On Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 2:06:31 AM UTC+1, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 12:47:25 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 4:15:53 AM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:17:31 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:38:27 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > On Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 12:56:20 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > https://kassiesa.net/uefa/files/2021-24-uefa-club-competitions-scheme.png
> Champions League Second Qualifying Round, 2nd leg
> Teams in CAPITALS (except HJK) through to CLQ3, losers go to ELQ3
> * = seeded team
>
>
>
> August 1
>
>
> Champions Path
>
>
> NK OLIMPIJA LJUBLJANA (SLO) v PFC Ludogorets 1945 (BUL)* 2-1 (1-1), 3-2 on aggregate
> (Elšnik 19', 90'+2; Despodov 15'; Red Card: Son (Lud) 82')
>
> Both sides exchanged early goals as Kiril Despodov, one of the few bright spots
> in Bulgarian football currently, scored with a direct free-kick:
> https://giphy.com/media/MXWYb8rVbpKa8EcfDQ/giphy.gif
> and Timi Elšnik volleyed in a free-kick by former Paços de Ferreira right-back
> Jorge Silva. Olimpija subsequently had a bit more of the match, but things only
> got really spicy beginning about ten minutes from time. Ludogorets's Spanish
> right-back Son, newly signed from Levante, despite his La Liga experience saw an
> idiotic red card for getting suckered into what looked like a headbutt on another
> of Olimpija's Portuguese contingent, Rui Pedro, but despite being reduced to ten
> Ludogorets could have won it in the 89th minute when Spas Delev on the break got
> off a shot from the edge of the box that came off the right post. Instead, in the
> 92nd minute Elšnik rifled in from a corner kick routine that evidently surprised
> the Bulgarian defence: https://giphy.com/media/pkdzIicnHhFM5HJ6j0/giphy.gif
> but the end to the match wasn't yet dramatic enough as in the 12th minute of
> stoppage time, and after a lengthy VAR check, Ludo were awarded a fully justified
> penalty - and Despodov, of all people, saw his spot kick saved by Olimpija keeper
> Vidovšek: https://giphy.com/media/8SCEaFNv1rBcb5Jjgr/giphy.gif
> Cue quite insane celebrations on part of the Slovenians and their fans.
>
> The first time in their history that Olimpija reach a European group phase (at
> least Conference League is guaranteed now), following the example of Maribor and
> Mura.
>
> On the other hand, Bulgarian football still deep in the doldrums.
>
>
> FC BATE Borisov (BLR)* v ARIS LIMASSOL FC (CYP) 3-5 (1-3), 5-11 on aggregate
> (Gromyko 25' (pen), Martynov 48', Laptev 90'+3 (pen); Babicka 8', Gomis 26',
> Caju 35', Bengtsson 56', Stępiński 74')
>
> Now that's not an aggregate score you see every day.
> In the usual Belarusian base of Mezőkövesd in Northeastern Hungary, Gabonese
> international striker Shavy Babicka punished the simply terrible Belarusian
> defence already early on, converting one-on-one with BATE keeper Kudravets, and
> things only went downhill from there. Yannick Gomis volleyed in a Babicka cross,
> Caju tapped in the rebound after Kudravets had parried yet another shot by the
> Gabonese, Leo Bengtsson curled one in from the edge of the box, and Jaden
> Montnor's cross found Mariusz Stępiński for Aris's fifth. Two penalties and a
> header from a corner made the end result a little bit more palatable for BATE.
>
>
> ŠK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA (SLK)* v HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (BIH) 2-2 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
> (Čavrić 5', Zuberu 66'; Barišić 75', Ivančić 90'+3)
>
> On occasion of an early corner kick Zrinjski's defence completely forgot about
> Slovan's target striker Aleksandar Čavrić:
> https://giphy.com/media/50ccIFJBaYbPlrx3lN/giphy.gif
> Amateurish defending. Ghanaian striker Sharani Zuberu made it two following some
> deft passing: https://giphy.com/media/S8vc2hoP3WGcJfFujT/giphy.gif
> but despite being 3-0 up on aggregate at that point Slovan were surprisingly still
> made to suffer a bit as Hrvoje Barišić rose highest to likewise head in a corner
> kick, and in stoppage time Dario Čanađija's volley crashed off the left post and
> Antonio Ivančić tapped into the empty net:
> https://giphy.com/media/yL9ilIdIU3hqW0eCqK/giphy.gif
> But too little too late, as usual for teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina. After
> all, Zrinjski had the chance to secure a first ever group stage right here, and
> now they're basically back to square one.
