From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Europa League 1st Qualifying Round
* = seeded team


July 10


Sabah FC (AZE) v NK Celje (SLO)* 2-3 (2-1)
(+aafranko 3', 18' (pen); Kova-ievi-c 7', 48', Hrka 90'+3)

Slovakian forward Pavol +aafranko headed the Azeri cup winners in front
from a corner kick, but their Slovenian counterparts soon equalised
through Croatian winger Franko Kova-ievi-c who rounded Sabah keeper
Pokatilov and rolled the ball in from a super-tight angle: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496994/100700-Record_2025_07_10_20_30_48_974.mp4
Another Sabah corner kick then led to a wrestling move that resulted in
a penalty once again despatched by +aafranko, but Kova-ievi-c also got his brace by heading in Nikita Iosifov's weighted cross. Deep in stoppage
time Celje got the win thanks to another header by the substitute Darko
Hrka.


AEK Larnaca FC (CYP) v FK Partizan (SRB)* 1-0 (0-0)
(Cabrera 67')

Larnaca's Argentine striker Enzo Cabrera headed in a corner kick for the
sole goal.


FC Sheriff (MDA)* v FC Prishtina (KOS) 4-0 (2-0)
(Bayala 11', 19', 74', Odede 79')

Sheriff, coming off an unprecedented two-year streak of not winning
the Moldovan league, as usual relied on their African contingent to
get the better of the Kosovans. Burkinab|- winger Cyrille Bayala got his
hat trick by first rifling in a loose ball on the break, then volleying
in a free-kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496996/100663-Record_2025_07_10_19_19_47_780.mp4
and finally finishing off another counter attack. Young Nigerian Elijah
Odede added a fourth with a cheeky lob: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/496996/100706-Record_2025_07_10_20_35_35_327.mp4

Moldova, always one for experimenting with their league format, have
re-started their 2025-26 season way earlier than anybody else, on
June 21, so Sheriff already had three league matches under their belt
before this game. Perhaps not such a terrible idea after all.


Paksi FC (HUN) v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)* 0-0 (0-0)

Uneventful scoreless draw between Hungarian and Romanian cup winners.


PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR)* 0-0 (0-0)
(Red Cards: Maicon (Lev) 70'; Peretz (Hap) 90'+5)

Another scoreless draw, but one with a little more spice in it. Levski's Brazilian left-back Maicon saw a second yellow for a reckless challenge
and Be'er Sheva midfielder Eliel Peretz likewise for breaking up a last-
minute counter attack.


FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* v Tampereen Ilves (FIN) 6-0 (2-0)
(Alisson Santana 26', 47', Kau|u Elias 43', Kevin 74', Pedrinho 87',
Newerton 89')

The Ukrainians are back to their old tricks and have brought in the next generation of Brazilians, so in this one-sided match played in an empty
stadium in Ljubljana it was two 19-year-olds who combined for Shakhtar's
first three goals - Atl|-tico Mineiro product Alisson Santana converted
Kevin's assist: https://giphy.com/media/dh0OPmVcDNjxa9I596/giphy.gif
former Fluminense striker Kau|u Elias headed in a corner kick, and
Alisson Santana punished a defensive mishap by Sauli V|nis|nnen to get his brace: https://giphy.com/media/gt6qp5LZIgDCIeZFfA/giphy.gif
The other three goals were also all scored by Brazilians. Kevin volleyed
in a loose ball after Ilves keeper Virtanen had parried against Alisson Santana: https://giphy.com/media/rXIdOZsK8vm3RDCCtA/giphy.gif
Pedrinho, at 27 a veritable veteran, from the edge of the box curled one
in at the near post: https://giphy.com/media/31uV3kBQXbQ4rJcqfQ/giphy.gif
and the substitute Newerton duped Virtanen from a tight angle: https://giphy.com/media/L6fGNNAFy899NxoVaL/giphy.gif


FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)* v BK H|ncken (SWE) 0-1 (0-0)
(Nioule 63')

Young Ivorian Severin Nioule got the winner with a cheeky back-heel: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497000/100751-Record_2025_07_10_22_17_59_419.mp4


Legia Warszawa (POL)* v FC Aktobe (KAZ) 1-0 (1-0)
(Bichakhchyan 25')

An early lead for the Kazakhs was disallowed by VAR for a close offside,
and Armenian international Vahan Bichakhchyan scored the only goal with
a shot from distance that Andrei Vlad failed to keep out: https://giphy.com/media/TIga6oz7uQMWv2icsI/giphy.gif
But Aktobe's Romanian keeper subsequently did a lot better to keep
the Poles out and the result close.



Ciao,
Werner
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From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Europa League 1st Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Teams in CAPITALS through to ELQ2, losers go to ConfLQ2 (Main Path)
* = seeded team


July 17


Tampereen Ilves (FIN) v FC SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR)* 0-0 (0-0), 0-6 on
aggregate

Shakhtar were the dominant team in the return leg, too, but wasteful
finishing allowed the Finns to at least keep a clean sheet.


FC Aktobe (KAZ) v LEGIA WARSZAWA (POL)* 0-1 (0-0), 0-2 on aggregate
(Elitim 90'+1)

The Kazakhs had a couple of decent opportunities to level the aggregate
score until in stoppage time Legia's Colombian midfielder Juergen Elitim
put paid to that by dancing through the Aktobe defence and slotting past
Andrei Vlad: https://giphy.com/media/XQMbERNeOybTHYaqug/giphy.gif


BK H|aCKEN (SWE) v FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)* 2-2 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate (Gustafson 13' (pen), Dembe 90'+6; Proch|izka 65', Moistsrapishvili 82';
Red Card: Andersen (H|nc), after the match)

H|ncken quickly took a two-goal aggregate lead thanks to a penalty
converted by their captain Simon Gustafson, but the Slovakian cup
winners already knocked at the door late in the first half when a shot
from distance grazed the outside of the post, and they turned the match
around in the second. An in-swinging free-kick by veteran Roman
Proch|izka went straight through the arms of former Lazio and Atalanta
keeper Etrit Berisha - the low sun probably played role there - https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497004/101808-Record_2025_07_17_20_22_36_995.mp4
and eight minutes from time Spartak's newly signed Georgian playmaker
Giorgi Moistsrapishvili finished off some quick passing with a shot into
the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497004/101817-Record_2025_07_17_20_40_19_648.mp4
But just when everyone was preparing for extra time, Spartak's Slovenian
keeper ++iga Frelih failed to punch out a corner kick far enough, and
Ugandan youth international John Paul Dembe chested down the ball and
rifled in: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497004/101821-Record_2025_07_17_20_54_12_722.mp4
Following a post-match scuffle H|ncken's Danish defender Silas Andersen
saw a second yellow that will rule him out for the first match against Anderlecht.


FC CFR 1907 CLUJ (ROM)* v Paksi FC (HUN) 3-0 (1-0), 3-0 on aggregate
(Fic-a 35', Munteanu 85', Muhar 90')

Alin Fic-a, on the pitch only because of an early injury to Cluj's
starting striker Mohammed Kamara, gave the Romanians the lead with a
fine shot from the edge of the area: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497005/101851-Record_2025_07_17_22_00_06_111.mp4
Paks had a golden opportunity to equalise when VAR correctly intervened
to award them a penalty after Damjan -Eokovi-c's boot had met a Hungarian
face, but Balint V|-csei missed not once but twice - his first effort,
saved by Cluj's young keeper Otto Hindrich, had to be repeated due to
players prematurely entering the box, and at the second attempt he skied
it. This broke the Hungarian cup winners' back, and late on they
conceded two more - Louis Munteanu fired an angled shot straight
through Paks keeper Kov|icsik: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497005/101854-Record_2025_07_17_22_03_08_662.mp4
and Croatian midfielder Karlo Muhar, back with Cluj after a stint in the
Saudi 2nd division, headed in a late corner kick.


FC Prishtina (KOS) v FC SHERIFF (MDA)* 2-1 (0-0), 2-5 on aggregate
(H. Namani 56', Ahmeti 65'; Serobyan 51')

Armenia international Artur Serobyan stole the ball off Prishtina's
Nigerien centre-back Philippe Bouyeye to give Sheriff the lead: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497006/101830-Record_2025_07_17_21_08_21_573.mp4
but Hamdi Namani headed in a corner kick and 16-year-old Rin Ahmeti
rifled in a rebound to at least secure the win and some valuable
coefficient points.


