UEFA Europa League 2015-16 Playoff round 2nd Leg, History makers

History was made among clubs from Azerbaijan, 1st time that the UEFA Europa League will have 2 representatives from that nation after Qarabag qualifying for the 2nd time in a row and surprising Qabala who qualified to the group stage in their competition debut, starting from the 1st qualifying round, in that stage they qualified to the 2nd qualifying round in the last second when Dinamo Tbilisi was sure to qualify, Qabala shocked them. also another club that will make their debut at this group stage is Skenderbeu from Albania who comes from losing their UEFA Champions League playoffs vs GNK Dinamo Zagreb.

Qarabag recorded and amazing victory vs Young Boys to qualify

Czech Republic could have had all their representatives in the group stage but FK Jablonec draw vs Ajax and on aggregate they lose 1-0

Slovan Liberec survived their journey in Split and won there 1-0 vs HNK Hajduk, Viktoria Plzen visited Serbia and won vs Vojvodina and Sparta Praha were victorious vs Thun on aggregate

Lech returns to the competition after they won vs Videoton

Both French sides also qualified, Bordeaux lose vs Kairat Almaty 1-2 but that goal that Bordeaux scored were enough to qualify thanks to the away goals rule and St Etienne only won 1-0 to qualify on aggregate score 2-1 vs Milsami

Swiss, Romanian, Greek and Austrian sides missed the opportunity to enter the group stage, Young Boys, Thun, Steaua lose vs Rosenborg and Astra lose vs AZ, Panathinaikos and Atromitos lose their respective matches, Altach draw but on aggregate they lose, Salzburg lose on penalties vs Dinamo Minsk

The only Greek side who progressed was PAOK

Denmark will have 1 representatve, FC Midtjyland which in their debut in the competition reached the group stage, great performance

Russian and Dutch sides qualified, FC Krasnodar and Rubin Kazan and AFC Ajax and AZ progressed

FC Astana history makers, 1st Kazakh club to qualify for the UEFA Champions League Group Stage

FC Astana has entered into the history books of the UEFA Champions League by defesting APOEL FC in the playoff round and becoming the 1st cluub from Kazakhstan to qualify for the group stage of the competition, this achievement is truly memorable since Shakhtyor Karagandy who were the last Kazakh team in the playoff and who was eliminated in that stage vs Celtic, FC Astana defeated impirtant names to reach the group stage, 1st was NK Maribor, group stage participants in UCL last season, after that was HJK who played UEFA Europa League group stage last season and in which FC Astana recorded an epic and historic win in Astana Arena and finally came APOEL FC, the most powerful club from Cyprus and in recent seasons UEFA Champions League regulars.

FC Astana reached what many other Kazakh clubs tried before, to reach the group stage, Kairat Almaty, Irtysh Pavlodar, FC Astana 1964(not confuse with the actual FC Astana, FC Astana 1964 was founded in 1964 as Dinamo Astana) Tobol Kostanay, FK Aktobe and Shakhtyor Karagandy played the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, almost all of them oftenly reached the 3rd round, FK Aktobe couldn´t progress to the playoffs, they always ere eliminated in the 3rd qualifying round, Shakhtyor was the only one who reached the playoff, Tobol in their only UEFA Champions League participation was eliminated in the 2nd Qualifying round vs Slovan Bratislava, Irtysh was eliminated vs Omonia Nicosia and FC Astana 1964 was eliminated by Sheriff in the 2006-07 season

FC Astana achievement will remain forever in the history of Kazakh football and also the UEFA Champions League too, these group of players have passed into history, they´ll be remembered forever.

 

Returning to the competition: Borussia Monchengladbach but in their case they played the playoff round, they were eliminated by Dynamo Kyiv in 2013-14 season

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC , the last and only time they played UCL Group stage was in the 2004/05 season

Also other interesting UCL stats

Teams that qualified to the UCL Group stage in their 1st ever appearance through the qualifying rounds as national champions

2015/16 FC Astana

2005/06 FC Artmedia Bratislava

1996-97 Widzew Lodz, IFK Goteborg, SK Rapid Wien

1995-96 Aalborg BK, Ferencvaros, Grasshoppers Zurich

Teams that qualified to the UCL Group stage in their 1st ever appearance through the qualifying rounds as runners up of who have finished below the national champions place