>
>
>
> League Path
>
>
> PANATHINAIKOS FC (GRE) v SC Dnipro-1 (UKR)* 2-2 (1-1), 5-3 on aggregate
> (Šporar 15', 70'; Dovbyk 24', Sarapiy 54'; Red Card: Tanchyk (Dni) 75')
>
> The tie appeared to be all but decided already early on - Tin Jedvaj, back in
> Europe from a stint in Abu Dhabi, sent a speculative long ball towards the
> Ukrainian net, and Dnipro keeper Volynets hesitated a moment too long to claim it,
> allowing Andraž Šporar to push the ball past him and lob into the empty net:
> https://giphy.com/media/djrT8QRfoQjz083TeV/giphy.gif
> Still, the Ukrainians were much improved compared to the first leg and equalised
> when Artem Dovbyk, heavily linked with a move to Girona and the Primera División,
> took on the entire Panathinaikos defence by himself and from a tight angle pushed
> the ball through the legs of Pana's Italian keeper Brignoli:
> https://giphy.com/media/WIlRbZf99NrXrifoVk/giphy.gif
> Volynets then made amends for his earlier mistake and risked life and limb to deny
> Sebastián Palacios from close range (and subsequently had to be carted off the
> pitch with a severe concussion), and early in the second half Dnipro-1 were only
> one goal away from extra time after centre-back Eduard Sarapiy had headed in a
> corner kick. Panathinaikos were seriously on the ropes at that point, but an
> energetic solo run by Filip Đuričić ended with the former Sampdoria and Sassuolo
> winger centring for Šporar to tap in his second:
> https://giphy.com/media/csiknPQj3fhfVVXEUL/giphy.gif
> and Volodymyr Tanchyk's sending off for a leg-breaking tackle against Juancar
> settled matters for good.
>
>
>
> August 2
>
>
> FC Astana (KAZ) v GNK DINAMO ZAGREB (CRO)* 0-2 (0-1), 0-6 on aggregate
> (Marochkin 24' (og), Marin 89')
>
> Dinamo had no problems in Kazakhstan either. Aleksandr Marochkin when trying to
> interfere with Mahir Emreli's solo run instead beat his own keeper Čondrić with a
> perfect shot into the bottom corner of the net:
> https://giphy.com/media/Z1XIHRxykDqr03MLeg/giphy.gif
> and late on youngster Antonio Marin (no relation to Marko) tapped in a loose ball
> from close range.
>
>
> Qarabağ FK (AZE)* v RKS RAKÓW CZĘSTOCHOWA (POL) 1-1 (0-0), 3-4 on aggregate
> (Xhixha 60'; Tudor 52')
>
> Not as fun and open as the first match between the two, but finally a Polish club
> managed to overcome their Azeri nemesis. Croatian winger Fran Tudor, a distant
> cousin of Igor's, opened the scoring with a powerful shot into the far corner of
> the net: https://giphy.com/media/XlArZNKlfWKev8qf1x/giphy.gif
> and even though Redon Xhikha soon equalised by volleying in Cəfərquliyev's cross:
> https://giphy.com/media/hUe6mhQ85LrSfFjfOI/giphy.gif
> Raków held on to the result until the final whistle, also because fifteen minutes
> from time Marko Janković's shot came off the right post.
>
>
> BK Häcken (SWE) v KÍ (FAR)* 3-3 aet (1-1, 2-2), 3-3 on aggregate, KÍ win 4-3 on penalties
> (Sana 24', Layouni 48', Sadiq 105'+1; Frederiksberg 17', 53',
> Abrahamson 109' (og))
>
> Amazing part II. Following last year's maiden championship, Häcken are again
> fighting for the Swedish title this year.
>
> Árni Frederiksberg eventually became the Faroese hero, and he opened the scoring
> already early on by volleying in from close range after Häcken captain Samuel
> Gustafson had failed to cut out a cross:
> https://giphy.com/media/LIt4ZyAObyZMhf2iT1/giphy.gif
> Former Ajax prospect Tobias Sana equalised with a sumptuous shot from distance
> that left KÍ's Swedish keeper Johansson rooted to the spot:
> https://giphy.com/media/i6G1VIz1H5RF2mspZu/giphy.gif
> After the break Amor Layouni, newly signed from Vålerenga, headed Häcken in front
> from close range: https://giphy.com/media/QI5TagmJmVIfwRrJEk/giphy.gif
> but right afterwards Frederiksberg's deflected free-kick agonizingly bounced past
> Häcken keeper Abrahamsson: https://giphy.com/media/9nhu3mgopbAZ6ySqdt/giphy.gif
> KÍ could have ended it right there as in the third minute of stoppage time Luc
> Kassi volleyed a free-kick against the crossbar, but instead they fell behind once
> more in extra time when Johansson failed to punch away a cross far enough, and
> Momodou Sonko sent the loose ball back towards goal where Ibrahim Sadiq tapped in
> from close range. But the stubborn Faroese still weren't beaten, and right after
> Abrahamsson had pulled off a great save to deny Kassi's point-blank header,
> Häcken's keeper under pressure from the Norwegian substitute Sivert Gussiås
> bungled the following corner kick, delivered by who else but Frederiksberg, over
> his own goal line. Soon afterwards Abrahamsson at least made amends and managed to
> deny Gussiås one-on-one.
