Success for our teams in their Europa League qualifiers

AA Gent’s 3-0 win in the second leg of their qualifying tie against the Cypriot team AEK Larnaca made for an aggregate score of 4-1 to the Buffaloes. Meanwhile, an away goal in the second period of extra time saw R Antwerp FC qualify. 

They lost 2-1 on the night, but a one-goal advantage from the first leg and an all-important away goal from Dieumerci Mbokani in the second leg were enough to see Antwerp through against the Czech side Viktoria Pilzen.

Antwerp can thank a mixture of good fortune and the goal post for having spare them from more Czech goals. As it went it was until the 82 minutes of the game that Michael Krmencik score a goal that would see the game go into extra time. It was another Krmencik goal 8 minutes into the first period of extra time that saw Pilzen go ahead for the first time. The Czech’s seemed to be heading for victory.

However, a goal from Dieumerci Mbokani (photo, below) after 114 minutes of play turned the tables and saw Antwerp rather than Pilzen go through. Antwerp will take on the Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.  

Late goals do the business for AA Gent

In a match that remained goalless until midway through the second half. AA ensured qualification to the play-off round with a 3-0 win on the night and a 3-1 aggregate victory. The Buffaloes’ opening goal came from prodigal son Laurent Depoitre on 66 minutes. Despite having a goal disallowed earlier in the game Jonathan David didn’t lose heart, the Canadian scored twice in stoppage time to make for a final score of 3-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate. AA Gent will take on the Croatian side Rijeka for a play in the group stage.              

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