2007/08 Sevilla

2005/06 Real Betis, Villarreal CF, FC Thun, Udinese

2003-04 Real Sociedad de Futbol, Real Club Celta de Vigo

2002-03 Maccabi Haifa FC, FC Basel 1893, Lokomotiv Moskva

2001-02 RCD Mallorca

2000-01 sc Heerenveen, Hamburg SV, Helsingborgs IF, Leeds United, Shakhtar Donetsk

1999-2000 NK Maribor, AIK Solna, ACF Fiorentina, Hertha BSC Berlin, Boavista, Grondins de Bordeaux

1998-99 SK Sturm Graz, Athletic Club, HJK Helsinki, 1 FC Kaiserslautern, Brondby IF, RC Lens, GNK Croatia Zagreb(Dinamo Zagreb)

 

1997-98 Parma AC, Newcastle United FC, 1.FC Kosice, Lierse SK, AC Sparta Praha

1996-97 Valencia CF

 

UEFA Champions League 2015/16 Pots Allocation

For the 1st time Spain will have 5 teams in the UEFA Champions League Group Stag, 10 years ago(2005-06 season) England was the 1st country that had 5 teams too

 

AFC Cup 2016 Qualifying Playoff Matchday 3

K-Electric and Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd are the 2 teams who will head to the qualifying playoff next year after their results in this last day of action, Sheikh Jamal came from behind to equalize the game 1-1 and finally win group B.

FC Alga vs Sheikh Jamal

Alga started well knwing that only a victory would let them reach the qualifying playoff, Ildar Amirov gave Alga the lead in the score but then in the 78th minute Nigerian striker Emeka Onuoha equalize game to give Sheikh Jamal their ticket to the qualifying playoff.

Now that the qualiying playoff is over, Kyrgyzstan won´t have any other representation at next year´s AFC Cup, even the champion of this year would not enter because of slots allocation. only 1 team from Kyrgyzstn was allowed to qualify for 2016 edition and that team was Alga.

http://www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2015/afc-cup-slots-decided-for-2015-2016-editions

Druk United and Khoromkhon draw 0-0 and with this result the benefited side was K-Electric who won group A wth 4 points and the Pakistan champions got an historic achievement going to the qualifying playoff next year.

Bangladesh will have representation at the AFC Cup once again next year with the participation of Shekh Jamal, this year Sheikh Russel were the only club from Bangladesh to play qualifying round of AFC Cup while Pakistan will continue to have representation at this AFC Cup qualifying round with K-Electric who will continue their journey to reach the AFC Cup stage next year. Last time that Pakistan had club representation at an AFC Competition was last year when KRL played AFC President´s Cup Group Stage.

2016 AFC Cup Qualifying Playoff Matchday 2

In the 2nd day of action Pakistan champions K-Electric got a very important result that put them as firm favorites to reach the qualifing playoff, they won 1-0 vs Mongolian champions Khoromkhon, the Mongolians despite being this their debut in AFC competition also gets eliminated quickly with this result because even if they win vs Druk United the win isn´t enough for them to reach the qualifying playoff next year. The winner of this group will be decided on Saturday when Druk United play vs Khomronkhon, if Druk United wins by more than 1 goal, they will qualify because of better goal difference but if Khomromkhon wins or if the match ends in a draw then K-Electric will be the group winner.

if K-Electric and Druk United are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings.

1. Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
4. Goal difference in all the group matches;
5. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
6. Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
7. Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card);
8. Drawing of lots.

In the other match Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd. won easily vs Macau champions Casa Benfica 3-0 who with this result are eliminated and with this win the champions of Bangladesh, Sheikh Jamal puts themselves in pole position to reach the qualifying layoff but the decider will be on Saturday when Sheikh Jamal and FC Alga be face to face each other, the winner will reach the qualifying playoff the next, the draw qualifies Sheikh Jamal because at this moment they have better goal difference.

Saturday will be a very exciting day that will decide the 2 teams who will continue next year their quest to reach the AFC Cup group stage, its all between FC Alga, Sheikh Jamal, K-Electric or Druk United.

2016 AFC Cup Qualifying Playoff records and statistics

Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh renew their encounter but this time at club competition, at FIFA World Cup qualifiers Kyrgyzstan won vs Bangladesh 3-0 in Dhaka and now Alga will play against Sheikh Jamal.

