh||t: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104612-Record_2025_08_07_19_07_03_970.mp4
Then it was Ban|!k's turn to hit the woodwork when a side-footed shot by Frydrych skimmed the far post, and the Czechs nevertheless did take the
lead before the break when a lost ball led to David Buchta finding
himself with too much time and space, and he beat +Rahin-Radlinger with a precise shot into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104621-Record_2025_08_07_19_17_16_727.mp4
Things got even worse for Austria right after the re-start since three defenders weren't able to clear the ball, and it fell for the unmarked
Daniel Holzer who had no problems firing past +Rahin-Radlinger: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104633-Record_2025_08_07_19_40_10_846.mp4
But as bad as Austria are defensively right now, their attack managed to
get the job done - Fitz tapped into the empty net after Holec had saved
against Malone: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104641-Record_2025_08_07_20_01_43_285.mp4
and Austria's third was a beauty, a one-touch route-one attack that
needed about five seconds to make it from one end to the pitch to the
other: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104647-Record_2025_08_07_20_10_49_227.mp4
with Fitz again providing the final assist, this time for Manprit
Sarkaria, back with his original club after a successful time with Sturm
Graz, and a very unsuccessful stint in China. As said above, it wouldn't
be Austria Vienna in European football though without another defensive
lapse, and just three minutes later Erik Prekop rose to head in Tom|i+i
Rigo's free-kick cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503140/104648-Record_2025_08_07_20_11_30_210.mp4


Riga FC (LAT)* v Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR) 3-0 (0-0)
(Reginaldo Ramires 47', 63', Musah 69')

Brazilian in the Baltics Reginaldo Ramires tapped in from a short corner
kick, and got his brace by heading into the empty net after Beitar's
Portuguese keeper Miguel Silva had parried a close range header by Tico
Orlando Galo. Another long cross also created the Latvians' third as
Antonijs -iernomordijs headed a free-kick across goal and Ghanaian
centre-back Baba Musah nodded in. In stoppage time -iernomordijs could
even have made it four, but his header came off the upright.


Viking FK (NOR) v -#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)* 1-3 (1-0)
(Svendsen 2'; T|+r|+|o 60', Op|-ri 79', Selke 90'+4)

This threw cold water on the high-flying Norwegian league leaders,
despite them taking an early lead when a terrible back pass led to
former Rapid Vienna forward Veton Berisha, signed from Molde just the
other week, finding himself through on goal, and he teed up Sander
Svendsen who was quite lucky to somehow stumble the ball over the line: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503142/104609-Record_2025_08_07_19_03_13_292.mp4
Ba+fak+fehir equalised thanks to a well-worked counter-attack at the end
of which Dutch-born midfielder Deniz T|+r|+|o curled a great shot into the
top corner, and they took the lead thanks to another nice shot from
distance, this time by Ivorian left-back Christopher Op|-ri: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503142/104674-Record_2025_08_07_20_38_56_273.mp4
In stoppage time the Norwegians ran into another counter, and Davie
Selke scored the first goal for his new club by expertly rounding Viking
keeper Klaesson: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503142/104687-Record_2025_08_07_20_54_13_373.mp4


AIK (SWE)* v ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN)* 2-1 (2-0)
(Be+iirovi-c 7', Celina 21'; Vit|ilis 79')

AIK took the early lead thanks to a nicely worked goal, young Norwegian
Erik Flataker played in the Portuguese-Bosnian veteran Dino Be+iirovi-c
who calmly slotted past Gy+ar's Slovakian keeper Petr|i+i: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503143/104764-Record_2025_08_07_22_37_54_123.mp4
After the Hungarians had lost ball in midfield Man City alumnus Bersant
Celina then finished off a counter attack with a shot into the bottom
corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503143/104768-Record_2025_08_07_22_39_57_168.mp4
Gy+ar didn't play badly though, and they deservedly halved the deficit
eleven minutes from the end when Mil|in Vit|ilis volleyed in a loose ball
after a corner kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503143/104770-Record_2025_08_07_22_42_02_466.mp4


Silkeborg IF (DEN) v Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)* 0-1 (0-1)
(Vital 15')

Silkeborg's New Zealand winger Callum McCowatt hit the crossbar from
short range, but two minutes later it was Jagiellonia who took the lead
as Portuguese centre-back Bernardo Vital volleyed in a corner kick
delivered by a Dane, Louka Prip. While the first half had been mostly
even, apart from the goal, Jagiellonia firmly controlled the match after
the break, but for once their Conference League top scorer Afimico
Pululu didn't manage to get on the scoresheet as one-on-one with
Silkeborg keeper Nicolai Larsen he failed to get his shot on target.


AC Sparta Praha (CZE)* v FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM) 4-1 (2-1)
(Harasl|!n 25', Kairinen 33', Kuchta 60', Birman-ievi-c 80' (pen);
Balanta 7')

Ararat-Armenia took a shock lead when a free-kick by Edgar Grigoryan
came off the near post, and at the second rebound attempt the ball fell
for Colombian midfielder Juan Balanta, signed by the Armenians from the Portuguese second division, who beat Sparta's Danish keeper Vindahl from
20 metres out: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503148/104645-Record_2025_08_07_20_08_55_181.mp4
Sparta hit back quickly though, and while a goal by Mat-cj Ryne+i was disallowed for offside after a VAR check, Patrik Vydra got the equalizer
from a one-two with Ryne+i: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503148/104665-Record_2025_08_07_20_27_51_230.mp4
For some reason UEFA assigned the goal to Sparta's Slovakian captain
Luk|i+i Harasl|!n who was in the vicinity but didn't appear to get a touch
of the ball. That's the stuff Use-the-Net scandals are made from.
Finnish midfielder Kaan Kairinen then gave Sparta the lead when his shot
was unluckily deflected by Ararat-Armenia centre-back Jo|uo Queir||s,
another player that had come to Armenia from the Portuguese second
division: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503148/104670-Record_2025_08_07_20_34_48_172.mp4
Amid a ton of opportunities Sparta scored a third after the break
through Jan Kuchta who headed in a cross by Ryne+i, and late on Veljko Birman-ievi-c put the result out of reach from the spot after he had been bowled over by Queir||s in the area.


AZ (NED)* v FC Vaduz (LIE) 3-0 (1-0)
(Parrott 29', 74', Meerdink 80')

An easy win for Alkmaar. Troy Parrott tapped in a low cross by Denso
Kasius for the lead, and late on beat Vaduz's German keeper Leon
Schaffran from a very tight angle: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503149/104717-Record_2025_08_07_21_30_12_331.mp4
Youngster Mexx Meerdink scored a pretty amazing third by lobbing
Schaffran with the outside of his foot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503149/104727-Record_2025_08_07_21_36_07_505.mp4


RSC Anderlecht (BEL) v FC Sheriff (MDA)* 3-0 (1-0)
(Angulo 17', Dolberg 48', Verschaeren 81')

Sheriff just aren't as scary an opponent anymore as five years ago when
they beat Real Madrid. Ecuadorian forward Nilson Angulo volleyed in a
cross by Ilay Camara for the early lead, Kasper Dolberg tapped into the
gaping net from Yari Verschaeren's feed: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503150/104715-Record_2025_08_07_21_08_37_798.mp4
and late on Verschaeren got the third himself with the easiest of
finishes after Adriano Bertaccini had rounded Sheriff's new Bulgarian
keeper Ivan Dyulgerov: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503150/104732-Record_2025_08_07_21_41_53_984.mp4


FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v Paksi FC (HUN)* 3-0 (2-0)
(Andriyevskyi 41', Beskorovaynyi 45'+1, Lyednyev 59';
Red Card: Mykhaylichenko (Pol) 90'+2)

A bit unexpected, considering Polissya's struggles against Andorran
opposition in the previous round. Oleksandr Andriyevskyi swept Boris Krushynskyi's cut-back cross into the empty net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503151/104783-Record_2025_08_07_23_05_44_588.mp4
and Danylo Beskorovaynyi nodded in a free-kick by Bohdan Lyednyev to
make it two. Krushynskyi then also provided the assist for Lyednyev's
shot that was deflected by Balint V|-csei into his own net. With Polissya
three goals up Bohdan Mykhaylichenko's two-footed last-minute tackle in
the centre circle looked even more senseless.


PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v Sabah FC (AZE)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Rupanov 90'+8)

When things appeared to head for an uneventful scoreless draw the young substitute Borislav Rupanov headed in a corner kick by Frenchman Mazire
Soula.


FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI) v FC Astana (KAZ)* 3-1 (2-0)
(Roche 24', S|?ne 43', Ajdini 72'; Ba+ii-c 90')

After twenty minutes there was the rare occurrence of a Red Card being downgraded by VAR to a booking, and so Astana's new Bosnian signing Ivan Ba+ii-c was allowed to stay on the pitch until the final minute when after
a goalmouth scramble he volleyed into the top corner to improve the
result a bit for the Kazakhs. Before this Lausanne had taken a three-
goal lead through Swedish midfielder Jamie Roche who side-footed in a
shot from the edge of the box, Senegalese forward Kaly S|?ne who punished
a horrible back pass, and Kosovar winger Alban Ajdini who tapped in a
low cross by Congolese left-back Morgan Poaty.


FC Lugano (SUI)* v NK Celje (SLO) 0-5 (0-2)
(+aturm 35', Kova-ievi-c 44' (pen), 84' (pen), Zabukovnik 59', Kvesi-c 89')

Lugano have found their nemesis, and surprisingly they're from
Slovenia's peaceable +atajerska region. But while last season's
Conference League Round of 16 was a shambolic 5-4 game that Lugano
ultimately lost on penalties, this was a demolition. Following an
inadvertent one-two with his opponent Ousmane Doumbia Danijel +aturm
curled in the opening goal from the edge of the area: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503154/104695-Record_2025_08_07_21_05_39_971.mp4
Franko Kova-ievi-c made it two from the spot after former Leeds winger
Ez||an Alioski had brought down Mark Zabukovnik in the box, and
Zabukovnik got the third himself with a fine shot into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503154/104737-Record_2025_08_07_21_48_44_477.mp4
Lugano then gave away yet another penalty when Bayern M|+nchen youth
product Lasse Mai bulldozed Celje's Russian striker Nikita Iosifov, and
Mario Kvesi-c finished the rout by sweeping in a cut-back cross from
just inside the area.


FC Ballkani (KOS) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Adetunji 56')

A well-worked attacking move by Ballkani ended with Nigerian forward
Sunday Adetunji side-stepping a challenge and pushing the ball past
Rovers keeper McGinty for the only goal: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503155/104854-Record_2025_08_08_06_32_20_993.mp4


CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM) v FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)* 3-0 (0-0)
(Baiaram 51', Al-Hamlawi 54', Mora 81'; Red Card: Paur (Spa) 85')

Both sides had their chances in a goalless first half, but it was the
Romanians who ran away with it after the break. +ytefan Baiaram with a
little luck found himself through on goal and curled a great shot past Spartak's Slovenian keeper Frelih: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503156/104769-Record_2025_08_07_22_41_32_712.mp4
Sweden-born Palestine international Assad Al-Hamlawi then expertly
finished off a counter-attack by turning Spartak defender Kristi|in
Ko+itrna inside out before slotting past Frelih: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503156/104767-Record_2025_08_07_22_40_09_877.mp4
and Costa Rica international Carlos Mora added a third also on the
break by tapping into the empty net after Frelih had parried against
Baiaram: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503156/104765-Record_2025_08_07_22_39_05_328.mp4
The substitute Jakub Paur then saw a straight red for throwing an elbow
into the face of Tudor B-alu+c-a.


KF V|!kingur (ISL)* v Br|+ndby IF (DEN) 3-0 (1-0)
(Hansen 45', Ekroth 47', Andrason 83')

Quite the rough awakening for Br|+ndby on Iceland. The Danes conceded
twice from corner kicks, both excellent deliveries by Gylfi Sigur|#sson,
and Gylfi late on also provided a cross that created chaos in the
Br|+ndby box, and while Erlingur Agnarsson wasn't able to get off a shot
Viktor |urlygur Andrason managed to collect the ball, side-step Jordi Vanlerberghe's tepid challenge, and slot into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503157/104756-Record_2025_08_07_22_26_54_877.mp4


St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v Be+fikta+f JK (TUR)* 1-4 (0-4)
(Power 49'; Jo|uo M|irio 8', Abraham 14', 23', 43' (pen))

The Turkish favourites decided the tie already inside the first forty-
five minutes - Jo|uo M|irio's shot was deflected past a helpless Joseph
Anang in the St Pat's net, and Tammy Abraham got a hat trick by first
scoring an empty-netter after Anang had pushed Jonas Svensson's cross
onto his chest: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503158/104691-Record_2025_08_07_21_02_33_896.mp4
then chipping Jo|uo M|irio's through ball over Anang, and finally getting
one from the spot after having been fouled by Jamie Lennon. At least
the Irish scored a consolation right after the break when Simon Power
broke through on the left side and fired past Mert G|+nok.


SK Rapid Wien (AUT)* v Dundee United FC (SCO) 2-2 (2-1)
(Dahl 27', Seidl 44'; Watters 33', Sapsford 75')

These two teams had last played each other in the quarterfinals of the
1983-84 European Cup when the Tangerines prevailed on away goals.
Different times.
Rapid took a deserved lead through their very promising new Norwegian
signing Petter Nosa Dahl who volleyed in a cross by Bendeg||z Bolla: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503159/104712-Record_2025_08_07_21_28_30_168.mp4

but with their first chance of the game Dundee United where level - poor defending by Mamadou Sangar|- allowed Zac Sapsford to break through on
the left flank, and the Aussie's cut-back cross was pushed across the
line by Englishman Max Watters: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503159/104719-Record_2025_08_07_21_34_53_615.mp4
Rapid retook the lead just before the break when Bolla again sent in an inviting cross from the right side, and while this time around Dahl
failed to connect the ball fell for Matthias Seidl who volleyed into
the gaping net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503159/104736-Record_2025_08_07_21_45_04_547.mp4
Rapid had a lot more opportunities after the break, but Dundee United's
new Ukrainian keeper Yevhen Kucherenko pulled off several excellent
saves, and at the other end during one of their few but dangerous forays
into the Rapid half Sarpsford ran onto Ivan Dol-iek's ball over the top
and side-footed a volley past Rapid keeper Niklas Hedl: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503159/104736-Record_2025_08_07_21_45_04_547.mp4


HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)* v FC Dinamo City (ALB) 2-1 (0-1)
(Durdov 49', Sanyang 63'; Bregu 37')

The Dalmatians again made quite heavy work of things, and even though
they dominated the first half they fell behind against the Albanian
underdogs when Dejvi Bregu beat Hajduk keeper Ivica Ivu+ii-c with a
sumptuous shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503160/104722-Record_2025_08_07_21_37_17_88.mp4
Hajduk equalised soon after the break though as 17-year-old talent Bruno
Durdov nodded in from the shortest of ranges after Filip Krovinovi-c had broken through on the left wing, and the Gambian substitute Abdoulie
Bamba Sanyang immediately made a difference after having come on - he
first appeared to have earned Hajduk a penalty, subsequently cancelled
by VAR, but just a minute later he gave them the win regardless as he
stole the ball off Bruno Dita and fired past Dinamo's excellent keeper
Aldo Teqja.


Larne FC (NIR) v CD Santa Clara (POR)* 0-3 (0-3)
(Wendel 26', Gabriel Silva 33', 36')

The Azorean Brazilians made short work of Larne - Wendel Silva tapped
a cross by Brazilian compatriot Gabriel Silva into the empty net, and
a one-two between Frederico Ven|oncio and Wendel led to the loose ball
falling for Gabriel Silva and an easy finish: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503161/104720-Record_2025_08_07_21_34_52_836.mp4
Adriano, another Brazilian, then provided the through ball for Gabriel
Silva's third: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503161/104726-Record_2025_08_07_21_37_23_275.mp4
I hope Larne players, staff, and fans can take full advantage of the
return leg on the Azores, I hear it's a lovely place.


RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL) v Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Azoulay 61')

The Poles had more and better opportunities, but were stymied by an
excellent performance from Maccabi's Ukrainian keeper Heorhiy Yermakov.
At the other end, Ethan Azoulay got the decisive goal with a turn-and-
shot that surprised Rak||w keeper Kacper Trelowski: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503162/104754-Record_2025_08_07_22_21_43_637.mp4


FK Partizan (SRB)* v Hibernian FC (SCO) 0-2 (0-1)
(Boyle 40', 70' (pen); Red Card: -Eur-aevi-c (Par) 34')

The gap between Partizan and their local rivals Red Star has become huge
in recent years, and they were on the back foot for most of this game,
too, especially after centre-back Vuka+iin -Eur-aevi-c was sent off with a second yellow for breaking up a counter attack. Hibs soon made their
numerical superiority count as Martin Boyle volleyed in from a flicked-
on corner kick, and the Australia international added a second from the
spot after VAR had awarded the Scots an uncontroversial penalty.



Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Late, but still wanted to wrap this up.


Conference League 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS (except AIK) through to ConfLPO



August 13


Main Path


-#STANBUL BA+RAK+REHIR FK (TUR)* v Viking FK (NOR) 1-1 (1-1), 4-2 on aggregate (Selke 40'; Bulut 34' (og))

As in the first leg Viking managed to take the lead when Onur Bulut
under pressure turned a cross by New Zealand international Joe Bell into
his own net, but also as in the first leg Ba+fak+fehir managed to punish Viking's somewhat naive defending and hit them on the break, and when
Davie Selke calmly finished off a one-two with Roma loanee Eldor
Shomurodov the tie was effectively over.



August 14


Champions Path


FCI Levadia Tallinn (EST) v FC DIFFERDANGE 03 (LUX)* 1-3 aet (0-0, 0-1),
4-5 on aggregate
(Tambedou 92'; Buch 89', 105'+1, Hadji 119' (pen);
Red Cards: Iboro (Lev) 107', Torres (Lev) 120'+1)

In the first eighty minutes little indicated the drama that would
unfold. It started with D|-ifferdeng being denied a handball penalty that looked pretty obvious, but they still got the goal they needed to send
the match to extra time through substitute German striker Andreas Buch,
now in his seventh season in Luxembourg (the highest he had played in
his native country had been Oberliga, 5th tier), who had been sent
through on goal by a moment of brilliance from Samir Hadji. Just two
minutes into extra time though the Estonian champions took the aggregate
lead again when Differdingen keeper Felipe was way late to leave his net
and go for a long ball, and was beaten clean to the ball by Gambian
forward Bubacarr Tambedou. But Buch headed in a corner kick by French
left-back Dylan Lempereur (three Ligue 1 matches with Metz under his
belt) to make the tie all even once more, Levadia's young Nigerian
centre-back Victory Iboro was sent off with a second booking, and one
minute from the end Levadia captain Rasmus Peetson made the ill-fated
decision to lock arms with Hadji when going for a high ball in the box,
and the admittedly pretty soft penalty was converted by Hadji himself.
Manager son Carlos Torres then also saw a second yellow.

All four Estonian teams have been eliminated, but as it's been an
average European season for them they should safely remain outside the
Bottom Five, at least for this year. But next season is going to be a
different story as they will lose the points collected by Flora in their
only Conference League campaign.


LINFIELD FC (NIR)* v V|!kingur (FAR) 2-0 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Offord 22', Olsen 38' (og))

Linfield's Scottish striker Kieran Offord fought his way past two
Faroese defenders and unleashed a rocket that V|!kingur keeper B|ir|#ur |i Reynatr|+|# probably ought to have been able to get a hand to but which
went in underneath the crossbar. Charlie Allen then hit the post for
the Northern Irish champions before they scored a weird winner - after
|i Reynatr|+|# had saved one-on-one against Kyle McClean Klaksv|!k right-
back Ari Olsen under pressure awkwardly stumbled the rebound into his
own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503185/106109-Record_2025_08_14_21_23_22_236.mp4
V|!kingur hit the crossbar just before half-time, but that was the
closest they came to an aggregate equaliser.


KF Egnatia (ALB) v NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO)* 2-4 aet (1-1, 2-2), 2-4
on aggregate
(Lushkja 6', 86'; Jelenkovi-c 32', Marin 79', Durdov 99', Blanco 107';
Red Card: Yahaya (Egn) 81')

Regi Lushkja fired in Kastriot Selmani's cut-back cross to give the
Albanian champions an early lead, but Olimpija's Bulgarian-Serbian
centre-back Veljko Jelenkovi-c (he has been a youth international for
both countries, and a senior international for neither) headed in the
equaliser from Diogo Pinto's corner kick, with Egnatia keeper Mario
Dajsinani not looking too good. Eleven minutes from time injury-plagued
former Croatian striker hope Antonio Marin, on as a substitute, gave
Olimpija the lead with a deflected shot, and the tie appeared to be
over when Ghanaian Under-20 international striker Mohammed Yahaya controversially collected two bookings in two minutes, both of which
seemed incredibly harsh unless he was mouthing off the ref. Ten
Albanians nevertheless managed to get the equaliser and send the tie to
extra time because it was again Lushkja who volleyed in from the edge of
the box after the Slovenian defence hadn't cleared a corner kick
properly: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503188/106169-Record_2025_08_14_23_08_19_331.mp4
Still, in extra time Ivan Durdov got the decisive goal with a fierce turn-and-shot from the edge of the box, and Spanish winger |Ulex Blanco
rounded Dajsinani on the break to add a fourth.


AC VIRTUS (SMR) v FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)* 3-0 (0-0), 5-3 on aggregate
(Scappini 58', Buonocunto 65', 79' (pen))

Whoa. Stop the presses - a team from San Marino has reached the
Conference League Playoff Round. I repeat, a team from San Marino has
reached the Conference League Playoff Round. Countries that haven't
managed to do that: Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, and, well, Moldova, who
are also by far the highest-ranked league to already have lost all their
teams.

It wasn't even a smash-and-grab win - following an uneventful first half Milsami were comprehensively outplayed by the Sammarinese champions
after the break. 37-year-old Stefano Scappini proved his Serie C chops
and levelled the aggregate score by firing in an assist from Senegalese
forward Abdul Niang at the edge of offside: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503189/106136-Record_2025_08_14_22_17_05_756.mp4
and 39-year-old native Neapolitan Ivan Buonocunto (no jokes about names,
thank you very much) after a lifetime spent between Serie C and D
probably had one of the best nights of his career and scored a European
brace by first volleying in Tommaso Lombardi's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503189/106142-Record_2025_08_14_22_23_45_524.mp4
and then converting a handball penalty.



Main Path


FC Astana (KAZ)* v FC LAUSANNE-SPORT (SUI) 0-2 (0-0), 1-5 on aggregate (Lekweiry 48', Diakit|- 66'; Red Card: Ebong (Ast) 86')

Both sides had their chances in the first half, with Lausanne hitting
the woodwork through former Salzburg flop Bryan Okoh, and the Swiss
killed off Astana's chances for good right after the re-start when
Mauritania international Beyatt Lekweiry with a little luck broke
through the Kazakh defence: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503165/106019-Record_2025_08_14_19_27_47_337.mp4
19-year-old Malian Salzburg loanee Gaoussou Diakit|- added a second from
a solo run on the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503165/106020-Record_2025_08_14_19_28_29_804.mp4
Astana's Belarusian international with Cameroonian roots Max Ebong late
on saw a second yellow.


FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE)* 1-2 (1-1), 2-6 on aggregate (Balanta 31' (pen); Rrahmani 23', Krasniqi 90'+2;
Red Card: Queir||s (Ara) 87')

A bad clearance by the Armenian defence led to Albion Rrahmani finding
himself clean through on goal, and he curled a shot past Ararat-
Armenia's new keeper Bruno Pinto, like several of his teammates brought
in from Liga Portugal 2: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503166/105974-Record_2025_08_14_18_21_52_727.mp4
A push by Mat-cj Ryne+i against Colombian winger Jonathan Duarte led to a penalty despatched by his fellow countryman Juan Balanta. The Armenians
also hit the post just before the break, but the match still ended on a
sour note for them as Jo|uo Queir||s saw a straight red card for a lunging tackle, and in stoppage time Ermal Krasniqi collected |Ungelo Preciado's
ball over the top, rounded Pinto, and fired in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503166/106041-Record_2025_08_14_19_48_38_802.mp4


Sabah FC (AZE)* v PFC LEVSKI SOFIA (BUL) 0-2 (0-1), 0-3 on aggregate
(Kirilov 40', Soula 87')

Radoslav Kirilov stuck out a leg to steer a low cross by Levski's
Brazilian left-back Maicon Esquerdinha past Sabah's Kazakh keeper Stas Pokratilov: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503167/106052-Record_2025_08_14_20_06_59_879.mp4
The Azeri had several opportunities to make the tie more interesting,
but late on two substitutes combined to deliver the killer blow as
Frenchman Mazire Soula stabbed home a cross by Ghanaian midfielder
Carlos Ohene: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503167/106051-Record_2025_08_14_20_05_51_372.mp4


FC Sheriff (MDA)* v RSC ANDERLECHT (BEL) 1-1 (0-0), 1-4 on aggregate
(Odede 81'; Saliba 72')

Sheriff's Bulgarian keeper Ivan Dyulgerov pulled off two great saves
to deny C|-sar Huerta and Luis V|izquez, and then at the second rebound
attempt unceremoniously floored the Argentine forward: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503169/106043-Record_2025_08_14_19_51_04_933.mp4
No matter, as youngster Mario Stroeykens sent the spot kick high and
wide. Anderlecht still took the lead thanks to their new Canadian
signing Nathan Saliba who nodded in Adriano Bertaccini's corner kick,
but Sheriff at least salvaged the draw when Albanian forward Amarildo
Gjoni found Elijah Odede alone in the box, and the young Nigerian winger slotted through the legs of Anderlecht keeper Coosemans.

