Draw for Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round (August 10 and 17)
Winners go to ELPO, Losers go to ECLPO

Champions Path
(no seeding; reminder: it's the losers of these ties that go to this round)

FK Žalgiris (LTU)/Galatasaray SK (TUR) v KÍ (FAR)/BK Häcken (SWE)
RKS Raków Czestochowa (POL)/Qarabağ FK (AZE) v HJK (FIN)/Molde FK (NOR)
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)/ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK) v Breiðablik (ISL)/FC København (DEN)

FC Sheriff (MDA)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR) v Aris Limassol FC (CYP)/FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)/FC Astana (KAZ) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)/NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)

Either Iceland or Bosnia-Herzegovina are guaranteed to have a team in a European
group stage for the very first time.

Main Path
* = seeded team (losers of CLQ2 ties are unseeded by default)

Olympiacos FC (GRE)* v Servette FC (SUI)/KRC Genk (BEL)
SK Slavia Praha (CZE)* v SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)/Panathinaikos FC (GRE)

Ciao,
Werner

Draw for Europa League Play-Off (August 24 and 31) aka the most complicated draw of the season
Winners go to EL group phase, Losers go to ECL group phase

* = Priority 1 (teams entering at this stage except Lugano) - 6 teams
** = Priority 2 (teams eliminated in CLQ3 Champions Path) - 6 teams
*** = Priority 3 (winners of ELQ3 Champions Path) - 5 teams
**** = Priority 4 (winners of ELQ3 Main Path + Lugano) - 3 teams

Three Priority 1 teams were drawn against three Priority 4 teams
The remaining three Priority 1 teams were drawn against three Priority 3 teams
The remaining two Priority 3 teams were drawn against two Priority 2 teams
The remaining four Priority 2 teams were drawn among themselves

There was no country protection in place, which led to Dnipro-1 and Zorya
potentially playing each other.

Priority 1 v Priority 4

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)/SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)**** v FC Zorya Luhansk (UKR)*
Olympiacos FC (GRE)/KRC Genk (BEL)**** v FK Čukarički (SRB)*
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)* v FC Lugano (SUI)****

Priority 1 v Priority 3

FC Astana (KAZ)/PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*** v AFC Ajax (NED)*
FK Žalgiris (LTU)/BK Häcken (SWE)*** v Aberdeen FC (SCO)*
Linzer ASK (AUT)* v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)/Breiðablik (ISL)***

Breiðablik could complete the Austrian triple, after having eliminated both Sturm
Graz and Austria Vienna within the last ten years.

Priority 3 v Priority 2 (reminder: for Priority 2 it's the loser of these ties)

KÍ (FAR)/Molde FK (NOR)** v FC Sheriff (MDA)/FC BATE Borisov (BLR)***
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)/Galatasaray SK (TUR)** v Qarabağ FK (AZE)/HJK (FIN)***

Priority 2 v Priority 2 (reminder: for Priority 2 it's the loser of these ties)

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)/Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR)** v RKS Raków Częstochowa (POL)/Aris Limassol FC (CYP)**
AEK FC (GRE)/GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)** v FC København (DEN)/AC Sparta Praha (CZE)**

Ciao,
Werner

Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, 1st leg

August 8

Champions Path
(no seeding)

FC Astana (KAZ) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL) 2-1 (1-1)
(Tomašević 40', Marochkin 53'; Sonko Sundberg 34')

All three goals came from headers - Swedish-Gambian defender Noah Sonko Sundberg
nodded in Kiril Despodov's free-kick to give the Bulgarian champions the lead, at
the other end Montenegrin centre-back Žarko Tomašević did the same from Stjepan
Lončar's free-kick, and finally Aleksandr Marochkin scored the best header of the
match, a looping effort from Armenian international Kamo Hovhannisyan's cross:
https://giphy.com/media/MLkycfkUJZkD4iwVdm/giphy.gif
Astana missed a couple more golden opportunities to score, something they might
come to regret in the return leg.

August 10

Champions Path
(no seeding)

FK Žalgiris (LTU) v BK Häcken (SWE) 1-3 (0-1)
(Hnid 85'; Hrstić 38', 48', Rygaard 70')

Häcken have just signed Serbian under-21 international Srđan Hrstić from Spartak
Subotica to compensate for the loss of Bénie Traoré to Sheffield United (the young
Ivorian had been sorely missed against Klaksvík), and in his first match for his
new club the young striker immediately scored a brace - he tapped a rebound into
the empty net after Žalgiris keeper Gertmonas had parried Mikkel Rygaard's shot,
and he did the same right after the break when Gertmonas under no pressure
whatsoever spilled a cross. Hrstić also provided the back-heel assist for Rygaard
to hammer in Häcken's third: https://giphy.com/media/mkTG1DghY6N5Fyheb2/giphy.gif
Žalgiris's Tunisian centre-back Nassim Hnid at least volleyed in a nice
consolation goal.

