Benfica, Young Boys and Malmo have booked their places in the Champions League group stage following a thrilling night of playoff matches
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Benfica, Young Boys and Malmo have booked their places in the Champions League group stage following a thrilling night of playoff matches on Tuesday that saw seven goals, two red cards and thrilling finales to all three games. There are just three places left up for grabs in the group stages, all of which will be decided Wednesday. With losers of these six ties having to settle for Europa League football instead.
✅ Benfica
✅ Young Boys
✅ MalmoThree more teams secure their places in the #UCL group stage! The draw takes place on Thursday… ⏳ pic.twitter.com/5vTTWX8lBt
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 24, 2021
A fourth draw in as many visits to the Philips Stadion proved to be enough for Benfica to reach the Champions League group stage. Jorge Jesus’ 10 men holding out for a 0-0 draw saw them beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 on aggregate.
It was no surprise that Dutch giants PSV dominated possession, territory and shots in the first half. Particularly after Lucas Verissimo picked up two yellow cards in the space of just 32 minutes.
Noni Madueke went close twice to score. Though they were down to 10 men, Benfica defended impressively. Veteran center-back Jan Vertonghen was rock solid in the second half. Benfica’s task became more about holding onto their lead rather than attempting to extend it. Still Eran Zahavi should have done far, far better than hit the bar from close range after Gakpo squared for him.
Yorbe Vertessen was twice denied by the excellent Vlachodimos. He was up on his feet quickly to parry the rebound after a powerful initial drive straight at him.
The best tie of the first leg fixtures picked up right where it had left off in an opening game that saw five outstanding goals, a red card for the winner. It was clumsy Ferencvaros defending that allowed Young Boys to double their aggregate lead following their win in Bern. Cedric Zesiger was left unmarked in the penalty, who flicked home Vincent Sierro’s corner.
Young Boys hardly looked like the sort of team who could control a game no matter their lead. However, the defense was guilty of ball watching when David van Balmoos flew out to Ryan Mmaee’s cross, placing it onto the path of Henry Wingo who put the ball back off the net.
The drama did not end with the half time interval. Young Boys seemed determined to make amends for letting their lead slip away, cutting Ferencvaros apart down the right before Meschack Elia low cross for Christian Fassnacht to strike home the equalizer on the night.
Henry Wingo finds the equalizer for Ferencvaros ??? pic.twitter.com/BMAQBDQMna
— Serie A on Paramount+ ⚽️?? (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 24, 2021
Till the end, this tie proved to be utterly unpredictable. Felix Mambimbi sneaking behind the defense before curling an excellent shot across Dibusz’s body, sending the Swiss side into the group stages for the first time in three years. David Wagner’s side are sure to be a thrilling watch whoever they are drawn against.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Ludogorets could scarcely ease themselves into the game but they did seem to be second best early on as their visitors looked to kill off the tie. However, a goal against the run of play set the stage for an altogether more intriguing tie. Captain Anton Nedyalkov meeting a corner to halve the deficit. Almost immediately it seemed Malmo had restored their two-goal aggregate lead when Soren Rieks converted in the 16th minute but VAR intervened after spotting an offside Anders Christiansen in the build-up.
Then a 33-yard free kick from Veljko Birmancevic taking the slightest of deflections as it flew into the net, the second brilliant goal he scored in this tie.
That might have been enough to kill off Ludogorets’ hopes but instead they went about their task with greater urgency. Pressing higher up in the second half in a bid to force a mistake from Malmo. It duly came just before the hour. VAR calling back play after a Christiansen chance to award the penalty that Pieros Sotiriou despatched.
Though Kiril Despodov went close late on Malmo just about managed to hold Ludogorets at arms’ length with the home side failing to register a shot on target after the penalty.