At the AFC President´s Cup 2011 Neftchi Kochkor Ata won 2-0 vs Abahani Limited and in 2010 Dordoi Dynamo draw 0-0 vs Abahani Limited Dhaka.

FC Alga Bishkek becomes the 10th Kyrgyz club to play AFC Competition, in the recent years different Kyrgyz clubs have played mostly at AFC President´s Cup, Dordoi being the most successful winning 2 AFC President´s Cup in 2006 and 2007.

Khoromkhon is the 2nd Mongolian team to play AFC Competition after Erchim who made their maiden debut at the AFC President´s Cup 2012.

Encounters between Pakistan and Bhutanese clubs has been permanent, the last one was at the AFC President´s Cup 2013 KRL won 8-0 vs Yeezdin.

Last encounter between clubs from Pakistan and Mongolia was at the AFC President´s Cup 2012, KRL draw 0-0 vs Erchim.

K-Electric is the 8th Pakistani club to play AFC competition.

Sheikh Russel is the 6th club from Bangladesh to play AFC Competition.

Benfica Macau is the 8th club from Macau to play AFC Competition.

Druk United is the 5th club from Bhutan to play AFC Competition.

2016 AFC Cup Playoffs qualifiers Matchday 1

FC Alga Bishkek has started in the right track their quest to reach next year´s qualifying playoff with a win vs Benfica Macau 2-0 while Druk United were near to shock everybody because they were at minutes of getting an historic victory that would have been the 1st victory ever of a Bhutanese team in any AFC competition but at the end they drew 3-3 vs K-Electric.

Benfica Macau vs FC Alga Bishkek

K-Electric vs Druk United

2016 AFC Cup Play-offs qualifiers

The road to the 2016 AFC Cup starts on Tuesday with the AFC Cup Play-offs qualifiers to take part in 2 different venues, Thimpu (Bhutan) and Spartak stadium in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).

6 teams will take part with only the winners of both groups to qualify for the playoff round that will be realized the next year.

Group A

Druk United (Bhutan)

Khoromkhon (Mongolia)

K-Electric FC (Pakistan)

Group B

FC Alga Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd. (Bangladesh)

Benfica de Macau (Macau)

We take a look to the profile of the 6 teams who are making heir absolute debut in AFC competition.

Druk United FC

They won the Bhutan national league in 2014 and as a host of group A they will do their best to win it and reach the qualifying playoff.

Khoromkhon FC

2 time Mongolian Premier League champions(in 2005 and 2014) , 2nd Mongolian club that will participate in an AFC competition after Erchim played the AFC President´s Cup in recent years they now Khoromkhon wish to emulate their compatriots and reach the qualifying playoff next year. They count in their squad with experienced Guam international Jonahan Romero, a player that will be very valuable in the Mongolian team.

K-Electric FC

They won the Pakistan Premier League for the 1st time in their history in 2014-15 season. They count with some experienced players like their captain Muhammad Essa who have played in various Pakistan clubs before.

FC Alga Bishkek

5 time Kyrgyz champions and 9 time Kyrgyzstan Cup winners, they host group B, they are favorites to win their group and reach the qualifying playoff, they count with many experienced players, some of them also Kyrgyz internationals, Alga is a historic team from Kyrgyzstan founded in 1947 as Zenit and having played in the lower leagues of the former Soviet Union before.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi

Recently crowned Bangladesh champions, they want to emulate Sheikh Russel who last year at the AFC President´s Cup won their qualifying group and reached the final round of that competitionin Sri Lanka only inning in that stage vs Erchim from Mongolia.

Benfica Macau

Current champions of Macau Liga de Elite and 2 times Taça de Macau champions they are favorites to challenge Alga and Sheikh Jamal in their quest to win the group.

UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd leg recap

There were many shocking results and also goals in the finals minutes in this stage. Kairat Almaty confirmed their great form getting an important draw vs Aberdeen 1-1 and with this qualifying to the next stage.

Missed fortunes for some countries in which one of their clubs was eliminated and the other progressed, this happened to the Austrians, for example, Sturm Graz and Wolfsberger lose their respectives away matches vs Rubin Kazan and Borussia Dortmund but the only happiness went for SCR Altach who got an historic victory in Portugal vs Vitoria Guimaraes and qualified to the playoff round.