>
> In the shoot-out, the first three players on both sides converted their penalties,
> then Mikkel Rygaard sent his spot kick high and Johansson saved against Simon
> Sandberg, while on Klaksvík's side Gussiås shot against the crossbar, but KÍ's
> Norwegian defensive stalwart Vegard Forren drilled in qthe decisive effort:
> https://giphy.com/media/EYegBm135wsIf6FuUX/giphy.gif
>
> It's always been their home strength that made them difficult opponents, but KÍ
> have now scored three goals away against both the Hungarian and the Swedish
> champions.
>
> Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag reach a European group phase, the first for a team from
> the Faroe Islands. Still waiting: San Marino, Andorra, Iceland, Malta, Montenegro,
> Northern Ireland, Wales, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. One of Iceland and Bosnia-
> Herzegovina is certain to make it this year because Breiðablik and Zrinjski play
> each other in ELQ3.
>
>
> MOLDE FK (NOR)* v HJK (FIN) 2-0 (0-0), 2-1 on aggregate
> (Öst 74' (og), Brynhildsen 89')
>
> The Norwegian champions, who are this year trailing behind Bodø/Glimt once again,
> levelled the overall score when Kristian Eriksen's point-blank header came off the
> crossbar and unluckily bounced off HJK keeper Öst, and in:
> https://giphy.com/media/qvn2BwepZHAER18gjP/giphy.gif
> Two minutes from time the unfortunate Öst likewise did well to parry Veton
> Berisha's close-range effort, only for Ola Brynhildsen to slide the rebound into
> the empty net for the decisive goal:
> https://giphy.com/media/tg4LwMgFcnO2cehkLh/giphy.gif
>
>
> MACCABI HAIFA FC (ISR) v FC Sheriff (MDA)* 4-1 aet (1-1, 2-1), 4-2 on aggregate
> (Chery 33', Jaber 85', David 105'+2, Shuranov 107'; Talal 20' (pen);
> Red Cards: Luvannor 86' (She, on the bench), Talal 90'+4 (She, on the bench))
>
> Suriname international Tjaronn Chery's penchant for brilliant long-distance goals
> should be well-known by now to anyone who reads these write-ups, and he added
> another in this one: https://giphy.com/media/Tme24Awb9DIsH0BhGY/giphy.gif
> and so helped the Israeli champions back on track after they had conceded an
> early penalty, but they had to wait until five minutes from time to level the
> overall score when a shot by the substitute Mahmoud Jaber was deflected in:
> https://giphy.com/media/piyBMZhOJGQXJ2DJab/giphy.gif
> Things got a bit heated after this between two benches, resulting in a second
> yellow and a red for Sheriff players who had already been subbed out.
>
> In extra time, Dean David got the decisive goal with a lovely lob over Sheriff's
> Ukrainian keeper Koval: https://giphy.com/media/bQ5LuK2dIEtxJLRyG5/giphy.gif
> and former Nürnberg striker Erik Shuranov added a fourth with a precise low shot
> from outside the area: https://giphy.com/media/mQAz2hdVnQ8PuFshcJ/giphy.gif
>
>
> FC KØBENHAVN (DEN)* v Breiðablik (ISL) 6-3 (4-1), 8-3 on aggregate
> (Gonçalves 33', Achouri 35', Larsson 37', Óskarsson 45'+1, 47', 56';
> Svanþórsson 9', Steindórsson 51', Gunnlaugsson 75')
>
> The Icelandic champions might have entertained a little hope after Jason Daði
> Svanþórsson had volleyed them into an early lead, but three goals in four minutes
> put that notion quickly to rest, beginning with a great free-kick from FCK's new
> Portuguese signing Diogo Gonçalves:
> https://giphy.com/media/fZIwIE9ppA1Insd1jD/giphy.gif
> and ending with Jordan Larsson's lovely chip:
> https://giphy.com/media/ziwfvcrJJasTZE4n3k/giphy.gif
> Speaking of sons, Copenhagen's 18-year-old Icelandic striker talent Orri Óskarsson
> evidently was quite fired up to play against the team coached by his dad Óskar
> Hrafn Þorvaldsson, and so he went out and scored a hat trick. (BTW this is not the
> right place, but on behalf of all Sturm Graz fans I still wanted to thank FCK once
> more for selling us Rasmus Højlund at a really very reasonable price.. Too bad they
> probably won't do the same with Óskarsson.)
> Kudos to Breiðablik though who continued to play their somewhat suicidal pressing
> style and at least scored two more, one thanks to Kristinn Steindórsson's
> deflected shot and one through their captain Höskuldur Gunnlaugsson's free-kick:
> https://giphy.com/media/kb9WkqYOi1OGuyyC8j/giphy.gif
>
>
> GALATASARAY SK (TUR)* v FK Žalgiris (LTU) 1-0 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
> (Mertens 31')
>
> Dries Mertens saved a rather minimalist Gala side the blushes with a trademark
> volley from outside the box:
> https://giphy.com/media/zd02WHipkUQKAO7CWl/giphy.gif

Well yes, the game would have gone to extra time but for the goal, but Galatasaray were in control of the game and had much more possession and chances.

RM