All four Moldovan teams are out of Europe, by far the highest-ranked
nation where that's the case. But on that particular Thursday it
probably wasn't Sheriff's expected elimination that most eyes were on.


AC OMONOIA (CYP)* v Araz-Nax|o-#van PFK (AZE) 5-0 (4-0), 9-0 on aggregate (Semedo 9', Joveti-c 23', Ewandro 30', 45'+4, Musia+eowski 79')

Omonoia only needed nine minutes to build on their already big first-leg advantage as Cape Verdean international Willy Semedo volleyed into the
empty net after Ewandro's shot had come off the post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503170/105999-Record_2025_08_14_19_09_24_470.mp4
Stevan Joveti-c added to his impressive tally in these qualifiers thanks
to a quick turn-and-shot that nestled perfectly in the bottom corner,
and Ewandro scored a brace by first back-heeling in a shot from distance
from Giannis Masouras: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503170/106022-Record_2025_08_14_19_31_16_71.mp4
and then sweeping in a low cross by Joveti-c. Young Polish substitute
Mateusz Musia+eowski got the fifth with a pretty great shot into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503170/106070-Record_2025_08_14_20_41_13_13.mp4


ETO FC GY+ER (HUN)* v AIK (SWE)* 2-0 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Gavri-c 34', Csongvai 60' (og))

Daniel +atefulj, son of long-time former Hannover midfielder Danijel
+atefulj (note the spelling difference), provided the weighted cross that ++eljko Gavri-c volleyed in to give Gy+ar the lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503171/106189-Record_2025_08_14_23_20_47_225.mp4
Early in the second half Swedish international with Hungarian roots
Anton Sal|-tros missed a penalty for AIK, and at the other end AIK's
Hungarian midfielder |Uron Csongvai deflected Paul Anton's corner kick
into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503171/106187-Record_2025_08_14_23_20_15_292.mp4


Paksi FC (HUN)* v FC POLISSYA ZHYTOMIR (UKR) 2-1 (1-0), 2-4 on aggregate (Szab|| 39', T||th 49'; Talles Costa 90'+6)

The other remaining Hungarian Conference League team wasn't quite as
successful even if they could dream of the comeback for quite a long
time. B|ilint V|-csei's corner kick led to a series of back-and-forth
headers at the end of which Janos Szab|| volleyed in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503172/106170-Record_2025_08_14_23_09_49_888.mp4
and just after the re-start Barna T||th beat Polissya keeper Yevhen
Volynets on the break with an angled shot through the legs of Eduard
Sarapiy: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503172/106171-Record_2025_08_14_23_10_24_108.mp4
But the Hungarians failed to get the third goal, and deep in stoppage
time Paks keeper |Ud|im Kov|icsik spilled a shot by Israeli substitute
Tomer Yosefi, with Brazilian midfielder Talles Costa converting the
rebound at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503172/106172-Record_2025_08_14_23_11_41_915.mp4


Hammarby IF (SWE)* v ROSENBORG BK (NOR) 0-1 (0-0), 0-1 on aggregate
(Islamovi-c 59')

A very close tie in which both sides had their chances to win was
decided when Swedish-Montenegrin forward Dino Islamovi-c cleverly
deflected a shot by Rosenborg captain Ole Seln|as into the bottom corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503173/106191-Record_2025_08_14_23_22_54_903.mp4

Sweden are the highest-ranked league to have already lost two out of
four European entries.


FC Vaduz (LIE) v AZ (NED)* 0-1 (0-0), 0-4 on aggregate
(Parrott 88'; Red Card: Daai (AZ) 7')

Not sure what winger Ro-Zangelo Daai had had for breakfast that day
because the youngster picked up a booking in the 2nd minute and a
straight red, upgraded to such by VAR, just five minutes later for a
studs-up tackle. Vaduz fought valiantly against ten Dutch to get the
win but lacked quality upfront (their main striker Fabrizio Cavegn
having left this summer for Bristol Rovers and League Two), and a late
penalty earned and converted by Troy Parrott deprived them even of any coefficient points.


Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR) v RIGA FC (LAT)* 3-1 (2-0), 3-4 on aggregate
(Atzili 6', Muzie 24', Silva Kani 90'+4; Contreras 86')

Two quick goals thanks to Omar Atzili's shot from distance and Timothy
Muzie volleying in a cross by Adi Yona meant that a comeback was very
much on the cards, but similar to the Paks v Polissya game a late goal
knocked the win out of those sails, as Joao Grimaldo teed up Costa Rican international Anthony Contreras on the break. Unlike in the afore
mentioned game Beitar made things interesting once more when in the
dying seconds Dor Hugi's corner kick was turned in by Silva Kani, but
there wasn't enough time left to chase another goal.

Latvia are the lowest-ranked league with two teams still alive.


BR|yNDBY IF (DEN) v KF V|!kingur (ISL)* 4-0 (1-0), 4-3 on aggregate
(Vallys 45'+2, 53', Bundgaard 57', 71'; Red Card: Bischoff (Br|+) 18')

Yeah, from an Icelandic point of view that shouldn't happen. Br|+ndby
were reduced to ten early on when youngster Clement Bischoff fighting
for the ball instead stepped on Tarik Ibrahimagi-c's private parts and
saw a fully justified red, but for some reason this appeared to rattle
the Icelanders much more than the Danes. Nicolai Vallys heading in Mats K||hlert's free-kick just before the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503176/106062-Record_2025_08_14_20_17_30_197.mp4
might perhaps not concerned V|!kingur too much yet, but it didn't take
long after the break for Vallys to score his second as he was left
completely alone to volley in a cross by Surinamese right-back Sean
Klaiber: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503176/106074-Record_2025_08_14_20_41_25_670.mp4
and again just four minutes later Filip Bundgaard tapped in another
cross by K||hlert to level the aggregate score: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503176/106075-Record_2025_08_14_20_45_48_714.mp4
Fittingly, an awful pass out of defence put the final nail into the
Icelandic coffin, the ball was intercepted by Bundgaard and surrounded
by three V|!kingur players he beat P|ilmi Rafn Arinbj||rnsson with a
precise shot into the bottom corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503176/106085-Record_2025_08_14_21_00_14_562.mp4
Late on Vallys saw his potential hat trick goal cancelled by VAR for a
close offside, but even a man up there was no final push by the shell-
shocked Icelanders.


PFC ARDA 1924 KARDZHALI (BUL)* v FK Kauno ++algiris (LTU) 2-0 (2-0), 3-0
on aggregate
(Velkovski 8', Kovachev 12'; Red Cards: Naah (++al) 34',
Chogadze (++al) 45')

A better keeper than Tomas +avedkauskas might have been able to punch out Dimitar Velkovski's volley from distance, but not to take away from what
was an excellent shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503177/106218-Record_2025_08_15_00_19_06_840.mp4
+avedkauskas was also left stranded by Svetoslav Kovachev's lob from
close to 40 metres on the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503177/106219-Record_2025_08_15_00_20_22_234.mp4
The Lithuanians then weakened themselves with two sending-offs, the one
for Ghanaian midfielder Divine Naah a straight red for stepping on an
ankle, and Temur Chogadze's a second yellow. But with qualification
already secured Arda showed mercy against nine men.

All four Lithuanian teams have been eliminated. On the other hand, it's
been a good European season for Bulgaria so far, they are the lowest-
ranked league to still have three of their four entries alive.


NK CELJE (SLO) v FC Lugano (SUI)* 2-4 (1-1), 7-4 on aggregate
(Kova-ievi-c 22', Kvesi-c 67'; Grgi-c 13' (pen), Papadopoulos 69',
Steffen 81', Aljoski 85' (pen))

Following their shockingly heavy first-leg home defeat Anto Grgi-c gave
Lugano the lead from the spot after veteran Renato Steffen had been
brought down in the box, but Celje soon equalised through Croatian
forward Franko Kova-ievi-c who slotted in Mario Kvesi-c's feed: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503178/106174-Record_2025_08_14_23_13_05_42.mp4
The two sides exchanged goals in the second half as well, Kvesi-c
rifled in from just outside the box while former Dortmund midfielder
Antonios Papadopoulos volleyed in Uran Bislimi's low cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503178/106178-Record_2025_08_14_23_15_23_101.mp4
Lugano at least ended their European campaign on a positive note as
Steffen curled in a loose ball, and Ez||an Alioski added a fourth from
the spot after a foul against substitute Kevin Behrens.


