Bakı blitz downs Ekranas

FK Bakı produced an impressive second-half performance to advance to the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round after beating FK Ekranas 4-2 and securing a 6-4 overall success.

Felipe Almeida double
Despite dominating the opening period, the Azerbaijani champions could not find a breakthrough but Brazilian Felix Felipe Almeida struck twice after half-time alongside efforts from Amiran Mujiri and Aleksandar Sojic. Late goals from Dušan Matović and Dainius Gleveckas added an air of respectability to the score for the Lithuanian titleholders. Bakı will now meet PFC Levski Sofia in the next round.

Second-half goal glut
The hosts were on the front foot from the first whistle, determined to press home their slender advantage after a 2-2 draw in last week's first leg. Chances soon came, and Bakı hit the post twice before the break while Felipe Almeida somehow missed an open goal after rounding visiting goalkeeper Vytautas Černiauskas. The hosts forged on after the interval and went in front just before the hour mark when substitute Fernando Perez found Felipe Almeida who finished well. Six minutes later Perez laid on a second as Mujiri struck to give Ekranas a mountain to climb. With 77 minutes gone, Felipe Almeida made it three and although Matović pulled one back soon after, Sojic made it four before Gleveckas grabbed an added-time consolation.