Celtic ease through while Aničić saves Astana
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Article summary
Astana, courtesy of a 92nd-minute winner, and Celtic were among the last eight teams to progress to the third qualifying round on a night when Partizani ousted Ferencváros on penalties.
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Astana 2-1 Žalgiris (agg: 2-1)
Astana, Kazakhstan's first group stage participants last season, were spared an away-goals exit by Marin Aničić's 92nd-minute strike. The centre-back's second of the game – his first was a header from a Patrick Twumasi corner – capped a period of intense late pressure by the hosts, whose Lithuanian opponents scored what seemed a decisive equaliser when Elivelto finished in a one-on-one situation just before the hour.
Dudelange 1-1 Qarabağ (agg: 1-3)
Reynaldo's fine 94th-minute goal saved two-time UEFA Europa League group stage contenders Qarabağ from defeat in Luxembourg. The second leg might have taken a different course had visiting keeper Ibrahim Šehić not tipped David Turpel's 37th-minute penalty against his left-hand post. Šehić was eventually beaten when Momar N'Diaye scored from a Mario Pokar corner.
Norrköping 3-2 Rosenborg (agg: 4-5)
Norrköping mounted a recovery from 2-0 down that was ultimately in vain. Christian Gytkjaer, from the spot, and Yann-Erik de Lanlay's close-range effort increased Rosenborg's aggregate lead to 5-1. On target in the first leg, Sebastian Andersson (55, 77) started and completed the scoring for the Swedish outfit, his double sandwiching a 59th-minute header by strike partner Christoffer Nyman.
Ferencváros 1-1 Partizani (agg: 2-2, Partizani win 3-1 on pens)
Zoltán Gera, whose volley against Portugal was voted the best goal of UEFA EURO 2016, scored a penalty in normal time but had his attempt saved in the shoot-out as Ferencváros succumbed on spot kicks. Gera's was one of three stops by Partizani keeper Alban Hoxha. Partizani owed their leveller to Oliver Hüsing's own goal five minutes before the break.
Trenčín 2-3 Olimpija Ljubljana (agg: 6-6, Trenčín win on away goals)
Trenčín were on the receiving end of a rousing Ljubljana fightback for the second time in a week before squeezing through. The Slovakian outfit were pegged back to 4-3, having led 4-0, in the first leg so will have been wary when Rangelo Janga (13) and Matúš Bero (20) put them two up. Dejan Kelhar (41) reduced Ljubljana's arrears with a header, Blessing Eleke levelled (45) and Denis Klinar (79) volleyed in Andraž Kirm's left-wing delivery. What would have been a tie-winning fourth goal for the Slovenian team proved elusive, however.
Dinamo Zagreb 3-2 Vardar (agg: 5-3)
Dinamo twice rallied from a goal down in ending Vardar's challenge, Marko Pjaca converting two penalties in the second half. The 21-year-old, who appeared in three of Croatia's games in France last month, restored parity for Zlatko Kranjčar's men after 55 and 70 minutes respectively. Paulo Machado rifled in the third from the edge of the penalty box.
Celtic 3-0 Lincoln (agg: 3-1)
The Gibraltarian minnows' resistance lasted 23 minutes as Celtic easily overturned their shock first-leg deficit. Mikael Lustig's left-footed shot on the turn was quickly followed by a powerful drive from Leigh Griffiths (25) and a composed Patrick Roberts finish (29) after the on-loan Manchester City midfielder had exchanged passes with Callum McGregor.
FH Hafnarfjördur 2-2 Dundalk (agg: 3-3, Dundalk win on away goals)
David McMillan's double sent Dundalk into the third qualifying round for the first time. McMillan's 50th-minute first, from long range, came soon after FH's Gunnar Nielsen had saved Ronan Finn's penalty. FH, who took the lead through Sam Hewson (19), equalised when substitute Kristján Floki Finnbogason (73) ran on to former Dundalk forward Steven Lennon's through ball and beat Gary Rogers from a tight angle.
- Road to Cardiff: full 2016/17 calendar
- Who enters and when?
- 2016/17: the full lowdown
- Qualifying stats so far
Tuesday fixtures
Alashkert 1-1 Dinamo Tbilisi (agg: 1-3)
Liepāja 0-2 Salzburg (agg: 0-3)
Sheriff 0-0 Hapoel Beer-Sheva (agg: 2-3)
APOEL 3-0 TNS (agg: 3-0)
Seinäjoki 2-2 BATE (agg: 2-4)
København 6-0 Crusaders (agg: 9-0)
Crvena zvezda 2-1 Valletta (agg: 4-2)
Mladost Podgorica 0-3 Ludogorets (agg: 0-5)
Legia 2-0 Zrinjski (agg: 3-1)