NK CELJE (SLO)* v Sabah FC (AZE) 3-3 aet (1-1, 2-3), 6-5 on aggregate (Kova-ievi-c 19' (pen), Vukli+ievi-c 49', Iosifov 108'; Mickels 9', 63', 64')

German winger Joy-Lance Mickels, who for many years now has enjoyed
footballing life in Azerbaijan's top division rather than the German Regionalliga, headed Sabah in front from a corner kick, but Celje
quickly equalised thanks to a handball penalty. In the second half last
year's Conference League quarterfinalists soon took a two-goal aggregate
lead, also from a corner which was volleyed in by Damjan Vukli+ievi-c, but Mickels scored twice in two minutes to level the score, first with a
diving header, then with a somewhat lucky rebound after he had mishit
a diving header: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497007/101842-Record_2025_07_17_21_30_23_960.mp4
Still, Celje got the decisive goal in extra time when Russian forward
- not many of those left in UEFA competitions - Nikita Iosefov was left
all alone to volley in Andrej Kotnik's cross at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497007/101878-Record_2025_07_17_22_22_48_817.mp4


Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR)* v PFC LEVSKI SOFIA (BUL) 1-1 aet (0-0,
0-0)), 1-1 on aggregate, Levski win 3-1 on penalties
(Turgeman 105'+3; Sangar|- 114'; Red Card: Ventura (HBS) 109')

Like the Belarusians the Israeli teams play their European home matches
in mostly empty stadia in the Hungarian countryside, in Be'er Sheva's
case in Ny|!regyh|iza near the Slovakian and Ukrainian border.

After 180 scoreless minutes the Israeli took the lead in extra time
when they intercepted a hospital pass and veteran striker Alon Turgeman
(years ago an expensive misunderstanding at Austria Vienna) finished off
the break from Roy Levy's feed. But things soon went pear-shaped for
Be'er Sheva - their Brazilian midfielder Lucas Ventura collected a
second booking for recklessly breaking up a counter attack, and Malian international Mustapha Sangar|- headed in a great cross by fellow
substitute Karl Fabien, a regular for Martinique. In the shoot-out Be'er Sheva's first three penalties were all saved by Levski keeper Svetoslav
Vutsov.


FK Partizan (SRB)* v AEK LARNACA FC (CYP) 2-1 aet (0-0, 1-0), 2-2 on aggregate, Larnaca win 6-5 on penalties
(Ugre+ii-c 69', Jovanovi-c 118'; Pons 104'; Red Cards: Milo+ievi-c (Par), Dragojevi-c (Par), Gnali (AEK), Ivanovi-c (AEK), I|#igo Idiakez (AEK,
assistant manager), all after the match)

In a match with many chances, some nice dribbling by Senegalese winger
Demba Seck, in Belgrade on loan from Torino, led to Ognjen Ugre+ii-c's
goal which levelled the aggregate score: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497009/101918-Record_2025_07_18_01_42_17_371.mp4
Extra time also became a necessity since in the fifth minute of stoppage
time AEK's Polish striker Karol Angielski saw a penalty saved by Marko Milo+ievi-c. The Partizan keeper looked much less convincing though
fifteen minutes later when he let Pere Pons's weirdly bouncing effort
slip past him: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/497009/101919-Record_2025_07_18_01_43_06_724.mp4
but two minutes before the end 19-year-old Du+ian Jovanovi-c's deflected
shot sent the tie to penalties. Both sides missed twice during the first
round of the shoot-out, and the decisive save by AEK's German-Serbian
keeper Zlatan Alomerovi-c came against the young substitute Bogdan
Kosti-c.



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

Winners go to ELQ3, Losers go to ConfLQ3 (Main Path)


FC Lugano (SUI)* v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)
NK Celje (SLO) v AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)*
PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v SC Braga (POR)*
FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE) v Legia Warszawa (POL)*

RSC Anderlecht (BEL)* v BK H|ncken (SWE)
FC Sheriff (MDA)* v FC Utrecht (NED)
FC Midtjylland (DEN)* v Hibernian FC (SCO)
Be+fikta+f JK (TUR) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)*



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

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

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

Winners go to ELPO, Losers go to ConfLPO



Champions Path (the losers of the ties mentioned below enter here)


Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)/FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* v FC Noah (ARM)/Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)
HNK Rijeka (CRO)/PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* v Shelbourne FC
(IRL)/Qaraba-f FK (AZE)
FK RFS (LAT)/Malm|| FF (SWE)* v KuPS (FIN)/FC Kairat (KAZ)

-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT)/FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v Pafos FC (CYP)/Maccabi
Tel Aviv FC (ISR)*
+aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)/H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)* v KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)/Brei|#ablik (ISL)
KF Shk|2ndija (MKD)/FC FCSB (ROM) v FC K|+benhavn (DEN)/FC Drita (KOS)*



Main Path


NK Celje (SLO)/AEK Larnaca FC (CYP) v FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE)/Legia
Warszawa (POL)*
Fredrikstad FK (NOR) v FC Midtjylland (DEN)/Hibernian FC (SCO)*
FC Lugano (SUI)/FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM) v PFC Levski Sofia (BUL)/SC Braga (POR)*
PAOK FC (GRE)* v Wolfsberger AC (AUT)

(Loser of:) FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE)/Servette FC (SUI) v FC Sheriff
(MDA)/FC Utrecht (NED)*
RSC Anderlecht (BEL)/BK H|ncken (SWE)* v (Loser of:) SK Brann (NOR)/RB Salzburg (AUT)
(Loser of:) Rangers FC (SCO)/Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v Be+fikta+f JK
(TUR)/FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)*



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

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

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


July 24


FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE) v Legia Warszawa (POL)* 2-2 (1-1)
(+a|!n 13', Frydrych 65'; Kapustka 32', Nsame 88')

Youngster Mat-cj +a|!n finished off a one-two with Filip Kubala by side- stepping Rafa+e Augustyniak's desperate tackle and curling a shot past
Legia keeper Tobiasz: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501739/102741-Record_2025_07_24_20_18_58_444.mp4
Ban|!k's Slovakian keeper Dominik Holec then didn't look too good when he punched Bartosz Kapustka's shot into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501739/102742-Record_2025_07_24_20_20_10_915.mp4
The Czechs were the better team in the second half as well, hit the post
during a wild goalmouth scramble, and eventually retook the lead thanks
to a precise shot by veteran centre-back Michal Frydrych who latched
onto a loose ball that Legia had lost in front of their own area: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501739/102749-Record_2025_07_24_20_29_22_775.mp4
Still, Legia got the equaliser two minutes from time when on occasion of
a long ball Ban|!k botched their offside trap, and in the end former
Young Boys forward Jean-Pierre Nsame nodded in a cross by Juergen
Elitim. At the other end a stoppage time header by Frydrych was chalked
off by VAR for a close offside.


FC Sheriff (MDA)* v FC Utrecht (NED) 1-3 (1-1)
(Ademo 24'; Jensen 33', Viergever 54', Blake 70')

In what was quite a blow for the Moldovans Utrecht successfully
requested UEFA to not play this one in Sheriff's top-notch arena in
Tiraspol since the Dutch government had issued a travel warning for Transnistria, and so the match took place in a new but tiny venue in
Nisporeni near the Romanian border instead. Sheriff actually took
advantage of the smaller pitch when Nigerian midfielder Peter Ademo
volleyed in a long throw-in, but Utrecht equalised with their first
chance as former Danish youth international Victor Jensen volleyed in a
corner kick. Another volley from a corner gave the Dutch the lead early
in the second half, and 20-year-old Englishman Adrian Blake added the
third on the break.


PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) v SC Braga (POR)* 0-0 (0-0)

The Portuguese favourites seemed to be surprisingly content with going
for the scoreless draw in Bulgaria, but then this is a very early point
in the season for them.