Qarabağ FK (AZE) v HJK (FIN) 2-1 (0-0)
(Andrade 55', Juninho 85'; Olusanya 77')

An early Qarabağ goal was correctly disallowed by VAR for offside, but the Azeri
still took the lead when Cape Verdean international Leandro Andrade rifled in
Abdellah Zoubir's weighted cross. Helsinki somewhat surprisingly equalised when
two substitutes combined and Jaro youth product Anthony Olusanya rolled in Santeri
Hostikka's centre: https://giphy.com/media/IJD7TkYUP2z01euw6m/giphy.gif
The Finns then produced a row of incredible misses as Filip Rogić alone in front
of the gaping net fired against the post, and a second later Qarabağ's much-
maligned keeper Məhəmmədəliyev pulled off two amazing saves to deny Olusanya and
Tuomas Ollila: https://twitter.com/hjkhelsinki/status/1689707897595338753
This profligacy was duly punished as at the other end the French substitute
Hamidou Keyta stole the ball from the Finnish defence and laid it off for
Brazilian in the East Juninho, whose shot was deflected in:
https://giphy.com/media/4c0nySQEx6PcUDUO0R/giphy.gif
In injury time Məhəmmədəliyev had to save once more from close range against
Olusanya.

FC Sheriff (MDA) v FC BATE Borisov (BLR) 5-1 (2-0)
(Ankeye 12', 47', Badolo 32', Yansané 90'+3, 90'+8; Bane 50')

Sheriff's mostly African line-up took care of business against a really poor BATE
side. Early on young Nigerian striker David Ankeye converted Cedric Badolo's
through ball, and the Burkinabé international got the second from Brazilian in the
East Vinícius Paiva's assist. After the break there was yet another counter
attack, yet another Badolo through ball, and another goal by Ankeye to make it
three: https://giphy.com/media/IITp4CYXSSwoLaqtPI/giphy.gif
The Belarusians pulled one back when their Senegalese centre-back Sidi Bane headed
in Valery Gromyko's corner kick, but two injury time goals by the Guinean
substitute Momo Yansané decided the tie for good - he first fooled BATE keeper
Kudravets at his near post: https://giphy.com/media/EwqqnmnBweRhlcSrLe/giphy.gif
and then finished off yet another break with an angled shot.

HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) v Breiðablik (ISL) 6-2 (5-0)
(Kiš 2', 30', Malekinušić 22', 40', Bilbija 33', Ivančić 55'; Lúðvíksson 64',
Eyjólfsson 74'; Red Card: V. K. Einarsson (Bre) 31')

That was an absolutely disastrous first half by the Icelandic champions - utterly
naïve defending, terrible passing resulting in goals against, and Viktor Karl
Einarsson got sent off with two yellow cards. Funnily enough, 0-6 down Breiðablik
managed to pull back two goals even with a player less, but surely not even a
Bosnian team will be able to mess this up in the return leg?

Main Path
* = seeded team

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)* v SC Dnipro-1 (UKR) 3-0 (2-0)
(Schranz 5', 37', Wallem 81'; Red Card: Ogbu (Sla) 58')

Slavia did their part to prevent an unprecedented intra-Ukrainian tie between
Dnipro-1 and Zorya in the Europa League playoffs, also because the Ukrainians were
clearly one level weaker without Artem Dovbyk, who as expected had left for Spain
a couple of days before. Ivan Schranz expertly stroked in Lukáš Masopust's centre
https://giphy.com/media/NGfFk3ixn2m8bg74fF/giphy.gif
and the Slovakian forward at the far post also tapped in Lukáš Provod's corner
kick that had been flicked on by Mick van Buren. Igoh Ogbu got his marching orders
for a high foot that caught Oleksiy Hutsulyak in the throat, but even down to ten
the Czechs remained the better team, and the Norwegian substitute Conrad Wallem
in his first match for Slavia punished more bad defending by volleying in the
third: https://giphy.com/media/EMdzauXqNFhn2zNQFF/giphy.gif

Olympiacos FC (GRE)* v KRC Genk (BEL) 1-0 (1-0)
(Fortounis 1')

Konstantinos Fortounis got the winner for Olympiacos after just 23 seconds when he
volleyed in Brazilian in the Mediterranean Rodinei's deflected cross. The Greeks
mostly controlled the game after that, but in injury time Genk hit the crossbar
through Bilal El Khannous.

Ciao,
Werner

Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
Teams in CAPITALS (except HJK) through to ELPO, losers go to ECLPO

August 17

Champions Path
(no seeding)

HJK (FIN) v QARABAĞ FK (AZE) 1-2 (1-1), 2-4 on aggregate
(Hostikka 10'; Bayramov 45'+3 (pen), Benzia 56'; Red Card: Kouassivi-Benissan 16')

Things had started very well for the Finnish champions when Qarabağ's keeper
Şahruddin Məhəmmədəliyev, their perennial weak spot, played a dreadful pass right
to Topi Keskinen, and Santeri Hostikka finally managed to volley into the empty
net at the fourth attempt: https://giphy.com/media/P3OjNcUSNmo5Gfdc0m/giphy..gif
but HJK's Finnish-Togolese midfielder Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan immediately ruined
things by accumulating two yellows inside two minutes.
10-man HJK held on for a while, but just before the half-time whistle HJK's Greek
midfielder Georgios Kanellopoulos went through the back of Abdellah Zoubir, and
Toral Bayramov made no mistake from the spot. After the break Yassine Benzia
tapped in from close range after Bədavi Hüseynov had reacted fastest to a loose
ball.

The 10th consecutive European group stage for Qarabağ, and they had to go through
qualifiers every single time. That's impressive. HJK will now have to play the
Romanian champions Farul for a place in the Conference League.