FC NEMAN GRODNO (BLR) v K|i (FAR)* 2-0 aet (0-0, 2-0), 2-2 on aggregate,
Neman win 5-4 on penalties
(Borubayev 80', Pantya 84'; Red Card: Mikkelsen (K|i) 112')

Awww. In Szeged in Southern Hungary Klaksv|!k appeared to have things
under control until ten minutes from time when a misunderstanding
between Daniel Johansen and his keeper Sebastian John led to a harmless
cross becoming an empty-netter for Kyrgyz winger Gulzhigit Borubayev: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503179/106234-Record_2025_08_15_09_35_17_297.mp4
Four minutes later John was wrong-footed by Yuriy Pantya's deflected
shot, in extra time Mads Mikkelsen (not the actor) was sent off for a
rough challenge, and the last Faroese team was eliminated on penalties
as Patrik Johannesen was the only one to send his spot kick wide.

Neman are the only team to survive three rounds from ConfLQ1 all the way
to the playoffs, and they've been unseeded in every round, too. I still
don't fancy their chances too much now against Rayo Vallecano.


AEK FC (GRE)* v Aris Limassol FC (CYP) 3-1 aet (0-0, 1-1), 5-3 on aggregate (Marin 51' (pen), Kutesa 104', Jovi-c 109'; Kvilitaia 62' (pen))

Both sides were awarded a penalty, converted by R-azvan Marin and Giorgi Kvilitaia respectively, but it was the Greeks who made sure of
qualification to the playoff round in extra time when their Swiss winger
Dereck Kutesa beat Van|i from a tight angle, with Aris's Brazilian keeper
not looking too good on the occasion: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503180/106186-Record_2025_08_14_23_19_47_867.mp4
Luka Jovi-c came off the bench in his first match for his new club and
added a third on the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503180/106188-Record_2025_08_14_23_20_21_562.mp4


Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)* v RKS RAK|oW CZ-ySTOCHOWA (POL) 0-2 (0-1), 1-2 on aggregate
(Bar|ith 45'+1, Diaby-Fadiga 76' (pen); Red Card: Eissat (Hai) 55')

Maccabi couldn't repeat their smash-and-grab win from the first leg, and
in Debrecen in Eastern Hungary it was homeboy P|-ter Bar|ith who headed in Rak||w's aggregate equaliser from Michael Ameyaw's corner kick. The Poles
were the better team in the second half as well, especially after
Maccabi's young centre-back Lisav Eissat had been sent off with a second yellow, and Frenchman Lamine Diaby-Fadiga got the decisive goal from the
spot after Maccabi's Belgian right-back Jelle Bataille had got entangled
with youngster Tomasz Pie+ako.

Israel are the highest-ranked league to have already lost all teams in
Europe except their champions (Maccabi Tel Aviv, who are guaranteed a
league phase).


BE+RIKTA+R JK (TUR)* v St Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) 3-2 (1-2), 7-3 on aggregate
(T-#knaz 43', Abraham 49', Jo|uo M|irio 79'; Carty 3' (pen),
McLaughlin 34')

Full kudos to St Pat's who made the Turkish favourites sweat for almost
an entire half. Emirhan Top|ou's first-minute handball led to Conor Carty sending Mert G|+nok the wrong way from the spot, and Ryan McLaughlin
volleyed in a loose ball to pull within one goal of levelling the
aggregate score: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503182/106177-Record_2025_08_14_23_14_08_343.mp4
But just before the break Demir Ege T-#knaz's turn-and-shot was deflected
by St Patrick's captain Joe Redmond, and Be+fikta+f avoided the blushes
in the second half - Tammy Abraham shovelled in from close range after
having been teed up by Rafa Silva: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503182/106181-Record_2025_08_14_23_16_23_488.mp4
and Jo|uo M|irio expertly controlled Jonas Svensson's assist on his thigh
and volleyed past St Pat's Ghanaian keeper Joseph Anang for the win: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503182/106184-Record_2025_08_14_23_17_47_956.mp4


JAGIELLONIA BIA+UYSTOK (POL)* v Silkeborg IF (DEN) 2-2 (2-0), 3-2 on
aggregate
(Imaz 29', 35'; Berger 87', Gammelby 90'+5)

It looked like easy cruising for Jagiellonia following a first-half
brace by their Spanish mainstay Jes||s Imaz - he first volleyed in a
centre by fellow countryman |Ulex Pozo just seconds after having hit the
post with a header: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503183/106091-Record_2025_08_14_21_05_33_528.mp4
and then headed in Dawid Drachal's deflected cross from close range: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503183/106082-Record_2025_08_14_20_51_11_208.mp4
A third Jagiellonia goal by Slovenian centre-back Du+ian Stojinovi-c was disallowed by VAR for a close offside, and in the final minutes an until
then largely harmless Silkeborg side suddenly made things interesting
again - -ayoung substitute Sofus Berger beat Jagiellonia keeper
Abramowicz with a precise shot into the bottom far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503183/106134-Record_2025_08_14_22_16_57_502.mp4
and in stoppage time Silkeborg were awarded an indirect free-kick inside
the box after the French ref Wattellier had adjudged a back pass to the
keeper to have been deliberate, and Jens Martin Gammelby found a pretty
big gap in the Polish wall: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503183/106135-Record_2025_08_14_22_16_16_799.mp4
But the final whistle went only seconds after.

Poland are the lowest-ranked league to still have all four of their
teams alive. It could become another very good season for their
UEFA coefficient.


FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)* v CS UNIVERSITATEA CRAIOVA (ROM) 4-3 aet -a(1-1, 4-1), 4-6 on aggregate
(Kratochv|!l 36', Nwadike 63', Azango 68', Kudli-ika 80'; Baiaram 32', B-alu+u-a 101', Nsimba 117')

A wild game. Nothing appeared to indicate a comeback when Uni Craiova
took an aggregate four-goal lead through +ytefan Baiaram who curled an excellent shot from distance past Spartak's Slovenian keeper Frelih: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503184/106086-Nagrywaj_2025_08_14_21_02_20_19.mp4
Czech midfielder Milo+i Kratochv|!l immediately equalised with a precise grass-cutter from 25 metres: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503184/106092-Nagrywaj_2025_08_14_21_06_27_592.mp4
After the break Uni Craiova's Ukrainian keeper Pavlo Isenko awkwardly
deflected a free-kick by Georgian substitute Giorgi Moistsrapishvili
against the crossbar, and Spartak's newly signed Swedish centre-back
Patrick Nwadike headed into the empty net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503184/106126-Nagrywaj_2025_08_14_21_53_19_644.mp4
An absolute rocket into the top corner by Nigerian winger Philip Azango
meant that the Slovakians were suddenly just one goal away from extra
time: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503184/106145-Nagrywaj_2025_08_14_22_27_15_466.mp4
and they got the goal they needed following another Moistsrapishvili
free-kick, this one volleyed in by youngster Timotej Kudli-ika: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503184/106144-Nagrywaj_2025_08_14_22_27_41_449.mp4
But all of Spartak's euphoria fizzled out in extra time, and Uni Craiova
took advantage of their own Georgian set-piece specialist as Anzor Mekvabishvili's corner was met by Tudor B-alu+c-a with an excellent scissor kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503184/106150-Nagrywaj_2025_08_14_22_40_56_216.mp4
Spartak had one great chance to level the aggregate score once more,
but Nwadike was blocked twice on the goal line, and the Romanians
finished the tie off on the counter, with Frenchman Steven Nsimba
leaving Frelih no chance one-on-one.


Dundee United FC (SCO) v SK RAPID WIEN (AUT)* 2-2 aet (2-0, 2-2), 4-4 on aggregate, Rapid win 5-4 on penalties
(Watters 25', 42' (pen); Antiste 63', Kara 78')

It had been a pretty bad European week for Austrian club football, and
Rapid's first half in Scotland followed the pattern as Barnsley loanee
Max Watters was first left all alone to head in a cross by Irishman Will
Ferry: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503186/106094-Record_2025_08_14_21_12_06_107.mp4
and later converted from the spot after French defender Serge-Philippe
Raux-Yao (or SPRY, as he's known among the Rapid faithful) had gone
through the back of Aussie Zac Sapsford. But Rapid showed resilience in
the second half - new French striker (on loan from Sassuolo) Janis
Antiste nodded in Bendeg||z Bolla's corner kick, and Ercan Kara with the
back of his head flicked a cross by Austrian Under-21 international
Nikolaus Wurmbrand into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503186/106140-Record_2025_08_14_22_22_46_465.mp4
Dundee United had the upper hand in extra time, but Rapid keeper Niki
Hedl saved one-on-one against youngster Owen Stirton, and in the shoot-
out all penalties were converted except for the Tangerine's first which
Swedish winger Amar Fatah sent against the post.