FC Midtjylland (DEN)* v Hibernian FC (SCO) 1-1 (0-1)
(+Rim+fir 72'; McGrath 7')

Hibs took a surprising early lead when a free-kick cross by Jamie
McGrath turned into an effort on goal that FCM keeper L||ssl only managed
to claw out behind his goal line: https://giphy.com/media/B6BdS79X9KwKBewBaI/giphy.gif
The Danes also equalised through a free-kick, Aral +Rim+fir's nice effort
was slightly deflected on its way in: https://giphy.com/media/wM0SdQrjFBS1y1fKYK/giphy.gif


NK Celje (SLO) v AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)* 1-1 (1-0)
(Kova-ievi-c 28' (pen); Mili-ievi-c 53' (pen))

Both sides scored from the spot, the Slovenians after a handball and AEK following a late challenge by Celje striker Danijel +aturm inside his own
area.


RSC Anderlecht (BEL)* v BK H|ncken (SWE) 1-0 (1-0)
(Dolberg 35')

Both sides had big chances to score, but only Anderlecht managed to
break the deadlock when the Swedish defence failed to clear a long ball,
and Kasper Dolberg wrong-footed H|ncken keeper Berisha: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501744/102809-Record_2025_07_24_21_56_04_850.mp4


Be+fikta+f JK (TUR) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* 2-4 (1-2)
(Abraham 40' (pen), Jo|uo M|irio 87'; Alisson Santana 7', Eguinaldo 28',
Kevin 67', 90'+6)

After the dismantling of Ilves in the previous round Shakhtar's
Brazilians managed to do the job against Ole Gunnar Solskj|ar's side,
too. Alisson Santana's shot from the edge of the area was deflected past
a helpless Mert G|+nok: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501745/102736-Record_2025_07_24_20_09_35_657.mp4
and Alisson Santana also provided the cross that Eguinaldo headed in
for Shakhtar's second. A handball penalty allowed Tammy Abraham to pull
one back from the spot, but Kevin tapped in yet another cross by Alisson Santana to restore the two-goal lead. Jo|uo M|irio then bundled in the
rebound after Shakhtar keeper Riznyk had parried Rafa Silva's shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501745/102802-Record_2025_07_24_21_47_10_834.mp4
but in the last minute of stoppage time Kevin capped off a great
performance by collecting Artem Bondarenko's cut-back cross and slotting
into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501745/102808-Record_2025_07_24_21_55_37_314.mp4


FC Lugano (SUI)* v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM) 0-0 (0-0)

As usual Lugano can't play this at their inadequate home in Ticino,
and in Thun in central Switzerland they were twice lucky that an early
penalty for Cluj was sent onto the right post by Karlo Muhar, and that a
later penalty call was converted by VAR into a free-kick.


Ciao,
Werner
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From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS go to ELQ3, Losers go to ConfLQ3 (Main Path)



July 31


AEK LARNACA FC (CYP)* v NK Celje (SLO) 2-1 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Chac||n 43', |Ungel 67'; Kvesi-c 88')

A lost ball in midfield led to Karol Angielski volleying a through ball
towards Yerson Chac||n, and the Venezuelan forward raced clear and
slotted past Celje keeper ++an-Luk Leban (I wonder if his parents were
huge Star Trek fans): https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501747/103691-Record_2025_07_31_19_13_04_984.mp4
Chac||n also delivered the corner kick that AEK's Spanish captain |Ungel
headed in for the second. Celje subsequently hit the crossbar, and
pulled one back late when Mario Kvesi-c played a one-two with young Swedish-Nigerian striker Anomnachi Chidi and from a tight angle fired
through the legs of Larnaca's German-Serbian keeper Zlatan Alomerovi-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501747/103726-Record_2025_07_31_20_17_01_360.mp4
but there was to be no happy end for last year's Conference League quarterfinalists.


BK H|aCKEN (SWE) v RSC Anderlecht (BEL)* 2-1 aet (1-0, 2-1), 2-2 on
aggregate, H|ncken win 4-2 on penalties
(Svanb|nck 33', Gustafson 90'+2 (pen); Dolberg 54' (pen);
Red Card: Kanat|- (And) 117')

A well-executed counter attack gave H|ncken the lead as Tunisia
international Amor Layouni belied his age and outsprinted Basile
Vroninks, 14 years his junior, before squaring perfectly for Finnish
youngster Adrian Svanb|nck: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501748/103811-Record_2025_07_31_23_14_57_849.mp4
Anderlecht equalised from the spot thanks to a controversial VAR
penalty, but VAR giveth and VAR also taketh away, and so H|ncken got a
penalty of their own in stoppage time when Danish substitute Mikkel
Rygaard was tripped in the box although from the footage you'd be
inclined to believe that he had been shot in the back: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501748/103814-Record_2025_07_31_23_17_08_405.mp4
H|ncken captain Simon Gustafson sent the spot kick past RSCA keeper
Coosemans and the tie to extra time, where three minutes from the end 18-year-old Malian winger Ibrahim Kanat|- was sent off with a second
booking for stepping on the ankle of Marius Lode. In the shoot-out
a Swedish player obligingly missed for Anderlecht as centre-back Ludwig Augustinsson's shot skimmed the crossbar, and H|ncken keeper Etrit
Berisha saved against Luis V|izquez before expertly converting the final penalty himself.

Considering how Swedish cup winners H|ncken have firmly been a mid-table
team this Allsvenskan season and last, this has to count as a major
surprise. Anderlecht legend Besnik Hasi already under pressure on
the bench.


FC CFR 1907 CLUJ (ROM) v FC Lugano (SUI)* 1-0 aet (0-0, 0-0), 1-0 on
aggregate
(Sinyan 96')

Lugano were the better team, but failed to make that count as two goals
by former Union Berlin striker Kevin Behrens were disallowed after long
VAR checks for handball and a close offside, respectively. So by the
iron logic of football it was the Romanians who got the winner in extra
time when their Norwegian-Gambian centre-back Sheriff Sinyan headed
Meriton Korenica's corner kick against the post and in. To add insult to
injury Lugano then hit the crossbar.


FC UTRECHT (NED) v FC Sheriff (MDA)* 4-1 (1-0), 7-2 on aggregate
(Jensen 27', Horemans 46', Viergever 56', El Karouani 89'; Odede 75')

Danish midfielder Victor Jensen rolled in a cut-back cross, Belgian
right-back Siebe Horemans nodded in a corner kick, and Utrecht captain
Nick Viergever likewise scored after a corner as the Dutch made short of
work of the Transnistrians. 18-year-old Nigerian winger Elijah Odede
tapped in a cross for the consolation goal, but Moroccan left-back
Souffiane El Karouani sent a long-range effort into the far corner to
make it four: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501750/103919-Record_2025_08_01_09_22_04_673.mp4


FC SHAKHTAR DONETSK (UKR)* v Be+fikta+f JK (TUR) 2-0 (2-0), 6-2 on aggregate (Kevin 12', Kau|u Elias 45'+1)

Obviously it was two Brazilians who put the result out of reach already
early on - Kevin finished off a solo run by slicing the ball into the
top far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501751/103717-Nagrywaj_2025_07_31_20_12_19_246.mp4
and 19-year-old Kau|u Elias tapped in a low cross by fellow countryman Vin|!cius Tobias.


SC BRAGA (POR)* v PFC Levski Sofia (BUL) 1-0 aet (0-0, 0-0), 1-0 on
aggregate
(Navarro 104')

An early header by their Malian centre-back Sikou Niakat|- went off the crossbar, and so Braga had to leave it very late against the Bulgarian underdogs. But at least the goal that secured the win was a beauty, Fran Navarro met a cross by 18-year-old Sandro Vidigal with a smooth scissor
kick: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501752/103816-Record_2025_07_31_23_24_55_162.mp4
Levski actually appeared to have equalised with a shot from distance,
but unfortunately for them there had been a clear offside in the build-
up.


LEGIA WARSZAWA (POL)* v FC Ban|!k Ostrava (CZE) 2-1 (0-1), 4-3 on aggregate (Nsame 54', Pojezn|+ 74' (og); Prekop 15')

The match was as even as the first leg, and the Czechs went in front
when David Buchta's weak shot got tangled in the legs of Erik Prekop,
and the Slovakian quickly turned to volley past Legia keeper Tobiasz: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501753/103779-Record_2025_07_31_21_47_34_945.mp4
Just before the break Legia had a goal disallowed for a close offside,
but soon after the re-start they did get the equaliser through Jean-
Pierre Nsame who collected Bartosz Kapustka's excellent through ball and
left Ban|!k keeper Holec no chance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501753/103789-Record_2025_07_31_22_20_44_556.mp4
The decisive goal came when great ball control by Vahan Bichakhchyan
teed up Ry+iya Morishita, and after the Japanese winger had rounded Holec
his cross was stumbled into his own net by the unlucky Karel Pojezn|+: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501753/103800-Record_2025_07_31_22_46_23_145.mp4
In the 90th minute Ban|!k ought to have sent the tie to extra time, but
David Buchta's penalty went against the outside of the left post.