BK HÄCKEN (SWE) v FK Žalgiris (LTU) 5-0 (1-0), 8-1 on aggregate
(Hrstić 28', Gustafson 56', Sadiq 63', 73' (pen), Sonko 90'+2;
Red Card: Oyewusi (Žal) 85')

So the sole remaining Swedish team is at least guaranteed to play in a group
stage. Srđan Hrstić scored his third goal in his second European match for Häcken
by sweeping in Ibrahim Sadiq's feed, and after the break Sadiq likewise provided
the cross that Samuel Gustafson side-footed in. Sadiq then scored a brace himself,
and late on the substitute Momodou Sonko added a fifth against ten Lithuanians,
again from a cross.

Breiðablik (ISL) v HŠK ZRINJSKI MOSTAR (BIH) 1-0 (0-0), 3-6 on aggregate
(Jakovljević 56' (og))

The Icelanders at least got the win when Slobodan Jakovljević slid into Davíð
Ingvarsson's cross to turn it past his own keeper Marić, but a proper comeback was
never in the cards.

A team from Bosnia-Herzegovina team reaches a group phase. Finally!
Breiðablik might still fancy their chances against Struga in order for an
Icelandic team to reach their first ever group stage.

FC BATE Borisov (BLR) v FC SHERIFF (MDA) 2-2 (1-2), 3-7 on aggregate
(Kontsevoy 25', Laptev 90'+4; Ricardinho 40' (pen), Luvannor 45'+2 (pen))

The tie had already been decided after the first leg, but at least Artem Kontsevoy
scored a lovely goal to give BATE the lead:
https://giphy.com/media/kpNAegbFrTdvzwoyk2/giphy.gif
Two penalties turned the game around even before the break, but BATE salvaged a
coefficient point when Artem Laptev's turn-and-shot whistled past Sheriff keeper
Koval: https://giphy.com/media/4WNt4bwhTRbsq7cNqJ/giphy.gif

PFC LUDOGORETS 1945 (BUL) v FC Astana (KAZ) 5-1 (1-1), 6-3 on aggregate
(Tekpetey 25', 50', Piotrowski 47', 58', Despodov 67'; Darboe 29';
Red Card: Jovančić (Ast) 76')

Things were still even at half-time, as Dembo Darboe's header had cancelled out
Bernard Tekpetey's drive: https://giphy.com/media/jE9OvuTPJTLZ9CAKcv/giphy.gif
but the Bulgarian champions then scored three times right after the break - first
Astana's Croatian keeper Čondrić let Jakub Piotrowski's shot beat him at the near
post: https://giphy.com/media/aAE0ioWqV89Y7A90BB/giphy.gif
Tekpetey then powered past two hapless Kazakh defenders to make it three:
https://giphy.com/media/KpBR2oxYNS5KToQAIG/giphy.gif
and from a corner kick Piotrowski volleyed in the rebound after Čondrić had
parried Noah Sonko Sundberg's header. Kiril Despodov a bit later added a fifth on
the break, and in a second half to forget for Astana their Serbian midfielder
Dušan Jovančić also saw a second booking.

Main Path
* = seeded team

KRC Genk (BEL) v OLYMPIACOS FC (GRE)* 1-1 (1-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Paintsil 30' (pen); Alexandropoulos 90'+6; Red Cards: Paintsil (Gen) 65',
Rodinei (Oly) 90'+10)

Olympiacos's new Argentine centre-back Nicolás Freire tripped Joseph Paintsil to
concede a penalty that the Ghanaian then converted himself - at the second
attempt, because Olympiacos keeper Paschalakis had actually saved Paintsil's poor
first effort, but in doing so had strayed too far from his line, according to VAR.
Paintsil then turned from hero to goat when he got himself sent off for a
retaliatory kick against Spanish left-back Quini, and Genk, who last season had
lost the Belgian title in stoppage time, also gave up qualification to the Europa
League in stoppage time - as Olympiacos laid siege to the Belgian area, Patrik
Hrošovský took a stumble instead of clearing the ball, and youngster Sotiris
Alexandropoulos latched onto the loose ball with a low drive that left Genk keeper
Vandevoordt rooted to the spot. In the hectic remaining minutes of stoppage time
Oly's Brazilian right-back Rodinei saw a second yellow.

Genk will now face a strong Adana Demirspor side in the ECL playoffs and are in
actual danger of losing three consecutive European ties and so miss out on group
stage play altogether, despite having started in the CL qualifiers.

SC Dnipro-1 (UKR) v SK SLAVIA PRAHA (CZE)* 1-1 (1-0), 1-4 on aggregate
(Rubchynskyi 45'+1; Jurečka 52')

Dnipro-1 were better than in the first leg, and they took the lead in Košice just
before the break thanks to Valentyn Rubchynskyi's sumptuous shot:
https://giphy.com/media/dqAsrlwzZgbTxsEeJl/giphy.gif
but Slavia destroyed any comeback hopes they might have had when Václav Jurečka
ran onto Lukáš Provod's through ball:
https://giphy.com/media/0nkU86QbH81vQG6vJm/giphy.gif

Draw for Europa League Play-Off (August 24 and 31)
Winners go to EL group phase, Losers go to ECL group phase

