The third round of European qualification completed during the week, further narrowing the list of Americans attempting to reach the various League Phases. Erik Palmer-Brown will breathe a sigh of relief after his team’s narrow win, while the American pair at Celtic learned their opponents as they begin their adventure next week in the play-off round.
Champions League Qualification
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty learned their opponent in the final play-off round, as they will face Kazakhstani team Kairat over two legs in their bid to reach the league phase. The first match will be on Wednesday in Glasgow. Should they fail to overcome their opponents, they will still have Europa League play as a consolation.
Europa League Qualification
Shakhtar Donetsk 0 – 0 Panathinaikos (agg. 0-0, pen. 3-4)
A second scoreless draw and nervy penalty shootout against Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk was enough to see Erik Palmer-Brown and Panathinaikos through to the play-off round on Thursday night.
The American had a solid game in central defense, completing 66 out of his 69 passes, accurately hitting three out of four long balls, winning both of his tackles and five out of six duels, while making six clearances and three recoveries.
The game was an even affair, with the teams roughly splitting possession and each taking 14 shots, albeit with scant close calls, over 120 minutes of play.
The final shootout saw the teams tied on three apiece after the first five attempts, however Panathinaikos keeper Bartlomiej Dragowski saved Pedro Henrique’s attempt on Shakhtar’s sixth shot to seal advancement.
The American was not one of his team’s six penalty takers.
Highlights of the game can be seen here:
Palmer-Brown and Panathinaikos are now guaranteed of European play in the coming months regardless of how they fare against Turkish team Samsunspor in the upcoming play-of round. An aggregate win will see them enter the Europa League league phase, while a loss will drop them into the Conference League.
Europa Conference League Qualification
Austria Wien 1 – 1 Baník Ostrava (agg. 4-5)
While the Austrians dominated most stats in comparison to their Czech guests, Maurice Malone and his teammates were ultimately done in by their own inability to fully exploit their advantage, coupled with a momentary lapse late in the first half.
Malone was active in the front line before the break and combined well with Johannes Eggestein to keep the opposing keeper under pressure.
However, Wien left back Hakim Guenouche was a bit too grabby with David Buchta as the wingback charged into the right side of the the area, leading to a penalty call that Erik Prekop easily converted to the right side of goal.
Philipp Wiesinger pulled one back for the hosts in the 67th minute, heading the ball over the line from short range after Tin Platovic’s headed attempt from a corner was initially saved.
Highlights of the game can be seen here:
Malone was pulled with 14 minutes in regulation as the hosts pushed for another goal to equalize the aggregate and force overtime, but Ostrava held strong, securing the 5-4 aggregate victory.
With their European adventure over, Malone and his teammates will focus on their domestic season in the Austrian Bundesliga, beginning with a visit to LASK on Sunday.
Notes
Neither Gavin Beavers nor Justin Che made it off of Brøndby’s bench on Thursday as they remarkably overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit to overcome Icelandic team Víkingur Reykjavík by a 4-3 aggregate margin. This came despite playing most of the match a man down due to an early red card. Brøndby face Strasbourg over two legs in the play-off round.
Rokas Pukstas was Hajduk Split’s sixth substitute in the final moments of the game’s second overtime period on Thursday, but was not able to help the team recover from Dinamo City’s 111th-minute go-ahead goal. The 3-1 overtime victory by the Albanian hosts gave them an aggregate 4-3 victory, while allowing Pukstas and his teammates to focus their attentions on domestic play this season.
Konrad de la Fuente was left off of Lausanne’s roster by head coach Peter Zeidler for performance reasons, amidst suggestions that he might be on his way out of the club. The Swiss team prevailed over their Kazakhstani hosts Astana by a 2-0 margin, winning 5-1 on aggregate. Swiss-American defender Bryan Okoh was player of the match with an assist and strong defensive performance. Lausanne next face Turkish powerhouse Beşiktaş in the play-off round.
Kenny Saief was a second-half substitute for Maccabi Haifa on Thursday as a 2-0 loss at home to Polish team saw them crash out of European competition by a 2-1 aggregate margin. Despite only having 13 minutes to work with, Saief did put his lone shot on target, but it was not enough to turn his team’s fortunes.
Aziel Jackson was an unused substitute for Jagiellonia Białystok while Leon Flach saw just over 20 minutes of action, as the Polish team drew visiting Danes Silkeborg on Thurday, to advance to the play-off by a 3-2 aggregate. They face Albanians Dinamo City in the play-off round.