Hibernian FC (SCO) v FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN)* 1-2 aet (0-0, 0-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Bushiri 105'+2; Osorio 94', J||nior Brumado 119')

Each side saw a goal chalked off for offside, and so it wasn't until
extra time that the Danes took the lead through Chile international
Dar|!o Osorio who beat Hibs keeper Jordan Smith with a precise shot from distance: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501754/103806-Record_2025_07_31_23_00_27_598.mp4
Congolese international Rocky Bushiri smashed in a cross by Frenchman
|elie Youan to equalise, but right after the Danes had changed keepers
with an eye towards the shootout they scored the winner regardless as
Brazilian substitute J||nior Brumado met Kevin Mbabu's cross with a
perfect bicycle kick much like Fran Navarro's: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/501754/103821-Record_2025_07_31_23_31_36_810.mp4



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

Winners go to ELPO (and are guaranteed at least Conference League group
stage), Losers go to ConfLPO


Champions Path

Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)* v FC Noah (ARM)
HNK Rijeka (CRO)* v Shelbourne FC (IRL)
FK RFS (LAT)* v KuPS (FIN)

-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)*
H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)* v Brei|#ablik (ISL)
FC FCSB (ROM) v FC Drita (KOS)*


Main Path

AEK Larnaca FC (CYP) v Legia Warszawa (POL)*
Fredrikstad FK (NOR) v FC Midtjylland (DEN)*
FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM) v SC Braga (POR)*
PAOK FC (GRE)* v Wolfsberger AC (AUT)

Servette FC (SUI) v FC Utrecht (NED)*
BK H|ncken (SWE)* v SK Brann (NOR)
Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)*



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

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Draw for Europa League Playoff (August 21 and 28)
* = seeded team
Winners go to EL League Stage, Losers go to ConfL League Stage


-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) /Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)* v (Loser of:) FC
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)/Pafos FC (CYP)
(Loser of:) KF Shk|2ndija (MKD)/Qaraba-f FK (AZE) v (Loser of:) PFC
Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)/Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN)*
(Loser of:) FC Kairat (KAZ)/+aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK) v BSC Young Boys
(SUI)*
(Loser of:) Malm|| FF (SWE)/FC K|+benhavn (DEN)* v SK Sigma Olomouc (CZE)

Panathinaikos FC (GRE)/FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* v Samsunspor (TUR)
Aberdeen FC (SCO) v FC FCSB (ROM)/FC Drita (KOS)*
(Loser of:) KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)/FK Crvena Zvezda (SRB)* v KRC Genk (BEL) Fredrikstad FK (NOR)/FC Midtjylland (DEN)* v FK RFS (LAT)/KuPS (FIN)

Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)/FC Noah (ARM) v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)/SC Braga (POR)*
H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)/Brei|#ablik (ISL) v Servette FC (SUI)/FC Utrecht (NED)*
BK H|ncken (SWE)/SK Brann (NOR) v AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)/Legia Warszawa (POL)* HNK Rijeka (CRO)/Shelbourne FC (IRL) v PAOK FC (GRE)/Wolfsberger AC (AUT)*


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

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

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


August 5


Champions Path


-aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)* 1-2 (0-0)
(Koffi 71' (pen); Revivo 79', Madmon 90'+6)

The Maltese champions had the better chances throughout the game, and
for about eight minutes they could actually dream about taking a big
step towards a first ever European group stage after their Ivorian
striker N'Dri Koffi had earned and converted a penalty. But two late
goals from their only two shots on target all match turned it around for
the Israeli favourites - Roy Revivo, completely forgotten by the
Spartans defence at the far post, had enough time to chest down Osher
Davida's corner kick before volleying it in, and deep in stoppage time
Dor Turgeman cleverly flicked Revivo's pass into the path of fellow
substitute Elad Madmon who had no problems pushing the ball past -aamrun
keeper Bonello: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503028/104367-Record_2025_08_05_20_58_59_404.mp4



August 6


Champions Path


FK RFS (LAT)* v KuPS (FIN) 1-2 (0-2)
(Diedhiou 61'; Oksanen 14', Toure 24')

Jaakko Oksanen got an early goal with a perfectly placed free-kick, and
young Guinean forward Mohamed Toure was fastest to react when a bad pass
in the Latvian defence got blocked, and he stole in between two
defenders before chipping over RFS keeper Mari-c: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503029/104461-Record_2025_08_06_19_25_59_511.mp4
The Latvian champions were much improved in the second half, and
deservedly pulled one back when Senegalese winger Barth|-lemy Diedhiou
finished off a nice passing move by lobbing Kuopio's Austrian keeper
Kreidl: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503029/104477-Record_2025_08_06_20_22_02_745.mp4


HNK Rijeka (CRO)* v Shelbourne FC (IRL) 1-2 (0-0)
(Jankovi-c 56' (pen); Bone 58', Martin 70')

Ouch. That's not a great look for the Croatian champions, who didn't
generate much of anything, but were even gifted a penalty due to a
terrible first touch by Shelbourne's Dutch keeper Wessel Speel which
forced him to bring down Rijeka's new Congolese forward Merveil Ndockyt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503030/104504-Record_2025_08_06_22_02_58_243.mp4
and Niko Jankovi-c sent Speel the wrong way from the spot. But just two
minutes later Shelbourne - currently just sitting in fifth in the League
of Ireland - were level when Englishman Sam Bone headed in from a short
corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503030/104507-Record_2025_08_06_22_06_54_273.mp4
and they even got the winner through John Martin who had been left alone
by the Rijeka defence to likewise head a cross by Harry Wood into the
top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503030/104510-Record_2025_08_06_22_18_44_738.mp4




August 7


Champions Path


Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB)* v FC Noah (ARM) 1-1 (1-1)
(De Barr 45'+9; Eteki 9')

Sevilla-trained Cameroonian midfielder Yan Eteki gave Noah an early lead
when he beat Imps keeper Nauzet Santana with a drive from the edge of
the area: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503031/104581-Record_2025_08_07_18_11_17_739.mp4
But Eteki also made the ill-fated decision to test the stretchiness of
Toni Garc|!a's jersey: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503031/104604-Record_2025_08_07_18_55_07_379.mp4
and a lengthy VAR check in the end determined it to have happened inside
the box. Noah keeper Ognjen -ian-iarevi-c parried Tjay De Barr's initial
spot kick but was helpless against the rebound: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503031/104606-Record_2025_08_07_18_56_53_145.mp4
In stoppage time Noah seemingly scored the winner when Santana failed to
keep out Imran Oulad Omar's free-kick, but another lengthy VAR check
ended in the goal being disallowed due to a call I don't remember having
seen before - Artak Dashyan running across the front of the Imps wall
fell foul of Law 13.3 in its current wording: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GxxM7ZHWwAA-P5d?format=jpg&name=small
I had not known that this was VAR reviewable.


H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)* v Brei|#ablik (ISL) 1-1 (0-1)
(Bilbija 72' (pen); Thomsen 18')

On occasion of a cross Zrinjski centre-back Ilija Ma+ii-c bodychecked
Tobias Thomsen to concede an early penalty, and Brei|#ablik's veteran
Danish striker converted at the third attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503037/104657-Record_2025_08_07_20_18_51_492.mp4
Half-way through the second half the Herzegovinians were awarded a
penalty themselves when |Ug||st Orri |Rorsteinsson got entangled in the
legs of Jakov Pranji-c, and Zrinjski captain Bilbija made no mistake from
the spot.