* = Priority 1 (teams entering at this stage except Lugano) - 6 teams
** = Priority 2 (teams eliminated in CLQ3 Champions Path) - 6 teams
*** = Priority 3 (winners of ELQ3 Champions Path) - 5 teams
**** = Priority 4 (winners of ELQ3 Main Path + Lugano) - 3 teams

Priority 1 v Priority 4

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)**** v FC Zorya Luhansk (UKR)*
Olympiacos FC (GRE)**** v FK Čukarički (SRB)*
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)* v FC Lugano (SUI)****

Priority 1 v Priority 3

PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*** v AFC Ajax (NED)*
BK Häcken (SWE)*** v Aberdeen FC (SCO)*
Linzer ASK (AUT)* v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)***

Priority 3 v Priority 2

KÍ (FAR)** v FC Sheriff (MDA)***
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)** v Qarabağ FK (AZE)***

Priority 2 v Priority 2

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)** v Aris Limassol FC (CYP)**
Loser of AEK FC (GRE)/GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)** v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)**

Ciao,
Werner

Europa League Play-Off, 1st leg
* = Priority 1 (teams entering at this stage except Lugano) - 6 teams
** = Priority 2 (teams eliminated in CLQ3 Champions Path) - 6 teams
*** = Priority 3 (winners of ELQ3 Champions Path) - 5 teams
**** = Priority 4 (winners of ELQ3 Main Path + Lugano) - 3 teams

August 24

SK Slavia Praha (CZE)**** v FC Zorya Luhansk (UKR)* 2-0 (0-0)
(Tijani 81', Masopust 90'+4)

Convincing win for the Czechs, even if it took them a long time to finally break
the deadlock, with one goal disallowed by VAR and chances like these left begging:
https://giphy.com/media/R0IT9p44yKnU1657zx/giphy.gif
The Nigerian substitute Muhamed Tijani at long last headed in Petr Ševčík's corner
kick: https://giphy.com/media/ybIlq3fzlDv8TVjjKL/giphy.gif
and in stoppage time Bolu Ogungbayi, another young Nigerian substiute, in his
first match for Slavia's senior team surprised the Ukrainian defence when he
managed to volley an overhit cross back across goal, and Lukáš Masopust was left
with a simple finish: https://giphy.com/media/VZW33XLGZLIWaTgHx2/giphy.gif

BK Häcken (SWE)*** v Aberdeen FC (SCO)* 2-2 (1-0)
(Layouni 36', Sadiq 69' (pen); Miovski 75', Devlin 79';
Red Card: Hammar (Häc) 90')

In a wide open match the Swedish champions took a somewhat surprising two-goal
lead as Tunisian forward Amor Layouni finished off a well-played counter attack:
https://giphy.com/media/d7gmEo84gmiBN2wzaR/giphy.gif
and after a lengthy review VAR also awarded them a handball penalty, despatched by
Ibrahim Sadiq. But Aberdeen were deservedly level within four minutes - North
Macedonian forward Bojan Miovski wasn't troubled too much by the Swedish defence
when he collected Shayden Morris's cross in the box and volleyed past Abrahamsson:
https://giphy.com/media/JjBIgG0mZM4WNfk5E6/giphy.gif
and Aberdeen's right-back Nicky Devlin suddenly stormed into the box to bury
Miovski's assist underneath the Häcken keeper:
https://giphy.com/media/DjTUF5mcBrhxPyGiJ5/giphy.gif
Late on Häcken's centre-back Johan Hammar also saw a 2nd yellow when Miovski sold
a challenge on him well.

Two years ago in the Conference League qualifiers Aberdeen won their home leg
against Häcken 5-1, so the Swedes should be warned.

PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*** v AFC Ajax (NED)* 1-4 (0-3)
(Verdon 70' (pen); Kudus 16', 18', 50', Brobbey 40')

No surprises here - Mohammed Kudus in probably his last match for Ajax before his
imminent transfer to the Premier League scored a hat trick thanks to a deflected
shot after Bernard Tekpetey had lost the ball at the edge of his own area:
https://giphy.com/media/Zi1Xd3JJB2eBliPOPC/giphy.gif
a simple finish after Kenneth Taylor had threaded a ball through the packed
Ludogorets box: https://giphy.com/media/IMMICoJq5Q7XMXpz6K/giphy.gif
and an empty-net finish after Carlos Borges and Steven Bergwijn had set him up on
the break: https://giphy.com/media/MF0uj63p2w95oEKvqV/giphy.gif
In between Brian Brobbey also headed in Owen Wijndal's cross. Ludogorets got a
consolation goal when Beninese international Olivier Verdon converted a handball
penalty.

NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)** v Qarabağ FK (AZE)*** 0-2 (0-2)
(Medina 32', Andrade 44'; Red Card: Sualehe (Oli) 90'+5)

Qarabağ's Colombian centre-back Kevin Medina headed in Yassine Benzia's corner
kick to give the Azeri the lead:
https://giphy.com/media/Dh3tNSrOoGiMpINait/giphy.gif
and soon after Cape Verde international Leandro Andrade tapped in Redon Xhixha's
cross on the break to make it two:
https://giphy.com/media/DbOMT5Fx0GXcYOzdw8/giphy.gif
David Sualehe, one of Olimpija's four-man Portuguese contingent, late on collected
a second booking.

GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)** v AC Sparta Praha (CZE)** 3-1 (1-1)
(Špikić 44', Perić 59', Ivanušec 61'; Krejčí 39' (pen))

Zagreb's elimination in the CL qualifiers has cost Igor Bišćan his job, and Dinamo
instead brought in Rijeka head coach Sergej Jakirović, literally three days before
Rijeka's own ECL qualifier against Lille. Also, Josip Šutalo and Dominik Livaković
have left for Ajax and Fenerbahçe, respectively.

But on the pitch Dinamo looked indeed improved, and even though they fell behind
when VAR awarded Sparta a handball penalty, they soon scored the equaliser, with
Dario Špikić slotting in Bruno Petković's assist on the break after the latter had
stolen the ball off Sparta's Finnish midfielder Kaan Kairinen near the centre
circle: https://giphy.com/media/g0fLftYVdrNtIdgEak/giphy.gif
After a corner kick Sparta's Danish keeper Vindahl was forced to make two great
saves against Petković and Ivanušec, but he was beaten at the third attempt by
Dino Perić: https://giphy.com/media/0GHLKqIfSRzZ1wh0aJ/giphy.gif
and Luka Ivanušec scored Dinamo's third following a one-two between him and Robert
Ljubičić: https://giphy.com/media/y2LCa2WYSRYtKpTcYT/giphy.gif
Ivanušec was then subbed out and gave an emotional good-bye as he left the
pitch, since he is now Feyenoord-bound.

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL)* v FC Lugano (SUI)**** 2-0 (1-0)
(Eckert Ayensa 8', Terho 71')

Early on German-Spanish striker Dennis Eckert Ayensa volleyed in Casper Terho's
cross at the second attempt: https://giphy.com/media/2a7Mws4IJlwXlqxnQx/giphy.gif
and Union's Finnish winger scored the second himself by sweeping in Jean Thierry
Lazare's assist: https://giphy.com/media/H7TtQhgmMFDEkefrI0/giphy.gif

ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)** v Aris Limassol FC (CYP)** 2-1 (1-0)
(Tolić 34', Strelec 57'; Mayambela 73')

The Cypriot defence allowed Marko Tolić far too much space to collect Lucas
Lovat's long ball and fire it past Vaná, and Slovan got their second when Aris's
Brazilian keeper failed to hold on to Nino Marcelli's centre and Spezia loanee
David Strelec slid in to turn the ball over the line:
https://giphy.com/media/VFYSgU7v7bbkxelefN/giphy.gif
The Cypriot champions pulled one back when Veljko Nikolić's long punt beat
Slovan's offside trap, and in the end Mariusz Stępiński's shot deflected off Milan
Borjan and came to South African winger Mihlali Mayambela who fired into the empty
net: https://giphy.com/media/kUs5CNA7ILWl96hOrJ/giphy.gif

KÍ (FAR)** v FC Sheriff (MDA)*** 1-1 (0-0)
(Da Silva 52'; Ngom Bekeli 73')

This was the decent performance we've come to expect from Klaksvík by now, and
they took the deserved lead when Patrick da Silva headed in Luc Kassi's cross (KÍ
twitter: 'Never seen Patrick score on a header by the way. Not even in training.
Timing.'). But Sheriff's mostly CAF-based squad (only the two reserve keepers and
naturalized Brazil-born forward Henrique Luvannor, who came on in the second half,
are Moldovans) were also the expected tough opponent, and they equalised when
Ricardinho's ball over the top found the Cameroonian Jerome Ngom Mbekeli who
volleyed past Johansson.

I'm not sure whether Klaksvík would actually be allowed to play Europa League
group matches in Tórshavn. Conference League shouldn't be a problem, I remember
UEFA granting Lincoln Red Imps an exception for the Victoria Stadium two years
ago.

Olympiacos FC (GRE)**** v FK Čukarički (SRB)* 3-1 (3-0)
(El Kaabi 3', 40', Fortounis 16'; Miladinović 90'+3)

Easy win for Olympiacos, who took an early lead when Ayoub El Kaabi stabbed in
from close range after Čukarički keeper Samurović had parried Kostas Fortounis's
initial header. El Kaabi's mishit cross then fell on the crossbar, and Fortounis
soon made it two with a nice volley from the edge of the box. El Kaabi also headed
in a Fortounis cross for the third, and after the break VAR disallowed a fourth
Olympiacos goal because of a foul. In stoppage time Igor Miladinović headed in
Bojica Nikčević's cross to at least give the Serbians a consolation goal.

Linzer ASK (AUT)* v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH)*** 2-1 (2-0)
(Žulj 4', 12'; Bilbija 71')

LASK are in a bit of turmoil following their change of managers during the summer
break since the new guy Thomas Sageder, who had previously worked as Oliver
Glasner's assistant, appears to have already lost the dressing room, or more
likely never actually had it. Still, the Bosnian champions made it quite easy for
Robert Žulj to score an early brace, twice they lost the ball in front of their
own area, and twice the former Bochum striker fired in from outside the box.. But
LASK subsequently did absolutely nothing, and while Zrinjski were hardly stellar
either they once hit the post and finally deservedly pulled one back when the LASK
defence went to sleep on occasion of Tomislav Kiš's free-kick, and Nemanja Bilbija
volleyed into the top corner: https://giphy.com/media/u9yhv0yhsPAz1uSNWQ/giphy.gif

