Roundup of the knockout play-offs in 2023-24 UEFA Europa Conference League.
With Aston Villa safely through to the Round of 16, there was no English involvement but there were still big names involved as Ajax and Eintracht Frankfurt were amongst top teams who had to fight for a spot in the next knockout round.
Maccabi Haifa vs Gent
Frantzdy Pierrot’s 65th minute winner put Maccabi Haifa in control with a first leg win at home, with qualification confirmed through Pierrot’s fourth minute goal to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory despite drawing 1-1 away at Gent after Abdoulaye Seck’s own-goal.
Ajax vs Bodø/Glimt
Late goal from Branco van den Boomen and Steven Berghius saw Ajax fight back to snatch a 2-2 draw at home in the first leg, after Albert Grønbæk’s brace had put Bodø/Glimt ahead.
Kenneth Taylor netted a 114th minute winner to send Ajax through 4-3 on aggregate, after Berghuis’ opening goal in the second leg was cancelled out by Patrick Berg as the Norwegian club fought back to force extra-time.
Real Betis vs Dinamo Zagreb
Bruno Petkovic’s 78th minute penalty saw Dinamo Zagreb take a 1-0 away win in the first leg, before Takuro Kaneko’s second leg equaliser secured a 2-1 aggregate win despite a 1-1 draw in the second leg after Cedric Bakambu put Betis ahead at half time.
Servette vs Ludogorets Razgrad
Ludogorets Razgrad held Servette to a goalless first leg at home but ultimately lost 1-0 on aggregate in the second leg, as Timothe Cognat netted a sixth minute winner for the Swiss team.
Eintract Frankfurt vs Union Saint-Gilloise
Comeback goals from Mathias Rasmussen and Gustaf Nilsson saw Union Saint-Gilloise come from behind to draw 2-2 in the first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, after Fares Chaibi and Sasa Kalajdzic had put the Bundesliga club 2-0 up in the opening ten minutes.
Second-half goals from Cameron Puertas and Dennis-Yerai Eckert saw Union Saint-Gilloise complete their comeback to prevail 4-3 on aggregate, plus a 2-1 second leg win after Eric Ebimbe snatched a late consolatory goal for Frankfurt.
Olympiacos vs Ferencvaros
Ayoub El Kaabi fired Olympiacos to a 1-0 first leg win at home which eventually helped the Greek side advance via a 2-0 aggregate win, after his 45th minute penalty secured another 1-0 win in the second leg.
Molde vs Legia Warsaw
First-half brace from Fredrik Gulbrandsen and a goal from Markus Andre Kaasa saw Molde prevail 3-2 in the first leg, despite Josue and Rafal Augustyniak reducing Legia Warsaw’s deficit with second-half goals.
Gulbrandsen again scored twice in the second leg to wrap up a 6-2 aggregate win for Molde as Eirik Hestad completed a 3-0 second leg triumph in Warsaw.
Sturm Graz vs Slovan Bratislava
Mika Biereth, Jon Stankovic, Otar Kiteishvili and Amady Camara all netted in a 4-1 first leg victory for Sturm Graz at home, despite Gerson Rodrigues’ brief equaliser for Bratislava.
Bratislava went on to lose the second leg 1-0 at home after Biereth’s 52nd minute goal sealed a 5-1 aggregate win for Sturm Graz.
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