FC FCSB (ROM) v FC Drita (KOS)* 3-2 (0-1)
(B|<rligea 64', 90'+4 (pen), Graovac 72'; Tusha 7', Manaj 50')

Not-Steaua's terrible European moment appeared to continue unabated as
Drita took an early lead when Veton Tusha beat FCSB keeper Stefan
T|ornovanu at the second attempt: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503039/104787-Record_2025_08_07_23_36_15_335.mp4
and the Kosovar champions even made it two early in the second half when
they punished more lax Romanian defending and Arb Manaj was on hand to
tap in Blerim Krasniqi's centre: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503039/104788-Record_2025_08_07_23_37_29_893.mp4
But this time FCSB were able to fight back - Daniel B|<rligea volleyed in
a loose ball following David Miculescu's good run into the box: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503039/104789-Record_2025_08_07_23_38_00_546.mp4
Bosnian centre-back Daniel Graovac met Octavian Popescu's corner kick
with a thumping header, and in the third minute of stoppage time the
unlucky Kosovars even conceded a decisive penalty when the substitute
Dennis Politic got tripped by Egzon Bejtullai. B|<rligea sent Drita
keeper Maloku the wrong way from the spot.



Main Path


Fredrikstad FK (NOR) v FC Midtjylland (DEN)* 1-3 (0-2)
(Bjartal|!|# 77'; Dj|| 14', Gogorza 32', Castillo 79')

Fredrikstad's return to Europe after sixteen years wasn't very
successful as Midtjylland's Bissau-Guinean top scorer Franculino Dj||
tapped in from short range after Czech right-back Adam Gabriel had
volleyed a long cross back across goal: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503032/104792-Record_2025_08_07_23_45_10_191.mp4
A shot by 18-year-old Danish-Basque winger Mikel Gogorza was then
deflected past a helpless Martin B|+rsheim in the Norwegian net. After
the break J||nior Brumado also hit the post from short range for the
Danes, but Fredrikstad pulled one back through the Faroese substitute
J||annes Bjartal|!|#, formerly of Klaksv|!k, who swept in a low cross by
Danish youth international Oskar |yhlenschlaeger: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503032/104794-Record_2025_08_07_23_48_53_746.mp4
But just two minutes later Midtjylland were up by two again as the
Ecuadorian substitute Denil Castillo rose to head in a cross by Valdemar Byskov.


AEK Larnaca FC (CYP) v Legia Warszawa (POL)* 4-1 (1-1)
(Pons 16', Angielski 48', Chac||n 78', Rajovi-c 85' (og); Nsame 18';
Red Card: Kapustka (Leg) 90'+8)

A surprisingly heavy defeat for Legia on Cyprus. Within the first ten
minutes the Poles had seen a goal by Jean-Pierre Nsame disallowed by VAR
for offside, while at the other end a header by veteran centre-back
Valentin Roberge, by now 38 and a naturalized Cypriot citizen, went off
the crossbar. Pere Pons then finished off a counter-attack with a
precise shot into the far corner to give AEK the lead, but Legia
immediately replied through Nsame who headed in a free-kick cross by
their captain Bartosz Kapustka. The Poles subsequently had more and
better opportunities, but their wasteful finishing was punished right
after the break - and by a Pole - as Karol Angielski on the break nodded
in a cross by AEK's French left-back J|-r|-mie Gnali. The match was still
wide open at that point, but the decisive moment came when Venezuelan
forward Yerson Chac||n was afforded too much time and space in the Polish
box, and he used it to curl a great shot past Legia keeper Tobiasz: https://giphy.com/media/p0Xu1l5ReT95qWCCHK/giphy.gif
To add insult to injury Legia's new Danish signing Mileta Rajovi-c, on as
a substitute just minutes earlier, late on expertly headed a corner kick
into his own net: https://giphy.com/media/BWevsU8aKSIkJEstZI/giphy.gif
and in stoppage time Kapustka ruled himself out of the return leg with a
second yellow.


FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM) v SC Braga (POR)* 1-2 (1-1)
(Sinyan 30'; Gorby 17', 50')

Young Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gorby gave Braga the lead with a precise
shot into the bottom corner after having been teed up by Fran Navarro: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503034/104599-Nagrywaj_2025_08_07_18_50_17_82.mp4
Cluj scored a somewhat lucky equaliser when a deflected shot fell
perfectly for Gambian international Sheriff Sinyan at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503034/104610-Nagrywaj_2025_08_07_19_02_45_648.mp4
Soon after the break a great back-heel assist by Ricardo Horta released
Navarro in the box, and while Cluj keeper Otto Hindrich was able to keep
out the initial shot he was helpless against Gorby's rebound: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503034/104635-Nagrywaj_2025_08_07_19_40_43_382.mp4


BK H|ncken (SWE)* v SK Brann (NOR) 0-2 (0-1)
(Magn||sson 28', 57')

Brann missed an early penalty when Joachim Soltvedt sent his effort high
and wide, but they nevertheless took the lead thanks to a very weird
goal - everyone on both sides was expecting a call when Brann captain
Felix Myhre was bowled over by Samuel Leach Holm, H|ncken's defence kind
of stopped playing and randomly passed the ball back towards their own
net - only there never had been a whistle, the ref had waved to play
on, and Icelandic striker S|avar Atli Magn||sson was fastest to grasp the situation and slot the loose ball past H|ncken keeper Berisha: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503035/104627-Record_2025_08_07_19_30_10_82.mp4
Magn||sson added a second after the break when he capped off a solo run
with a precise low shot that wrong-footed Berisha: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503035/104773-Record_2025_08_07_22_48_35_643.mp4


PAOK FC (GRE)* v Wolfsberger AC (AUT) 0-0 (0-0)

The Austrian cup winners kept the Greeks at bay with surprising ease,
but they might come to rue the fact that they didn't cash in especially
on two excellent first-half opportunities. PAOK won't be this rusty in
the return leg, I don't think.


Panathinaikos FC (GRE) v FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* 0-0 (0-0)

The other Greek Europa League team also drew nil-nil at home, but
against Shakhtar's Brazilians this feels more like a good result. Still, Panathinaikos could have won this near the end, but Shakhtar keeper
Riznyk pulled off a couple of good saves to deny +Uwiderski and Zaroury.


Servette FC (SUI) v FC Utrecht (NED)* 1-3 (1-0)
(Guillemenot 12'; Baron 52' (og), Horemans 55', Zechi|2l 62')

J|-r|-my Guillemenot gave Servette the early lead by nodding in after
Miroslav Stevanovi-c had headed a long free-kick cross back across goal: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503040/104855-Record_2025_08_08_06_33_44_636.mp4
The Dutch turned the match around though after the break with three
goals in ten minutes - Guadeloupe international Anthony Baron unluckily deflected a cross by Frenchman Yoann Cathline into his own net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503040/104856-Record_2025_08_08_06_34_22_311.mp4
Belgian centre-back Siebe Horemans headed in Souffian El Karouani's
free-kick, and Dutch Under-21 international Gjivai Zechi|2l beat Servette keeper Mall with a low shot into the bottom corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503040/104858-Record_2025_08_08_06_35_26_388.mp4

Servette (and by extension the Swiss UEFA coefficient) are already
staring the dreaded triple elimination (CL->EL->ConfL) down the barrel.



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

From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS (except RFS) through to ELPO, losers go to ConfLPO



August 12


Champions Path


Shelbourne FC (IRL) v HNK RIJEKA (CRO)* 1-3 (0-0), 3-4 on aggregate
(Odubeko 86' (pen); Fruk 33', Dantas 73', Ore-i 90')

Toni Fruk, who had been instrumental in Rijeka's surprising Croatian
title last season and who had been sorely missed by them in the first
leg, levelled the aggregate score with a great volley from outside the
box. Shelbourne weren't without their chances, but it was Rijeka who
took the aggregate lead through Portuguese new arrival Tiago Dantas who unleashed an absolute rocket into the top corner from close to thirty
metres: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503041/105708-Record_2025_08_12_22_17_49_96.mp4
Still, Shels were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a rather soft penalty following a collision between right-back Ante Ore-i and John
Martin, and Mipo Odubeko with a little luck beat Rijeka keeper Zlomisli-c
from the spot. But just four minutes later with the tie seemingly headed
for extra time Ore-i made amends for causing the earlier penalty by
beating Shelbourne keeper Speel with a well-placed turn-and-shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503041/105714-Record_2025_08_12_22_35_01_697.mp4



August 14


Champions Path


KUPS (FIN) v FK RFS (LAT)* 1-0 (0-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Pennanen 49')

In an otherwise uneventful first half Kuopio's Ghanaian left-back Bob
Nii Armah stuck out a leg that RFS's Senegalese winger Barth|-lemy
Diedhiou obligingly threw himself over, and after checking the video the Hungarian ref Berke took the brave and probably correct decision to wave
off his initial penalty call. The Finns' veteran captain Petteri
Pennanen made sure of qualification by curling in a shot from just
outside the D: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503042/105965-Record_2025_08_14_18_09_36_597.mp4
A shot against the post by Stefan Pani-c was the closest the Latvians
came to scoring.