Ciao,
Werner

Europa League Play-Off, 2nd leg
Teams in CAPITALS (except KÍ) through to EL group phase, losers go to ECL group phase
* = Priority 1 (teams entering at this stage except Lugano) - 6 teams
** = Priority 2 (teams eliminated in CLQ3 Champions Path) - 6 teams
*** = Priority 3 (winners of ELQ3 Champions Path) - 5 teams
**** = Priority 4 (winners of ELQ3 Main Path + Lugano) - 3 teams

August 31

QARABAĞ FK (AZE)*** v NK Olimpija Ljubljana (SLO)** 1-1 (1-1), 3-1 on aggregate
(Bayramov 24' (pen); Pinto 36')

A foul by Aljaž Krefl on Cape Verde international Leandro Andrade led to a penalty
despatched by Toral Bayramov, but the Slovenian champions soon equalised through
one of their Portuguese contingent as former Casa Pia midfielder Diogo Pinto
curled in a great shot from just inside the box. Who knows if things would have
gone differently for the Slovenians if just before the break a penalty for
Olimpija hadn't been chalked off following a VAR check, but as it was the Azeri
had everything under control in the second half.

FC Zorya Luhansk (UKR)* v SK SLAVIA PRAHA (CZE)**** 2-1 (2-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Alefirenko 32', Antiukh 41'; Jurásek 83')

This was played in Lublin in Eastern Poland, and Zorya surprisingly made up the
first-leg deficit already inside the first forty minutes - Danyil Alefirenko beat
Ondřej Kolář with a great strike from twenty-five metres:
https://giphy.com/media/P8aeZqZjO0W9nriRxB/giphy.gif
and Slavia's keeper also got egg on his face when he let himself surprise at his
near post by Denys Antyukh's shot:
https://giphy.com/media/VzGDjOvtii747y549q/giphy.gif
The Czechs woke up in the second half and had more chances, but they were also
lucky that Kolář made amends for his earlier mistake when he managed to block
Roman Vantukh's effort from the shortest of ranges:
https://giphy.com/media/Md5dL70xwQRsfPfi0x/giphy.gif
In the end the substitute Matěj Jurásek sent Slavia into the Europa League group
stage when he headed in Lukáš Masopust's cross:
https://giphy.com/media/yU6N4o6Ll5ehLSPpEo/giphy.gif
and a few minutes from time Kolář also parried once more one-on-one against Zorya
youngster Ihor Horbach.

FC SHERIFF (MDA)*** v KÍ (FAR)** 2-1 (1-1), 3-2 on aggregate
(Luvannor 16' (pen), Zohouri 74'; Kassi 34')

Awwww. A harsh penalty for René Joensen's push against Cape Verde international
João Paulo Fernandes gave the Transnistrians the lead, but in an even game KÍ's
Ivorian striker Luc Kassi got the equaliser when he headed in a corner kick by the
indefatigable Árni Frederiksberg. The decisive moment of the tie came fifteen
minutes from the end when on occasion of Jerome Ngom Mbekeli's ball over the top
the unlucky Joensen, plagued by a pulled muscle, lost his man Armel Zohouri, and
the young Ivorian found himself alone in front of KÍ keeper Johansson to poke the
ball in: https://giphy.com/media/oeefgtHs6wxdM5IRiP/giphy.gif

ARIS LIMASSOL FC (CYP)** v ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SLK)** 6-2 (3-1), 7-4 on aggregate
(Gomis 21', 45'+7, 51', Szöke 24', Mayambela 67', Brown 72'; Strelec 37',
Barseghyan 89')

The Cypriots dominated from the start, and after Milan Borjan had already been
called into action a number of times they deservedly went in front through their
Senegalese forward Yannick Gomis who volleyed in Jaden Montnor's cross at the far
post: https://giphy.com/media/3D2XXsDKPew6MTiwBO/giphy.gif
A Slovakian then gave Aris the aggregate lead against the Slovakian champions,
as Július Szöke latched onto Mariusz Stępiński's assist:
https://giphy.com/media/RTOBQiqlTfO3lDjlzy/giphy.gif
David Strelec levelled the aggregate score once more when he chipped Juraj Kucka's
excellent through ball over Aris's Brazilian keeper Vaná:
https://giphy.com/media/tMXJzHjwyM8WbCgNdo/giphy.gif
but Slovan didn't manage to protect this result until half-time, as deep in
stoppage time Gomis headed in Cajú's corner kick:
https://giphy.com/media/Zi662S1pLu60mwdjhE/giphy.gif
Gomis completed his hat trick after the break as he volleyed into the empty net
after a great shot by South African international Mihlali Mayambela (not a single
Cypriot on the pitch for Aris) had come off the crossbar:
https://giphy.com/media/Szi16Gie3X5R5FAoJn/giphy.gif
Borjan's woefully mishit goal kick then led to Caju finding himself alone in on
goal, and while the Brazilian's first attempt came off the post and his second was
parried by Borjan, this time it was Mayambela who was on hand to tap into the
gaping net: https://giphy.com/media/pjDCwD9hUdp2YvBRaL/giphy.gif
Englishman Morgan Brown, who had made his way to Cyprus from Leicester's academy,
finished off another break to make it six:
https://giphy.com/media/9Vd8zq2RNp2oFz1fRo/giphy.gif
and Tigran Barseghyan's late goal from distance made the overall result only
slightly more palatable for Slovan:
https://giphy.com/media/lTikSUlpuKVx436hPg/giphy.gif

Already the second time in this qualifying season that Aris win a home leg 6-2,
they had already done so against BATE Borisov. Quite the successful second ever
European campaign for the maiden Cypriot champions.

