“Bence Várkonyi was booked for roughing, the fourth yellow card of a match that was becoming increasingly physical, reflecting CSKA's determination to disrupt Qarabağ's superior ball-playing rhythm at any cost.”
“Joni Montiel was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct deep into extra time, one of three yellow cards shown in the final 15 minutes of extra time as nerves and frustration boiled over with penalties looming.”
CSKA Sofia
Qarabağ
CSKA Sofia and Qarabağ played out a fascinating tactical battle across two goalless legs, with the Bulgarian side ultimately advancing to the next round of Europa League qualifying thanks to a 5-4 penalty shootout victory. The statistics told a clear story of Qarabağ's dominance — 62% possession, 16 shots to 12, and a 10-2 corner advantage — yet CSKA's defensive resolve proved the difference, with 26 fouls reflecting a side willing to do whatever it took to frustrate their more technically gifted opponents. The match itself grew increasingly fractious as it wore on, with nine yellow cards distributed across both sides, including a particularly ill-tempered extra-time period that saw Teodor Ivanov, Joël Zwarts, and Joni Montiel all booked in the final 15 minutes. Matheus Silva's missed penalty at the 125-minute mark loomed large in the end — his shootout miss proved costly as CSKA held their nerve to advance, a significant result for a club ranked 18th in their domestic league, pulling off what amounts to a genuine European upset against the prestigious Azerbaijani side.
How entertaining was this match?
Jean-Philippe GbaminGoal in the penalty shootout! Jean-Philippe Gbamin scores, making it 3-2.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Jaly Mouaddib scores, making it 2-2.
Teodor IvanovGoal in the penalty shootout! Teodor Ivanov scores, making it 2-1.
Matheus SilvaPenalty miss by Matheus Silva. The match remains 1-1.
Ioannis PittasPenalty goal! Ioannis Pittas scores, making it 1-1.
Marko JankovicPenalty goal! Marko Jankovic scores, making it 0-1.
Corner awarded.
Yellow card issued to Joel Zwarts.
Bruno Alberto Langa receives a yellow card.
Teodor IvanovYellow CardTeodor Ivanov receives a yellow card.
Musa Qurbanly is on, and Zakaria Sawo is off.
Substitution: Mohamed Brahimi comes on for Angelo Martino.
Ángelo MartinoYellow CardYellow card shown to Angelo Martino.
Match ends in a 0-0 draw.
Jonatan Montiel Caballero is on, and Abdellah Zoubir is off.
On comes Joel Zwarts, off goes Santiago Leandro Godoy.
Corner awarded.
Jaly Mouaddib is substituted for Oleksii Kashchuk.
Bruno Alberto Langa is on, and Elvin Dzhafarquliyev is off.
Cebrail Makreckis is on, and Badavi Huseynov is off.
On Renaldo Cephas, off Kady Iuri Borges Malinowski.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Bence VárkonyiYellow CardYellow card issued to Bence Varkonyi.
Marko JankovicYellow CardMarko Jankovic receives a yellow card.
Leandro GodoyYellow CardSantiago Leandro Godoy receives a yellow card.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Corner awarded.
Bruno Jordao receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Kick-off! The referee is Bram Van Driessche.
After a tense 0-0 first leg in Baku, CSKA Sofia host Qarabağ in a winner-takes-all Europa League second qualifying round return leg. With home advantage and a passionate crowd behind them, CSKA will look to find the breakthrough they couldn't manage away, while the experienced Azerbaijani side seek to hold firm and nick a crucial away goal. This is exactly the kind of high-stakes European night that makes qualifying football unmissable.
CSKA Sofia
CSKA Sofia wins on penalties
