Champions League: Teams qualify for play-offs
Spectacular clashes were seen in the second legs of the Champions League's third qualifying round.
Fenerbahçe Istanbul, FC Copenhagen, Club Brugge, and FC Pafos are among the teams that have qualified for the play-offs following their home games.
Fenerbahçe Istanbul, led by Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho, trounced Feyenoord Rotterdam 5-2 in a match officiated by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs. The Dutch runners-up had won the first leg 2-1 and even took the lead in the return leg with a goal from Japanese player Tsuyoshi Watanabe.
Fener turned the tie around before halftime, thanks to goals from Englishman Archie Brown and Colombian Jhon Duran. The home side scored again after the break through Brazilian Fred and Moroccan Youssef En-Nesyri, but Feyenoord responded with another goal from Watanabe. Brazilian Anderson Talisca scored the final goal, and in the play-offs, Fener will have a tough two-legged tie against Benfica Lisbon.
FC Copenhagen gave Swedish side Malmö FF a real footballing lesson. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, the Danish champions won 5-0 on home soil. For a place in the Champions League's new single-league stage, the team led by Jacob Neestrup will play against FC Basel from Switzerland.
An electrifying clash took place in Belgium. Club Brugge defeated RB Salzburg 3-2, after also winning the away leg 1-0. The Belgian runners-up went down 2-0 but staged a sensational comeback, equalizing before Hans Vanaken scored the winner in the 94th minute. In the play-offs, Club Brugge will face Scottish club Glasgow Rangers.
Also close to the new single-league stage of the Champions League are the Cypriot champions. FC Pafos defeated Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 at home after a 1-0 win in the first leg, and will now face Crvena Zvezda in a two-legged tie.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
