Conference League Qualifying: Partizan and Tromso Among Winners as Panathinaikos Held
Partizan Belgrade delivered an impressive performance in their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round match, securing a commanding 3-0 victory against Kazakhstan’s Tobol. The match saw a total of 60 clubs competing this week, showcasing significant actions and varied outcomes across the board.
Demba Seck opened the scoring for the home team just after the half-hour mark in a match characterized by dominance; Partizan registered 17 attempts on goal, while Tobol managed a mere five. A second goal followed in the middle stages of the second half, with a final third goal sealing the victory in stoppage time, affirming their justified lead heading into the next round of qualifications.
Having previously participated in the Conference League group stages twice, Partizan has not qualified since the 2022/23 season. Over the last three years, they faced elimination at both the playoff and third qualifying round stages, highlighting their importance of this hold on future aspirations in European competitions.
Another noteworthy match featured Tromsø, who notched an incredible 5-0 win away at CFR Cluj in Romania. Heine Larson delivered a remarkable performance, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes, instilling confidence in the Norwegian visitors, who are now well-positioned for playoff qualification. This marks Tromsø’s first advance to this stage since the 2013/14 season.
The defeat left CFR Cluj reeling from their most significant loss on home soil in European competition, equaling previous five-goal drubbings while away. Danish clubs experienced exemplary success this week, with all three representing the nation advancing in their respective fixtures. FC Kobenhavn delivered a robust 3-0 victory away against Hungary’s Debrecen, followed by Midtjylland overcoming Bohemians with a 2-0 triumph, while FC Nordsjælland mirrored that score in their match versus Valur Reykjavik.
Austria’s two representatives also confirmed their place among the winning teams on Thursday, with Rapid Wien producing a thrilling 4-1 away victory against Paide after scoring three late goals. Notably, substitute Moulaye Haidara showcased his skills with a brace, leaving Rapid poised for advancement after reaching the quarter-finals in the previous season.
The local rivals Austria Wien also celebrated a win, recovering from an early setback to defeat Israeli outfit Beitar Jerusalem 2-1. Sanel Saljic provided the decisive goal, as Die Veilchen seek a return to group phase play following three successive eliminations in qualifying.
Panathinaikos Draw at Home Once Again
Earlier in the week, two matches in the UEFA European Conference League saw Panathinaikos struggle at home yet again, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by CSKA 1948 Sofia in the Greek capital. After Adriano Jagusic put the hosts ahead, Georgi Rusev’s equalizer ten minutes later complicated their return leg next week, breaking the streak of undefeated matches against Bulgarian teams.
In another tie, Apollon Limassol edged Brann 1-0 on the road, securing a key advantage in that match-up. Apollon aims to become only the second Cypriot club to reach the UECL group phase multiple times.
On Tuesday, Auda also triumphed with a narrow 1-0 victory against Dinamo Tirana, contributing to the overall competitive spirit in this qualifying phase. European stalwarts Ajax continued their momentum by defeating Shelbourne 3-1, registering 32 attempts over the match, highlighting the one-sided nature of their dominance.
Additionally, Sporting Braga, Gent, and Dynamo Kyiv all secured hard-fought 1-0 victories, each team looking to take a solid footing in their upcoming second legs. Braga edged out Dinamo Minsk, while Gent triumphed over IFK Goteborg, and Dynamo Kyiv overcame Qarabag, all ensuring their narratives continue moving forward in this competitive tournament.
In the domestic champions’ path, Riga FC earned a crucial 1-0 victory against Gyor, with Balint Selyem inadvertently scoring an own goal just three minutes into the match. The impressive feat puts Riga within a single match of eliminating a Hungarian opponent for the second time in their history.
Borac Banja Luka also managed a home win, coming out on top against ML Vitebsk with a 1-0 victory, although the Belarusian team played with one less player starting from the 33rd minute. Conversely, Drita compiled an outstanding 4-1 away victory against Tre Fiori, showcasing a powerful comeback in the latter stages of their match.
Meanwhile, Andorra’s Inter Club d’Escaldes triumphed over Flora Tallinn with a straightforward 2-0 win, which could potentially see them make history by securing a place in the group phase of a UEFA club competition.
The second legs are set for next week, where 30 advancing clubs will vie for slots in the playoff round, joining direct entrants and teams facing exits from the Europa League third qualifying round.
Catch all the updates on the UEFA Conference League qualifiers on Flashscore.