AC SPARTA PRAHA (CZE)** v GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)** 4-1 (2-1), 5-4 on aggregate
(Haraslín 2', Sørensen 24', Panák 67', Olatunji 87'; Baturina 71')

The match started badly for the Croatians when after just 110 seconds Lukáš
Haraslín sent Sadegh Moharrami on his backside and curled a shot past Dinamo's new
number one Ivan Nevistić: https://giphy.com/media/vLWre5fw2RZrZOe50L/giphy.gif
Asger Sørensen (I had completely forgotten that he once had been for years a
permanently injured part of Salzburg's squad) headed in Kaan Kairinen's cross to
level the aggregate score: https://giphy.com/media/IBN1PjKQKok6YSkwaW/giphy..gif
Dinamo had their chances, among them Robert Ljubičić's one-on-one with Vindahl
that Sparta's Danish keeper managed to block, but the Czechs managed to take the
aggregate lead when Jaroslav Zelený's blocked cross fell to Filip Panák:
https://giphy.com/media/SIiM8IcgDJmcA5UklA/giphy.gif
Dinamo's next promising midfield talent Martin Baturina then emulated Haraslín's
earlier goal and took Sørensen for a spin before firing past Vindahl:
https://giphy.com/media/mwHkBPr5JriTh6Y95v/giphy.gif
but three minutes from time the Czechs won the tie after all when Jakub Pešek
juggled a ball over the top of the Croatian defence, and Victor Olatunji beat
Boško Šutalo to the punch to push it past Nevistić:
https://giphy.com/media/2mhvj75RHzaeufdeL4/giphy.gif

I guess the loss of Josip Šutalo, Ivanušec, and Livaković before the end of these
qualifiers was too much to compensate for Dinamo, and they will be in a decent
position to succeed in the Conference League, but that's still quite the
disappointment for a side used to higher laurels.

FK Čukarički (SRB)* v OLYMPIACOS FC (GRE)**** 0-3 (0-2), 1-6 on aggregate
(Masouras 34', Biel 45'+1, Retsos 53')

As one-sided as the first leg, it's been a really lacklustre European season for
the Serbian teams so far. Former FC Copenhagen winger Pep Biel waltzed through the
immobile Čukarički defence and in the end left the ball for Georgios Masouras to
slot in Oly's first, and the Spaniard did the same thing roughly ten minutes
later, only this time he went for it and beat Čukarički keeper Samurović himself.
Former Leverkusen centre-back Panagiotis Retsos headed in Kostas Fortounis's
corner kick for the third.

So Olympiacos, AEK and Panathinaikos will all play in the same competition. I
assume this means Europa League matches on Tuesdays.

AFC AJAX (NED)* v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)*** 0-1 (0-0), 4-2 on aggregate
(Tissera 62')

A generous Ajax B side gifted Bulgaria at least some coefficient points. Matías
Tissera tapped in the sole goal at the second attempt from Aslak Witry's cross:
https://giphy.com/media/zpsKKjZKnqWGqedaav/giphy.gif

FC Lugano (SUI)**** v ROYALE UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (BEL)* 0-1 (0-1), 0-3 on aggregate
(Eckert Ayensa 7'; Red Card: Hajdari (Lug) 90'+3)

As their home stadium in Ticino is still far from adequate, Lugano had to play
this 220 kilometres away from home in Geneva. Just as in the first leg between the
two German-Spanish forward Dennis Eckert Ayensa gave the Belgians the early lead,
he ran onto a ball over the top by Union's Swiss midfielder Cameron Puertas and
chipped over Lugano keeper Deana:
https://giphy.com/media/26MtbtGBXsjv1eWtO0/giphy.gif
Not much happened in the remaining eighty minutes, and in stoppage time Lugano's
young centre-back Albian Hajdari was sent off for a last-man foul.

Aberdeen FC (SCO)* v BK HÄCKEN (SWE)*** 1-3 (0-2), 3-5 on aggregate
(Miovski 56' (pen); Sadiq 14', 41', Layouni 81' (pen))

In a wide open match the Swedish champions took the early lead through Ibrahim
Sadiq's rocket: https://giphy.com/media/2hEmQb2skGUM4bDeJX/giphy.gif
and whereas Aberdeen kept missing chance after chance, and Häcken keeper
Abrahamsson pulled off some great saves, the Swedish champions made it two when it
was again Sadiq who ran onto Mikkel Rygaard's through ball:
https://giphy.com/media/3qjm4E2fiaOWoFYu0b/giphy.gif
Early in the second half Häcken's young Serbian striker Srđan Hrstić produced the
mother of all misses when he volleyed high from a metre out, and so Aberdeen were
able to make it a one-goal game when they were awarded a penalty for Tebo Uchenna
häcking (sorry not sorry) down Cape Verde international Duk in the box.. I've been
noticing a surprising amount of Cape Verdean players in these qualifiers. Aberdeen
kept pushing for the aggregate equaliser - Miovski alone in front of Abrahamsson
fired woefully wide - but the tie was decided when Häcken got a penalty of their
own after Aberdeen's Serbian centre-back Slobodan Rubežić had unceremoniously
felled Sadiq in the box.