Rapid, and by extension the Austrian UEFA coefficient, absolutely dodged
a bullet there. Incidentally, Rapid's playoff tie against Gy+ar will be
their shortest away trip of the entire season (excepting the Vienna
Derby).


FC DINAMO CITY (ALB) v HNK Hajduk Split (CRO)* 3-1 (1-0, 1-0), 4-3 on aggregate
(Zab|2rgja 14', Qardaku 109', Berisha 111'; Kara-ii-c 99';
Red Card: Sanyang (Haj) 78')

Oh my. Perennial bottlers Hajduk bottle it again. Kosovar striker Baton Zab|2rgja scored a lovely opener with a precise shot into the bottom
corner from Dejvi Bregu's assist, and Hajduk further weakened themselves
when their Gambian winger Abdoulie Sanyang saw a second booking. Despite
having been reduced to ten things looked OK for Hajduk in extra time
when Australia international Fran Kara-ii-c headed in a corner kick, but a wonder strike by Eridon Qardaku into the top corner levelled the
aggregate score once again. Dinamo scored the overall winner in
appropriately shambolic fashion - Hajduk keeper Ivica Ivu+ii-c spilled a harmless-looking shot from distance, the loose ball came to Niko Sigur,
and instead of clearing the Canada international dallied on the ball and
got stripped of possession which allowed 19-year-old Kosovar striker
Hekuran Berisha to fire into the empty net.

This has been the 15th consecutive year that Hajduk have failed to make
it into a European group/league stage, and they have been in the
qualifiers every single season.


CD SANTA CLARA (POR)* v Larne FC (NIR) 0-0 (0-0), 3-0 on aggregate

I hope the lads had a nice trip.


SHAMROCK ROVERS FC (IRL)* v FC Ballkani (KOS) 4-0 (1-0), 4-1 on aggregate (Gaffney 45'+1, 48', Honohan 55', Burke 67')

Rovers took the lead in stoppage time of the first half when Ballkani's Slovenian keeper Adnan Golubovi-c failed to punch out Danny Mandroiu's
low cross, and Rory Gaffney was on hand to volley into the empty net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503191/106119-Record_2025_08_14_21_46_15_943.mp4
Gaffney added a second right after the break with a cheeky back-heel
following another defensive gaffe by the Kosovars: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503191/106129-Record_2025_08_14_22_07_04_826.mp4
Josh Honohan scored the best goal of the match with a hooked volley into
the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503191/106163-Record_2025_08_14_23_02_00_971.mp4
and Graham Burke punished another bad pass in the Ballkani defence to
score the fourth.


HIBERNIAN FC (SCO) v FK Partizan (SRB)* 2-3 aet (0-2, 1-3), 4-3 on aggregate (Bowie 60', Cadden 100'; Vukoti-c 17', J. Milo+ievi-c 44', A. Kosti-c 90'+6; Red Card: Simi-c 63')

Young Montenegrin international Milan Vukoti-c unleashed a rocket from
25 metres that Hibs reserve keeper Jordan Smith got a hand to but
couldn't keep out: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503192/106105-Record_2025_08_14_21_20_56_862.mp4

Stuttgart loanee Jovan Milo+ievi-c levelled the aggregate score with a
shot that again went straight through Smith: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503192/106124-Record_2025_08_14_21_48_09_920.mp4
But the Scottish took the lead once more thanks to an absolute wonder
strike by Kieron Bowie, who packed everything he got into a looping
volley from forty metres that fell into the top corner like a shooting
star: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503192/106139-Record_2025_08_14_22_20_36_609.mp4
Three minutes later Partizan centre-back Nikola Simi-c got himself sent
off with a second yellow, but down to ten deep in stoppage time the
Serbians still got the goal they needed to keep the tie going when
18-year-old Montenegrin substitute Andrej Kosti-c volleyed in Yanis Karabelyov's low centre: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503192/106162-Record_2025_08_14_22_56_56_632.mp4
In extra time Partizan keeper Marko Milo+ievi-c reacted well to parry
Josh Mulligan's deflected shot, but he was helpless against Chris
Cadden's rebound: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503192/106182-Record_2025_08_14_23_12_30_82.mp4
At the other end Smith made amends for his earlier mistakes by saving
against Mario Jur-ievi-c, and three minutes from the end Andrej Kosti-c hit
the post.


FK Austria Wien (AUT) v FC BAN|iK OSTRAVA (CZE)* 1-1 (0-1), 4-5 on aggregate (Wiesinger 67'; Prekop 45'+1 (pen))

A clumsy challenge by Hakim Guenouche against David Buchta led to a
penalty despatched by Erik Prekop, and while Philipp Wiesinger managed
to get the equaliser from a goalmouth scramble after a corner kick
Austria hardly had any other opportunities to make up the first-leg
deficit.

The start of the season has been an unmitigated disaster for Austria
Wien so far, and that's compounding their serious financial problems as
well. The clearance sale has already started (Dominik Fitz is off to the
MLS and Minnesota), and I'm not at all sure whether they'll be back in
Europe anytime soon.



Draw for Conference League Playoff (August 21 and 28)
* = seeded team
Winners go to ConfL League Stage


Champions Path

-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v FK RFS (LAT)*
Shelbourne FC (IRL) v Linfield FC (NIR)*
Brei|#ablik (ISL)* v AC Virtus (SMR)
FC Drita (KOS)* v FC Differdange 03 (LUX)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v FC Noah (ARM)

There is actually going to be a Shelbourne/Linfield repeat, just a bit
over a month after they've met in the first round of the CL qualifiers.


Main Path

Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (FRA)* v Br|+ndby IF (DEN)
Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)* v FC Dinamo City (ALB)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* v Servette FC (SUI)

RSC Anderlecht (BEL)* v AEK FC (GRE)
-#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)* v CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM)
Crystal Palace FC (ENG)* v Fredrikstad FK (NOR)

NK Celje (SLO)* v FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE)
RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL)* v PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL)
Hibernian FC (SCO)* v Legia Warszawa (POL)

PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v AZ (NED)*
FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v ACF Fiorentina (ITA)*
ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN) v SK Rapid Wien (AUT)*

FC Neman Grodno (BLR) v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (ESP)*
FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI) v Be+fikta+f JK (TUR)*
CD Santa Clara (POR) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)*

Rosenborg BK (NOR) v 1. FSV Mainz 05 (GER)*
AC Sparta Praha (CZE)* v Riga FC (LAT)
BK H|ncken (SWE) v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)*
Wolfsberger AC (AUT) v AC Omonoia (CYP)*


Ciao,
Werner
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Conference League Play-off Round 1st Leg
* = seeded team


August 21


Champions Path


-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v FK RFS (LAT)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Thioune 55')

Maltese chances to reach a first ever European group/league phase are
still intact as -aamrun's young Senegalese-Italian striker Saliou
Thioune - a guy with two Serie B matches with Cittadella under his belt,
but who ultimately made his way to Malta via the Swiss fifth tier - was
left completely alone by the Latvian defence to emphatically volley in
Joseph Mbong's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504695/107492-Record_2025_08_21_20_20_36_765.mp4


Brei|#ablik (ISL)* v AC Virtus (SMR) 2-1 (1-1)
(Valgeirsson 31', Thomsen 55' (pen); Scappini 11' (pen))

Ivan Buonocunto went down like a sack of potatoes under Viktor |urn Margeirsson's challenge, and Stefano Scappini sent Anton Ari Einarsson
the wrong way from the spot to give Virtus a shock lead. Brei|#ablik's equaliser came courtesy of veteran left-back Kristinn J||nsson who
slalomed his way past two defenders and his cut-back cross was met by
Valgeir Valgeirsson whose shot was deflected twice on its way in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504700/107498-Record_2025_08_21_20_31_26_47.mp4
Danish striker Tobias Thomsen scored the winner with a penalty awarded
for a clumsy challenge by Armando Amati on Valgeir. But a Brei|#ablik
goal in stoppage time by Gu|#mundur Magn||sson was disallowed for a close offside, and so San Marino's chances to reach a European league phase
remain very much alive. It sounds almost surreal. Both Buonocunto and
Scappini have been inspired signings.


