UEFA Champions League qualifying: AEK Athens score two goals in added time to snatch play-off spot from Dinamo Zagreb
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Updated 19/08/2023 at 22:22 GMT
Into added time and heading out of Champions League qualifying, AEK Athens stunned Croatian counterparts Dinamo Zagreb with two late goals to snatch the final play-off spot. Sergio Araujo kept AEK Athens’ hopes alive with a 92nd-minute strike to level the tie before Domagoj Vida stole the winner after 102 minutes. The Greek side will face Royal Antwerp for a spot in the 2023-24 group stages.
ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 19: Domagoj Vida of AEK celebrate after UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg match between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb at AEK Arena on August 19, 2023 in Athens, Greece. (Photo by Marko Lukunic/Pixsell/MB Media/
Image credit: Eurosport
AEK Athens secured the final Champions League qualifying spot in sensational fashion, scoring twice in added time to turn the tie against Dinamo Zagreb on its head, winning 4-3 on aggregate.
With the tie itself delayed after a fan was fatally stabbed ahead of the original first-leg match, only one play-off spot remained with the other 11 teams’ fates decided on Tuesday.
Josip Sutalo put Zagreb ahead on the stroke of half-time, and Robert Ljubicic doubled the visitors' lead after an hour to put the tie firmly in the Croatian’s control.
With 92 minutes on the clock and Zagreb leading 3-2 on aggregate - and 2-0 on the night - it looked as though AEK Athens’ European journey would end in Greece.
But Sergio Araujo struck two minutes into added time to level matters, only for Domagoj Vida to score the winner 10 minutes later - in the 102nd minute - to put the Greek side into the play-offs.
The game finished 2-2 on Saturday, but AEK Athens progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
They will play Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp in the final play-off round for a spot in the 2023/24 group stages.
Champions League play-off fixtures
- Royal Antwerp (BEL) vs AEK Athens (GRE)
- Raków Czestochowa (POL) vs Copenhagen (DEN)
- Rangers (SCO) vs PSV Eindhoven (NED)
- Maccabi Haifa (ISR) vs Young Boys (SUI)
- Molde (NOR) vs Galatasaray (TUR)
- Braga (POR) vs Panathinaikos (GRE)
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