KuPS reach a European group/league phase for the first time in their
history. But they will have to play their matches 250km away in Tampere
as their home stadium in Kuopio doesn't fulfil UEFA requirements


FC Noah (ARM) v LINCOLN RED IMPS FC (GIB)* 0-0 aet (0-0, 0-0), 1-1 on aggregate, Red Imps win 6-5 on penalties

As expected Noah had way more of the game, but all they had to show for
it was Marin Jakoli+i - once a Croatian attacking hope, now plying his
trade in Armenia - rounding Imps keeper Santana but firing against the
crossbar instead of the gaping net. That's how I remember him from his
Admira Wacker days, too. With a little luck the Gibraltarians
successfully held on for 120 minutes, and while their first penalty in
the shoot-out, taken by 40-year-old former Panathinaikos midfielder
Nano, went off the upright, Noah subsequently missed twice - Sergey
Muradyan's effort cannoned off the bar, and Yan Eteki's poorly struck
penalty was saved by Santana.

Another guaranteed European group/league phase for the Imps and
Gibraltar, unfortunately coming at a time when Victoria Stadium isn't
available due to redevelopment. I guess they are going to play their
home games in Southern Portugal again.


Brei|#ablik (ISL) v H+aK ZRINJSKI MOSTAR (BIH)* 1-2 (0-1), 2-3 on aggregate (Gunnlaugsson 61' (pen); Bilbija 7', Valgeirsson 47' (og);
Red Card: A.G. J||nsson 90'+2)

Zrinjski took an early lead through their captain Nemanja Bilbija who
volleyed in a cross, to the great anger of the Icelanders since one of
their players had been on the ground claiming injury. Still, play to the whistle. Right after the break Valgeir Valgeirsson inadvertently flicked Tomislav Ki+i's corner kick into his own net, and while Brei|#ablik pulled
one back from the spot after Viktor Karl Einarsson had been brought down
by Hrvoje Bari+ii-c in the box, they didn't threaten enough to get the
second, and in stoppage time Arn||r Gauti J||nsson also saw a second
yellow.


MACCABI TEL AVIV FC (ISR)* v -aamrun Spartans FC (MLT) 3-1 (2-1), 5-2 on aggregate
(Shahar 37', 45'+2, Davida 69'; Mbong 43')

The Football Godz are evidently no big fans of a Maltese team ever
reaching a European group stage - just ten minutes after Brazilian in
the Mediterranean Emerson had sent a handball penalty against the
crossbar it was the Israeli who took the lead instead as Raz Shlomo's
through ball was fired in by Ido Shahar: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503048/106152-Record_2025_08_14_22_46_23_814.mp4
The Maltese champions actually managed to equalise when a lost ball
turned into a quick counter-attack at the end of which Joseph Mbong
slotted past Maccabi keeper Mishpati, but Shahar got his brace still
before the break by stabbing home Osher Davida's cross. This broke the Spartans' resistance, and Davida added a third in the second half from
a nice assist by Shahar.


FC Drita (KOS)* v FC FCSB (ROM) 1-3 (0-2), 3-6 on aggregate
(Tusha 52'; Cisotti 1', Miculescu 18', Politic 85';
Red Card: Broja (Dri) 68')

Not-Steaua needed just thirty seconds to open the scoring as Juri
Cisotti headed in David Miculescu's cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503049/106155-Record_2025_08_14_22_55_58_227.mp4
Miculescu got the second himself by sweeping in after having been teed
up by Daniel B|<rligea: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503049/106063-Record_2025_08_14_20_18_13_235.mp4
Some hope was restored for the Kosovar champions when Veton Tusha slid
in to volley Liridon Balaj's cross over the line: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503049/106097-Record_2025_08_14_21_10_37_992.mp4
but that was soon dashed when Drita captain Rron Broja was sent off for
a vicious tackle from behind. Against ten men Dennis Politic scored the
third by collecting Mihai Lixandru's long ball and firing past Drita
keeper Maloku.



Main Path


FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN)* v Fredrikstad FK (NOR) 2-0 (2-0), 5-1 on aggregate
(Bech 9', Paulinho 17')

FCM captain Mads Bech volleyed in a loose ball after a corner kick,
and Brazilian left-back Paulinho did well to control Mikel Gogorza's
assist and beat Fredrikstad keeper B|+rsheim from a tight angle: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503043/106168-Record_2025_08_14_23_06_37_383.mp4
In the second half a Fredrikstad goal by Skogvold was disallowed by VAR
for a handball in the build-up, and the Danes cruised to an easy win.


Wolfsberger AC (AUT) v PAOK FC (GRE)* 0-1 aet (0-0, 0-0), 0-1 on aggregate (Camara 115')

A painful loss for the Austrian cup winners. In a largely very poor game
the Greeks had more of the ball but knew precious little to do with it
while WAC had the much better opportunities but wasted all of them, most notably Thierno Ballo who ran half the field alone in on Ji+O|! Pavlenka
only to be denied by the former Werder keeper. Five minutes before the potential shootout one moment of brilliance decided the tie for the
Greeks as Guinean substitute Mady Camara met a loose ball with a great
shot into the top corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503045/106165-Record_2025_08_14_23_02_56_666.mp4
As it was that kind of game for WAC, with the last kick of the game
Fabian Wohlmuth's well-taken volley from the edge of the box whizzed
inches wide.


SK BRANN (NOR) v BK H|ncken (SWE)* 0-1 (0-1), 2-1 on aggregate
(De Roeve 38' (og))

An instinctive twitch by Brann's young Belgian right-back Denzel De
Roeve turned Amor Layouni's header into an unstoppable shot past his own
keeper Dyngeland: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503045/106165-Record_2025_08_14_23_02_56_666.mp4
Still, despite being just a goal away from levelling the aggregate score H|ncken didn't register a single shot on target in the second half, and
Brann could have equalised in stoppage time, but Etrit Berisha saved
against Niklas Castro's penalty kick.


FC UTRECHT (NED)* v Servette FC (SUI) 2-1 (0-0), 5-2 on aggregate
(Jensen 57', 74'; Jallow 80' (pen))

Late in the first half a chaotic scene including both a penalty shout
and a goal for Utrecht was ultimately resolved by VAR by calling a
handball against the Dutch way earlier. So Utrecht didn't take the lead
until twelve minutes into the second half when Victor Jensen tapped in
the rebound after Servette keeper Mall had awkwardly parried against
Celta Vigo loanee Miguel Rodr|!guez: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503050/106098-Record_2025_08_14_21_16_21_231.mp4
Jensen added another on the break by sweeping in a cross by former
Schalke left-back Derry Murkin: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503050/106115-Record_2025_08_14_21_33_27_460.mp4
A clumsy challenge by Alonzo Engwanda on J|-r|-my Guillemenot gave
Servette a late penalty, converted by Gambian international Ablie
Jallow.

Utrecht last played in a group/league phase fifteen years ago in the
2010-11 Europa League. Servette need to beat Shakhtar Donetsk in the
Conference League playoffs to avoid a triple elimination.


FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)* v PANATHINAIKOS FC (GRE) 0-0 (0-0), 0-0 on aggregate, Panathinaikos win 4-3 on penalties
(Red Card: Ocheretko (Sha) 82')

Not even Oleh Ocheretko being sent off with a second yellow helped with
the goalscoring, and so after more than 210 goalless minutes the tie
was decided from the spot - Yehor Nazaryna (post) and Brazilian Kau|u
Elias (saved) missed for Shakhtar while Manolis Siopis (saved) and Lens
loanee Anass Zaroury (high) did so for the Greeks, before Panathinaikos
keeper Bart+eomiej Dr-agowski saved decisively against Pedrinho.

For once, Shakhtar's Brazilians did not become their saviours, on the
contrary.