FC Drita (KOS)* v FC Differdange 03 (LUX) 2-1 (1-0)
(Dabiqaj 30', Krasniqi 80' (pen); Buch 65';
Red Card: Mfoumou (Dif) 90'+2)

Drita and Differdange already met in CLQ1, with the Kosovars prevailing
1-0 at home and 3-2 away.

In the repeat match Albert Dabiqaj gave the Kosovar champions the lead
by tapping Veton Tusha's cut-back cross into the gaping net. A minute
after having come on as a substitute Andreas Buch deflected a shot by D|-ifferdeng's young Cameroonian international Boris Mfoumou for the
equaliser, but French left-back Dylan Lempereur bodychecked Dabiqaj in
the box to give away a penalty, converted by Blerim Krasniqi. In
stoppage time Mfoumou got sent off for a high boot.


NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)* v FC Noah (ARM) 1-4 (0-2)
(Durdov 56'; Jakoli+i 36', Oulad Omar 39', 52' (pen), 64')

After all that stumbling in the previous rounds it appears as if the
Slovenian champions will fall at the final hurdle after all. Olimpija's
new German-Togolese left-back Frederic Ananou quite inexplicably left
Marin Jakoli+i tons of space to chest down H|-lder Ferreira's cross and
fire past Matev++ Daj-iar: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504702/107501-Record_2025_08_21_20_36_23_539.mp4
and Dutchman Imran Oulad Omar beat Daj-iar with an angled finish into the
far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504702/107503-Record_2025_08_21_20_39_13_660.mp4
Right after the break Daj-iar saved Matheus Ai|is's spot kick, but as some Slovenians had entered the box too early the penalty had to be repeated,
and the Armenians decided to go with a different taker - a good choice,
since Oulad Omar calmly sent Daj-iar the wrong way. Ivan Durdov pulled
one back after Yan Eteki had inadvertently deflected a pass in his
direction: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504702/107541-Record_2025_08_21_21_13_18_150.mp4
but Oulad Omar completed his hat trick by bending a shot over Daj-iar
from twenty metres out: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504702/107551-Record_2025_08_21_21_22_07_874.mp4


It's looking good for Noah to reach the Conference League proper for the
second consecutive year. Not bad for an Armenian minnow.


Shelbourne FC (IRL) v Linfield FC (NIR)* 3-1 (1-0)
(Wood 45'+1 (pen), Odubeko 46', Caffrey 78'; Offord 53';
Red Card: Fitzpatrick (Lin) 20')

The first time those two met this season in CLQ1 Shelbourne won 1-0 at
home and drew 1-1 away, and this time around the Irish champions were
also helped along by Linfield striker Matthew Fitzpatrick being sent off
early for a very high boot that almost caught Shelbourne's new French
signing Milan Mbeng in the face. I guess getting kicked in the nuts was
bad enough. Shelbourne were then awarded a penalty after Kyle McClean
had handled the ball in the box, but Mipo Odubeko slipped during the
run-up and skied it. Just minutes later though Ben Hall brought down
Odubeko, and a VAR check determined that the foul had occurred well
inside the area. This time around Harry Wood made no mistake from the
spot. Right after the re-start Odubeko made amends for his earlier
penalty miss by controlling Evan Caffrey's cross into the box and
rounding a Northern Irish defender before scoring via a deflection. Out
of nowhere ten-man Linfield pulled one back when Sam Roscoe flicked on
Kirk Millar's corner kick and Kieran Offord nodded in at the far post,
and they could have reduced the deficit even further since they were
awarded a handball penalty of their own, but Offord's poor spot kick was
saved by Shelbourne's Dutch keeper Wessel Speel. At the other end
Mbeng's shot skimmed the crossbar, but Shelbourne's constant pressure
finally paid off when Caffrey was quickest to react after a Wood shot
had been deflected onto the post.



Main Path


Rosenborg BK (NOR) v 1. FSV Mainz 05 (GER)* 2-1 (1-1)
(Islamovi-c 43' (pen), S|ater 90'; Amiri 26')

Nadiem Amiri gave the German favourites the lead with a rocket from
twenty-five metres: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504694/107575-Record_2025_08_21_21_58_51_646.mp4
Dino Islamovi-c equalised for the Norwegians from the spot after VAR had correctly determined that Stefan Bell's outstretched leg had only
connected with youngster Jesper Reitan-Sunde's knee. Rosenborg scored
the fully deserved winner against a very lacklustre Mainz side in the
last minute through Ole S|ater, who headed in Ole Seln|as's cross at the
far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504694/107577-Record_2025_08_21_21_59_45_821.mp4


ETO FC Gy+ar (HUN) v SK Rapid Wien (AUT)* 2-1 (0-0)
(Gavri-c 46', 82'; Wurmbrand 61')

A first-half goal for Rapid from a corner kick was disallowed for a
foul, and Gy+ar shocked the Viennese twenty seconds after the restart as ++eljko Gavri-c volleyed in a cross by German-born Togolese international Samsindin Ouro. Gy+ar's Slovakian keeper Samuel Petr|i+i then let a shot by Rapid youngster Nikolaus Wurmbrand go through him for the equaliser, but
the Hungarians still got the winner thanks to a great shot from distance
by Gavri-c who was left undisturbed by any Rapid players and fired into
the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504696/107504-Record_2025_08_21_20_41_17_567.mp4


BK H|ncken (SWE) v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)* 7-2 (4-1)
(Gustafson 2', 35', Andersen 18', Svanb|nck 24', Brusberg 49',
Dembe 61', 70'; Korenica 38', Cordea 50')

A surprising demolition by the team from G||teborg who are currently
sitting just five points clear of a relegation play-off spot in this
year's Allsvenskan. Simon Gustafson started the rout just two minutes in
when he volleyed in Amor Layouni's hooked cut-back cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504697/107533-Record_2025_08_21_21_11_17_117.mp4
Danish youth international Silas Anderson made it two by heading in
another Layouni cross, and the Tunisian completed his hat trick of
assists with a low centre that Adrian Svanb|nck tapped in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504697/107536-Record_2025_08_21_21_12_31_406.mp4
Gustafson then once more tapped in a cut-back cross by who else but
Layouni: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504697/107537-Record_2025_08_21_21_13_06_459.mp4
Kosovo international Meriton Korenica pulled one back following some
chaos after a bad pass in the H|ncken defence: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504697/107539-Record_2025_08_21_21_13_47_834.mp4
The two sides quickly exchanged goals right after the re-start, with a
certain Layouni providing the assist for youngster Isak Brusberg, and
Andrei Cordea beating H|ncken keeper Berisha with a nice angled volley. Svanb|nck then twice provided the assist for Uganda youth international
John Paul Dembe's brace.

According to one source, Amor Layouni's five assists in one game are a
shared record for a UEFA match - the only other instances have been
Kenny Dalglish in 1980 for Liverpool against Oulu (final score 10-1) and
Gerald Vanenburg in 1984 for Ajax against Red Boys Differdange (final
score 14-0).

Cluj manager Dan Petrescu resigned right after the match. It had been
his fourth coaching stint with the club within the last eight years.


Wolfsberger AC (AUT) v AC Omonoia (CYP)* 2-1 (1-1)
(Nwaiwu 30', Zuki-c 88'; Coulibaly 16'; Red Card: Gonz|ilez (Omo,
assistant manager) 88')

Following a short corner Malian centre-back Senou Coulibaly headed in
a cross by Omonoia's new Dutch signing Carel Eiting to give the Cypriots
the lead. Nigerian defender Chibuike Nwaiwu equalised for the Austrian
cup winners with a precise turn-and-shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504698/107579-Record_2025_08_21_22_03_42_675.mp4
Wolfsberg keeper Niki Polster then saved several times against Stevan
Joveti-c, and two minutes from time WAC got the winner when young
substitute Angelo Gattermayer broke through on the left side and centred
for Dejan Zuki-c to tap in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504698/107580-Record_2025_08_21_22_04_12_444.mp4

Considering both Rapid's and WAC's first-leg results, Austria's European
season is absolutely teetering on the brink. We need both to qualify to
have any chance of avoiding a major drop in the UEFA ranking.