Das Wunder vn Guimamaes!

Amazing, epic and historic victory from SCR Altach

 

Ukraine were near to put their 2 representants in the playoffs, Vorskla were doing the impossible and were just seconds to qualify but a last second goal from MSK Zilina put the Slovakians in the next round, Zorya Luhansk won vs Charleroi 2-0.

It was a disaster for Swedish clubs as all 3 of them were eliminated, IFK Goteborg by Belenenses, Elfsborg lose vs Odd from Norway and AIK lose vs Atromitos from Greece and also for the Cypriot who suffered the same fate, Omonia and Apollon Limassol were eliminated by Brondby and Qabala respectively.

SCR Altach and Qabala from Azerbaijan both in their 1st ever participation in European competitions have reached the playoff round, a very good performance that are displaying both teams.

UEFA Champions League 3rd Qualifying round 2nd Leg recap

History was made by SK Rapid Wien, Skenderbeu and FC Astana as they reached the playoff round and they are living the dream! and for Astana an Skenderbeu specially was memorable, fo the 1st time in their history both clubs reached the playoffs.

AFC Ajax vs SK Rapid Wien “Das Wunder von Amsterdam”

SK Rapid Wien did an amazing performance winning 3-2 vs AFC Ajax, since the beginning they started to make they game and they went early in the score with Beric putting the Austrians on aggregate advantage 3-2, then Rapid netted another goal just before the 1st half ends making the 2-0 and 4-2 on aggregate, in the 2nd half Ajax put a lot of pressure and fought to equalize the tie and thy did it thanks to Milik and Guelj but after that after Ajax converted the 2-2 Rapid found quickly the learship thanks to Schaub with an amazing goal putting the Austrians 3-2 and 5-4 on aggregate, the score didn´t move anymore and SK Rapid consolidated a great night progressing to the playoff round and eliminating a favorite like Ajax.

   

FC Astana vs HJK

In an exciting and thrilling match FC Astana made the impossible, it really was a miracle, they were losing 2-0 at the end of the st half but in the 2nd half they showed great courage and true fighting spirit and reverted the score and literally in the last minute of the match they won and with this progressed for the 1st time in ther history to the playoffs, they have become the 2nd Kazakh team to progress to this stage after Shakhtyor Karagandy did the same in 2013

Skenderbeu vs Milsami

The Albanians are the 1st team from that counto to progress  to the playoff round after beating Milsami from Moldova, they now aim to reach the playoff round.

In other matches CSKA comind from behind qualified after winning 3-2 vs Sparta Prague in a very exciting and amazing match, 2 goals from Musa and 1 from Dzagoev who became the hero gave the Army men their ticket to the playoff round

BATE Borisov won 1-0 vs Videoton at Borisov Arena and progressed with an aggregate score of 2-1

UEFA Champions League / UEFA Europa League 3rd QF Round 1st leg Recap

This week was excellent for both Kazakhstan and Belarussian teams at UEFA competition but for Austrian teams were mixed fortunes as only SCR Altach claimed victory while Sturm Graz and Wolfsberger lost their respective matches and at the UEFA Champions League SK Rapid Wien coming from behind draw 2-2 vs AFC Ajax.

FC Astana draw HJK 0-0 and Kairat Almaty won 2-1 vs Aberdeen FC from Scotland.

BATE Borisov won 1-0 vs Videoton and Dinamo Minsk got an important away victory vs FC Zurich.

Both Russian teams Rubin Kazan and FC Kasnodar got importat victories vs SK Sturm Graz and SK Slovan Bratislava respectively while SCR Altach from Austria, debutants this edition made history by winning their first ever European match vs Vitoria Guimaraes.

Borussia Dortmund won 1-0 vs Wolfsberger AC from Austria while Southampton FC won 3-0 vs Vitesse.

SK Rapid Wien 2-2 AFC Ajax

The other Austrian representant FC Salzburg won 2-0 vs Malmo FF

Skenderbeu have one foot in the playoff after they won 2-0 vs Milsami from Moldova, The Albanians are making an historic campaign and Europe´s premier club competition and they aim to reach the group stage for the 1st time in their history.

CSKA Moskva found hard opposition in their match against Sparta Prague and they draw 2-2, now they must win if they dream to reach the group stage again.