SC BRAGA (POR)* v FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM) 2-0 (2-0), 4-1 on aggregate
(Zalazar 19' (pen), 45'+5)

A first-half brace from Rodrigo Zalazar, one from the spot and one with
a precise low shot from just inside the box, helped Braga cruise to a comfortable Europa League qualification. And I'm talking about the
league phase here because their playoff opponents are the Red Imps.


Legia Warszawa (POL)* v AEK LARNACA FC (CYP) 2-1 (2-0), 3-5 on aggregate
(Nsame 11', Rajovi-c 16'; Ivanovi-c 52'; Red Card: Gnali (AEK) 72')

Two early goals, one by Jean-Pierre Nsame who tapped in Pawe+e Wszo+eek's inviting cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503053/106096-Record_2025_08_14_21_11_18_244.mp4
and one by Danish forward Mileta Rajovi-c who headed in Vahan
Bichakhchyan's cross let Legia dream of an improbable comeback, and they
were let off the hook when just before the break a Larnaca goal was
cancelled by VAR for a handball, but not long after the restart AEK's
new Serbian winger -Eor-ae Ivanovi-c cut inside and beat Legia keeper
Tobiasz with an angled shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/503053/106132-Record_2025_08_14_22_11_14_641.mp4
This killed the tie for good despite AEK's French left-back J|-r|-mie
Gnali getting sent off with a second yellow.



Draw for Europa League Playoff (August 21 and 28)
* = seeded team
Winners go to EL League Stage, Losers go to ConfL League Stage


Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)* v FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*
FC Kairat (KAZ) v BSC Young Boys (SUI)*
Malm|| FF (SWE)* v SK Sigma Olomouc (CZE)

Panathinaikos FC (GRE)* v Samsunspor (TUR)
Aberdeen FC (SCO) v FC FCSB (ROM)*
KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)* v KRC Genk (BEL)
FC Midtjylland (DEN)* v KuPS (FIN)

Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) v SC Braga (POR)*
H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) v FC Utrecht (NED)*
SK Brann (NOR) v AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)*
HNK Rijeka (CRO) v PAOK FC (GRE)*



Ciao,
Werner
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From Newsgroup: rec.sport.soccer

Europa League Play-off Round 2nd Leg
* = seeded team
Teams in CAPITALS through to EL League Stage, Losers to ConfL League Stage



August 27


AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)* v SK BRANN (NOR) 0-4 (0-1), 1-6 on aggregate
(Castro 45'+1, Hansen 69', Knudsen 75', Soltvedt 87';
Red Card: Saborit (AEK) 39')

The Cypriots had early chances to level the aggregate score but alone
in front of Brann keeper Mathias Dyngeland Enzo Cabrera chipped just
wide, and a bit later AEK's Argentine forward also hit the post. Things
went completely pear-shaped for them though when their Catalan centre-
back Enric Saborit was sent off for a last-man shirt pull against
Brann's young Icelandic forward Eggert Aron Gu|#mundsson: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504682/108659-Record_2025_08_27_19_09_37_221.mp4
In stoppage time of the first half a shot from distance by Norwegian-
Chilean winger Niklas Castro surprised AEK's German-Serbian keeper
Zlatan Alomerovi-c with its bend: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504682/108657-Record_2025_08_27_19_17_04_195.mp4
The second half started exactly like the first, with Cabrera alone
through on goal chipping agonisingly wide, and that was it for the
Cypriots. Danish winger Mads Hansen beat the offside trap to slot in
Joachim Soltvedt's low cross: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504682/108685-Record_2025_08_27_19_59_54_670.mp4
and Soltvedt also delivered the corner kick that Brann captain Fredrik
Knudsen headed in for the third. Soltvedt then scored the fourth one
himself by cutting inside and beating Alomerovi-c with a shot through the
legs of a defender: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504682/108713-Record_2025_08_27_20_17_42_643.mp4



August 28


KuPS (FIN) v FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN)* 0-2 (0-0), 0-6 on aggregate
(Brumado 51' (pen), +Rim+fir 54'; Red Card: L||tj||nen (Kuo) 38')

FCM hit the crossbar early on through a header by Ecuador international
Denil Castillo, and the Finnish champions were reduced to ten after
young centre-back Arttu L||tj||nen had been sent off for pulling back
Castillo as last man. In the second half Edward Chilufya's shot went
off the post, and Kuopio's Ghanaian right-back Bob Nii Armah failed to
control the rebound and instead tripped Paulinho in the box. Paulinho's Brazilian compatriot J||nior Brumado sent Kuopio's Austrian keeper
Johannes Kreidl the wrong way from the spot. Three minutes later
Midtjylland's Turkish-Danish forward Aral +Rim+fir swept in Chilufya's
assist for the second.


SK Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v MALM|u FF (SWE)* 0-2 (0-0), 0-5 on aggregate (Gu|#johnsen 62', Ekong 90'+1)

A couple of minutes in a header by Malm|| centre-back Pontus Jansson
came off the underside of the crossbar while at the other end Robin
Olsen saved expertly against Belgian-Cameroonian winger Simion Michez.
After the break a short corner led to Taha Ali turning Mat-cj Hada+i
inside out and getting off a shot that came off the near post allowing
Ei|#ur's son Dan|!el Gu|#johnsen to stab in the rebound: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504684/108994-Record_2025_08_28_19_51_23_145.mp4
Sigma's new Slovakian keeper Mat||+i Hru+ika then prevented Gu|#johnsen from scoring a brace with a great save just before the goal line: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504684/109012-Record_2025_08_28_20_11_18_766.mp4
but in stoppage time Emmanuel Ekong still scored a second for Malm|| when
with a little luck he steered fellow substitute Lasse Berg Johnsen's
through ball past Hru+ika: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504684/109027-Record_2025_08_28_20_34_29_173.mp4


Samsunspor (TUR) v PANATHINAIKOS FC (GRE)* 0-0 (0-0), 1-2 on aggregate

Samsunspor were on the attack from the start, but Pana's Polish keeper Bart+eomiej Dr-agowski did very well to keep out efforts by Emre K-#l-#n|o
and Anthony Musaba while at the other end Panathinaikos captain Fotis
Ioannidis finished off a counter-attack with a shot that went just wide
and Samsunspor keeper Okan Kocuk pulled off a double save against Tet|-. Chances petered out in the second half, and late on two potentially
dangerous free-kick opportunities for Samsunspor failed to create any
threat to the Greek net.


PFC LUDOGORETS 1945 (BUL)* v KF Shk|2ndija (MKD) 4-1 aet (2-0, 2-1), 5-3
on aggregate
(Kurtulus 9', Chochev 24', Tekpetey 98', Bile 120'+3; Tamba 64')

Ludogorets turned the aggregate score around inside the first twenty-
five minutes as Shk|2ndija's German-Gambian keeper Baboucarr Gaye weakly parried a shot by Caio Vidal, and Swedish centre-back Edvin Kurtulus
rifled in the loose ball: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504686/109147-Record_2025_08_28_23_06_32_273.mp4
Ivaylo Chochev then met Deroy Duarte's cross with a slightly lucky
volley that squeaked in at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504686/109148-Record_2025_08_28_23_07_13_764.mp4
In the second half the North Macedonian champions once more levelled the aggregate score when the indefatigable Besart Ibraimi found young
Senegalese winger Fabrice Tamba, who powered into the box and beat
Ludogorets's Dutch keeper Sergio Padt with an angled shot: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504686/109149-Record_2025_08_28_23_07_53_305.mp4
Unfortunately for Shk|2ndija a goalkeeping blunder decided the tie since
Gaye let a drive from distance by former Schalke forward Bernard
Tekpetey slip over his wrists: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504686/109150-Record_2025_08_28_23_09_02_374.mp4
In the last seconds Ivorian substitute Yves Erick Bile added another on
the break, with Tekpetey providing the assist: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504686/109151-Record_2025_08_28_23_09_53_305.mp4


PAOK FC (GRE)* v HNK Rijeka (CRO) 5-0 (2-0), 5-1 on aggregate
(Me|>t|- 12', Konstantelias 25', Chalov 56', Giakoumakis 77', Pelkas 89';
Red Card: Majstorovi-c (Rij) 71')

PAOK, up to this point not too conspicuous for their attacking prowess, overcame the first-leg deficit already within the first half hour as
former Torino midfielder Soualiho Me|>t|- headed in a corner kick by
Andrija ++ivkovi-c, and Giannis Konstantelias capped off a slalom run with
a shot into the far corner: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504687/109109-Record_2025_08_28_22_05_30_709.mp4
After the break an agonising ping-pong sequence in the Rijeka defence
allowed Fyodor Chalov to tap into an empty net: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504687/109110-Record_2025_08_28_22_06_28_372.mp4
Rijeka further weakened themselves when Ante Majstorovi-c got sent
off with a second yellow, and against ten men PAOK added two more -
former Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis did very well to beat an
indisposed Anel Husi-c with a sombrero flick and volleyed in from a tight angle: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504687/109112-Record_2025_08_28_22_07_35_327.mp4
and Dimitrios Pelkas finished off a simple passing move by firing in
Taison's feed: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504687/109113-Record_2025_08_28_22_08_20_614.mp4

The fourth time in the last five years that PAOK have eliminated a
Croatian opponent (Rijeka twice, Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split once).


FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) v MACCABI TEL AVIV FC (ISR)* 1-0 (1-0), 2-3 on
aggregate
(Guerrero 5')

In this sad match-up between two teams in exile Dynamo took the early
lead from a short corner kick through Panama international Eduardo
Guerrero who headed in Oleksandr Pikhalyonok's cross, but that promising
start wasn't followed up by anything substantial. Actually, it was
Maccabi who had the way better chances to equalise, but Elad Madmon's short-range effort was blocked on the goal line by Taras Mykhavko, and
Roy Revivo's angled shot came off the far post.


BSC YOUNG BOYS (SUI)* v +aK Slovan Bratislava (SLK) 3-2 (2-1), 4-2 on aggregate
(Gigovi-c 29', 52', Bedia 37'; Mak 43', Strelec 87')

Swedish-born Bosnian international Armin Gigovi-c, newly signed by YB
from Holstein Kiel, found himself all alone in the box to meet Jo|2l
Monteiro's centre, and his shot was deflected by Slovan's Slovenian
centre-back Kenan Bajri-c past his own keeper Dominik Tak|i-i: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504689/109025-Nagrywaj_2025_08_28_20_29_59_808.mp4
Union Berlin loanee Chris Bedia, who had already scored the winner in
the first leg, side-stepped three defenders to fire in another Monteiro
assist: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504689/109033-Nagrywaj_2025_08_28_20_38_23_876.mp4
The Slovakian champions pulled one back when the YB defence forgot about R||bert Mak at the far post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504689/109038-Nagrywaj_2025_08_28_20_44_32_90.mp4
A real comeback was never in the cards though as Gigovi-c got his brace
with a precise shot into the corner that Tak|i-i just couldn't punch out: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504689/109073-Nagrywaj_2025_08_28_21_10_54_682.mp4
and David Strelec's nice volley into the top corner came too late: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504689/109103-Nagrywaj_2025_08_28_21_46_27_692.mp4

Young Boys, who finished third in last season's Swiss Super League, will
play Europa League while Servette, who finished second, are already out
of Europe altogether. The little wrinkles of the qualifying system.


KRC GENK (BEL) v KKS Lech Pozna+a (POL)* 1-2 (1-1), 6-3 on aggregate
(It+i 31'; Lisman 43', Bengtsson 56')

Japanese forward Junya It+i, back in Genk after a stint with Stade Reims
that ended in relegation to Ligue 2, collected an assist by young former
Rapid Wien midfielder Nikolas Sattlberger, skipped past his marker and
slotted into the far corner: https://giphy.com/media/2LpJhl0VpepNV17KJH/giphy.gif
Lech equalised on the break when 19-year-old Kornel Lisman surprised
Genk's Austrian keeper Tobias Lawal with a fierce shot from a very tight
angle: https://giphy.com/media/bhxb1dCgoT9NZv3u2e/giphy.gif
The Poles got the winner, and the full coefficient points, thanks to
Leo Bengtsson's well-struck free-kick: https://giphy.com/media/spE7aSDYveGQuRjBx7/giphy.gif


FC UTRECHT (NED)* v H+aK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) 0-0 (0-0), 2-0 on aggregate

There were only two shots on target on either side, and from a Dutch
point of view the game was marred by a hamstring injury to their Danish
top scorer Victor Jensen.


FC FCSB (ROM)* v Aberdeen FC (SCO) 3-0 (1-0), 5-2 on aggregate
(Olaru 45'+1 (pen), 59', +yut 52'; Red Card: Jensen (Abe) 45')

The crucial moment of the match happened in the last minute of the first
half when a VAR check controversially adjudged Alexander Jensen to have
handled the ball deliberately (and/or fouled David Miculescu in the
process), which resulted in both a second yellow for Aberdeen's Danish left-back and a penalty, despatched by Darius Olaru. After the break
Adrian +yut made it two with a great shot from distance just seconds
after David Miculescu had hit the post: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504692/109191-Record_2025_08_29_15_24_04_846.mp4
and Valentin Cre+cu stole the ball off Sunderland loanee Adil Aouchiche
and teed up Olaru whose shot was deflected in by Jack Milne: https://media.onlajny.com/media/cs/football/2025/504692/109193-Record_2025_08_29_15_24_48_377.mp4

In the last two decades no Scottish team apart from Celtic and Rangers
has ever qualified for a European group/league phase through their own knock-out results. Aberdeen, just like Hearts last season, owe their
second Conference League participation in the last three years to
Scotland's position in the UEFA ranking and the fail-safe mechanism that engenders.


SC BRAGA (POR)* v Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) 5-1 (3-0), 9-1 on aggregate
(Vitor Carvalho 12', Mart|!nez 41', 45'+1, Vidigal 77', V|!ctor 82';
G||mez 89')

Vitor Carvalho headed in a corner kick by Mario Dorgeles and Gabri
Mart|!nez scored a first-half brace by first dancing past two
Gibraltarian defenders and chipping over Lincoln keeper Nauzet Santana,
then running onto fellow Spaniard Isma|2l Gharbi's feed before rounding Santana. 18-year-old Sandro Vidigal, who had already provided the assist
for Gabri Mart|!nez's first, scored his first senior goal following a
solo run, and Pau V|!ctor got the fifth by slotting in a loose ball after fellow substitute Jo|uo Marques had taken a stumble. The Imps at least
managed to score a consolation goal through Kike G||mez who duped young substitute centre-back Nuno Matos before firing past Braga's new
Moroccan reserve keeper Alaa Bellaarouch.




Pots used for the EL Group Stage draw on August 29


Pot 1

AS Roma (ITA-5) 104.500
FC Porto (POR-3) 79.750
Rangers FC (SCO-2) 71.250
Feyenoord (NED-3) 71.000
Lille OSC (FRA-5) 66.000
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO-2) 56.000
Real Betis Balompi|- (ESP-6) 52.250
RB Salzburg (AUT-2) 48.000
Aston Villa FC (ENG-6) 47.250


Pot 2

Fenerbah|oe SK (TUR-2) 47.250
SC Braga (POR-4) 46.000
FK Crvena zvezda (SRB-1) 44.000
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA-6) 43.750
PAOK FC (GRE-3) 42.250
FC Viktoria Plze+e (CZE-2) 39.250
Ferencv|irosi TC (HUN-1) 39.000
Celtic FC (SCO-1) 38.000
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC (ISR-1) 37.500


Pot 3

BSC Young Boys (SUI-3) 34.500
FC Basel 1893 (SUI-1) 33.000
FC Midtjylland (DEN-2) 32.750
SC Freiburg (GER-5) 28.000
PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL-1) 24.000
Nottingham Forest FC (ENG-7) 23.039
SK Sturm Graz (AUT-1) 23.000
FC FCSB (ROM-1) 22.500
OGC Nice (FRA-4) 20.000


Pot 4

Bologna FC 1909 (ITA-CW) 19.446
RC Celta de Vigo (ESP-7) 18.890
VfB Stuttgart (GER-CW) 17.266
Panathinaikos FC (GRE-2) 16.000
Malm|| FF (SWE-1) 14.500
FC Utrecht (NED-4) 13.430
Go Ahead Eagles (NED-CW) 13.430
KRC Genk (BEL-3) 11.370
SK Brann (NOR-2) 7.937



Ciao,
Werner
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