-#stanbul Ba+fak+fehir FK (TUR)* v CS Universitatea Craiova (ROM) 1-2 (0-1) (Ebosele 87'; Cic|old-au 45'+2, Mora 61')

Unlike Cluj the other remaining Romanian Conference League team
surprised in a positive manner. Alexandru Cic|old-au slid in to steer
Assad Al-Hamlawi's deflected cross past a dithering Muhammed +Rengezer in
the Ba+fak+fehir net for the lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504699/107499-Record_2025_08_21_20_34_10_112.mp4
and Tico Carlos Mora fired in from a tight angle on the break: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504699/107499-Record_2025_08_21_20_34_10_112.mp4
Late on Irish winger Festy Ebosele successfully duped Uni Craiova's
Ukrainian keeper Pavlo Isenko to fire in at the near post and make the
result a bit more palatable for the Turkish side: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504699/107555-Record_2025_08_21_21_32_54_995.mp4


Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (FRA)* v Br|+ndby IF (DEN) 0-0 (0-0)

No goals, but an interesting match from an Austrian point of view as
Michael Gregoritsch made his Br|+ndby debut, and Patrick Pentz in the
Danish net played a blinder. His best save came in stoppage time when he
kept out a point-blank effort by former Sturm Graz striker Emanuel
Emegha.

Strasbourg, having gone full feeder club for Chelsea, fielded a starting
eleven consisting exclusively of players born in 2002 or later.


FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* v Servette FC (SUI) 1-1 (0-1)
(Bondar 72'; Fomba 8')

In Wis+ea's stadium in Krak||w Frenchman Lamine Fomba headed in Anthony
Baron's corner kick to give Servette an early lead. Shakhtar's
Brazilians have gone pretty quiet in the last couple of matches, but at
least Marlon flicked on Kevin's corner kick, and Valeriy Bondar nodded
in at the far post for the equaliser.


RSC Anderlecht (BEL)* v AEK FC (GRE) 1-1 (1-0)
(Dolberg 21'; Eliasson 75'; Red Card: Mantalos (AEK) 90'+5)

Kasper Dolberg surprised AEK keeper Strakosha with a fierce shot from
the edge of the area that flew in at the near post: https://giphy.com/media/3qM9vuPRZIk26jvNkh/giphy.gif
Swedish winger Niclas Eliasson got the equaliser by volleying in a loose
ball after a goalmouth scramble. Half-time substitute Petros Mantalos
got sent off in stoppage time with a second booking.


NK Celje (SLO)* v FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE) 1-0 (1-0)
(Chalu+i 8' (og))

Celje were the clearly better team in the first half, and the Slovenians
took an early lead when Mat-cj Chalu+i dove in spectacularly to direct
Nikita Iosifov's cross into his own net. Celje then also hit the post
through Mark Zabukovnik's deflected shot, and Iosifov alone in front of
goal fired high. The match was more even in the second half, but near
the end Ban|!k keeper Holec twice had to again pull off good saves to
deny Iosifov.


PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v AZ (NED)* 0-2 (0-0)
(Sadiq 56', Parrott 62')

Former H|ncken winger Ibrahim Sadiq headed in a cross by Danish youngster
Isak Jensen, and Troy Parrott tapped in the rebound after Levski keeper
Vutsov had met Peer Koopmeiner's shot with a great save.


FC Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) v ACF Fiorentina (ITA)* 0-3 (0-2)
(Kudryk 8' (og), Gosens 32', Gu|#mundsson 69'; Red Card: Kean (Fio) 44')

Already early on Moise Kean's shot went off the post and off the back of Polissya's unlucky goalkeeper Oleh Kudryk to go in. Robin Gosens made it
two by rifling in Kean's cross at the far post, but Kean then completed something like the football equivalent of a Gordie Howe hat trick by
being sent off for throwing an elbow against Eduard Sarapiy. Truth be
told, Sarapiy had clearly pulled Kean by his hair beforehand, and didn't
even see a yellow for that. It didn't matter much in this match though
as Albert Gu|#mundsson finished off a solo run on the break by firing
through the legs of Kudryk.


FC Neman Grodno (BLR) v Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (ESP)* 0-1 (0-0)
(Garc|!a 77')

In Szeged in Southern Hungary the Belarusian underdogs held on for the
longest time until |Ulvaro Garc|!a broke through on the left side, cut
inside, and beat Neman keeper Maksim Belov from close range to make
Rayo's return to Europe after 25 years a successful one: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504709/107633-Record_2025_08_22_00_51_21_790.mp4


AC Sparta Praha (CZE)* v Riga FC (LAT) 2-0 (1-0)
(Kuchta 22', Rrahmani 90')

Jan Kuchta headed in a corner kick by Sparta's Slovakian captain Luk|i+i Harasl|!n, and in the last minute Kosovo international Albion Rrahmani
beat Riga keeper Kri+ij-Unis Zviedris with a precise shot into the bottom corner.


Jagiellonia Bia+eystok (POL)* v FC Dinamo City (ALB) 3-0 (2-0)
(Imaz 12', Pululu 34', Wojtuszek 50')

An easy win for Jagiellonia against the Albanian underdogs. Jes||s Imaz
slotted in the opener after US boy Leon Flach had stolen the ball off
Dinamo's young Gambian Karamba Gassama: https://i.imgflip.com/a3ra13.gif Afimico Pululu - Waka-Waka's manager might rejoice that last year's top
scorer will play in the Conference League once more - volleyed in a
Flach cross for Jagiellonia's second, and after the break Norbert
Wojtuszek fired in a loose ball to make it three.


FC Lausanne-Sport (SUI) v Be+fikta+f JK (TUR)* 1-1 (0-1)
(Okoh 83'; Rashica 45')

Former Werder Bremen winger Milot Rashica fired in the loose ball after Lausanne's Croatian keeper Karlo Letica had slapped away a cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504712/107621-Record_2025_08_21_23_34_14_77.mp4
Late on Bryan Okoh somewhat inadvertently kneed Olivier Custodio's
corner kick into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504712/107689-Record_2025_08_22_10_23_05_307.mp4


Crystal Palace FC (ENG)* v Fredrikstad FK (NOR) 1-0 (0-0)
(Mateta 54')

You kind of have to wonder how motivated Palace are in this competition.
At least they won their first ever European match when Mateta, who had
already hit the post in the first half, deflected Will Hughes's shot
past Fredrikstad keeper B|+rsheim. Late on Daniel Mu|#oz's header also
came off the outside of the post.


RKS Rak||w Cz-Ostochowa (POL)* v PFC Arda 1924 Kardzhali (BUL) 1-0 (1-0) (Pie+ako 28')

A sloppy pass by Arda keeper Anatoli Gospodinov allowed Tomasz Pie+ako
to intercept the ball and score with an easy finish. At least Gospodinov subsequently made amends by keeping out all of Rak||w's numerous other
goal opportunities.


Hibernian FC (SCO)* v Legia Warszawa (POL) 1-2 (0-2)
(Mulligan 87'; Nsame 35' (pen), Wszo+eek 45'+3)

In a match with plenty of chances on both sides Legia took the lead
thanks to a VAR handball penalty, despatched by Jean-Pierre Nsame.
Pawe+e Wszo+eek maded it two just before the break by volleying in Nsame's weighted cross at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504716/107568-Nagrywaj_2025_08_21_21_50_06_657.mp4
Hibs at least pulled one back late on when Josh Mulligan at the second
attempt buried the rebound after Legia keeper Tobiasz had saved against Canadian veteran Junior Hoilett: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504716/107604-Nagrywaj_2025_08_21_22_48_53_260.mp4


CD Santa Clara (POR) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)* 1-2 (1-1)
(Vin|!cius Lopes 20'; Grant 43', Mandroiu 66')

One of the bigger surprises on this matchday - unlike their neighbours
from Larne Rovers evidently didn't travel to the Azores just for the
landscape. Vinicius Lopes gave the team from Ponta Delgada the lead
when he nodded in from short range after a shot by fellow Brazilian
Gabriel Silva had come off the crossbar, but the Irish equalised through
Danny Grant who was allowed to run unhindered towards goal until his
shot was deflected past a helpless Gabriel Batista in the Santa Clara
net. Danny Mandroiu got the winner by firing in after Josh Honohan had
headed down a deflected cross.



Ciao,
Werner
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From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Quoting Werner Pichler in rec.sport.soccer:

BK HEcken (SWE) v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)* 7-2 (4-1)
(Gustafson 2', 35', Andersen 18', SvanbEck 24', Brusberg 49',
Dembe 61', 70'; Korenica 38', Cordea 50')

A surprising demolition by the team from G%teborg who are currently
sitting just five points clear of a relegation play-off spot in this
year's Allsvenskan.

Allsvenskan is the toughest league in the world. It's almost impossible to
both do well in it and Europe.
--
Manchester United FC - CHAMPIONS
Latest: England '13 (20th) Europa '17, UEFA '08, World '08
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