Quoting Werner Pichler in rec.sport.soccer:
>Aberdeen FC (SCO)* v BK HÄCKEN (SWE)*** 1-3 (0-2), 3-5 on aggregate
>(Miovski 56' (pen); Sadiq 14', 41', Layouni 81' (pen))
>
>In a wide open match the Swedish champions took the early lead through Ibrahim
>Sadiq's rocket: https://giphy.com/media/2hEmQb2skGUM4bDeJX/giphy.gif
>and whereas Aberdeen kept missing chance after chance, and Häcken keeper
>Abrahamsson pulled off some great saves, the Swedish champions made it two when it
>was again Sadiq who ran onto Mikkel Rygaard's through ball:
>https://giphy.com/media/3qjm4E2fiaOWoFYu0b/giphy.gif
>Early in the second half Häcken's young Serbian striker Sr?an Hrsti? produced the
>mother of all misses when he volleyed high from a metre out, and so Aberdeen were
>able to make it a one-goal game when they were awarded a penalty for Tebo Uchenna
>häcking (sorry not sorry) down Cape Verde international Duk in the box. I've been
>noticing a surprising amount of Cape Verdean players in these qualifiers. Aberdeen
>kept pushing for the aggregate equaliser - Miovski alone in front of Abrahamsson
>fired woefully wide - but the tie was decided when Häcken got a penalty of their
>own after Aberdeen's Serbian centre-back Slobodan Rubeži? had unceremoniously
>felled Sadiq in the box.

Total failure escaped.

--
Manchester United FC - CHAMPIONS
Latest: England '13 (20th) Europa '17, UEFA '08, World '08

On Friday, September 1, 2023 at 7:13:04 AM UTC+2, anders t wrote:
> Quoting Werner Pichler in rec.sport.soccer:
> >Aberdeen FC (SCO)* v BK HÄCKEN (SWE)*** 1-3 (0-2), 3-5 on aggregate
> >(Miovski 56' (pen); Sadiq 14', 41', Layouni 81' (pen))
> >
> >In a wide open match the Swedish champions took the early lead through Ibrahim
> >Sadiq's rocket: https://giphy.com/media/2hEmQb2skGUM4bDeJX/giphy.gif
> >and whereas Aberdeen kept missing chance after chance, and Häcken keeper
> >Abrahamsson pulled off some great saves, the Swedish champions made it two when it
> >was again Sadiq who ran onto Mikkel Rygaard's through ball:
> >https://giphy.com/media/3qjm4E2fiaOWoFYu0b/giphy.gif
> >Early in the second half Häcken's young Serbian striker Sr?an Hrsti? produced the
> >mother of all misses when he volleyed high from a metre out, and so Aberdeen were
> >able to make it a one-goal game when they were awarded a penalty for Tebo Uchenna
> >häcking (sorry not sorry) down Cape Verde international Duk in the box. I've been
> >noticing a surprising amount of Cape Verdean players in these qualifiers.. Aberdeen
> >kept pushing for the aggregate equaliser - Miovski alone in front of Abrahamsson
> >fired woefully wide - but the tie was decided when Häcken got a penalty of their
> >own after Aberdeen's Serbian centre-back Slobodan Rubeži? had unceremoniously
> >felled Sadiq in the box.
>
> Total failure escaped.

But stand-out player Sadiq is now off to Alkmaar.

Europa League 2023/24 Group Stage Draw

Group A

West Ham United FC (ENG/TH-ECL) 50.000
Olympiacos FC (GRE) 39.000
SC Freiburg (GER) 16.496
FK TSC (SRB) 6.475

Group B

AFC Ajax (NED) 89.000
Olympique de Marseille (FRA) 33.000
Brighton & Hove Albion FC (ENG) 21.914
AEK FC (GRE/CH) 11.000

Group C

Rangers FC (SCO) 54.000
Real Betis Balompié (ESP) 37.000
AC Sparta Praha (CZE/CH) 14.000
Aris Limassol FC (CYP/CH) 4.895

Group D

Atalanta BC (ITA) 55.500
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) 52.500
SK Sturm Graz (AUT) 12.500
RKS Raków Częstochowa (POL/CH) 5.000

Group E

Liverpool FC (ENG) 123.000
Linzer ASK (AUT) 36.000
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) 19.000
Toulouse FC (FRA) 12.232

Group F

Villarreal CF (ESP) 82.000
Stade Rennais FC (FRA) 44.000
Maccabi Haifa FC (ISR/CH) 13.000
Panathinaikos FC (GRE) 5.045

Group G

AS Roma (ITA) 97.000
SK Slavia Praha (CZE) 52.000
FC Sheriff (MDA/CH) 19.500
Servette FC (SUI) 6.335

Group H

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) 72.000
Qarabağ FK (AZE/CH) 25.000
Molde FK (NOR/CH) 24.000
BK Häcken (SWE/CH) 4.750

So it's Häcken vs Molde after all.

Ciao,
Werner

Quoting Werner Pichler in rec.sport.soccer:
>But stand-out player Sadiq is now off to Alkmaar.

The fate of a feeder league.

--
Manchester United FC - CHAMPIONS
Latest: England '13 (20th) Europa '17, UEFA '08, World '08