UEFA Europa Conference League round-up: Late drama as Ajax draw with Bodo/Glimt, Sturm Graz and Olympiacos win
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Updated 15/02/2024 at 22:31 GMT
Ajax staged a stunning late comeback as they drew 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off. The Dutch side had found themselves 2-0 down, but a terrific lob from Steven Berghuis means the tie is all square ahead of the return game in Norway. Elsewhere, Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth scored in a Sturm Graz victory, while Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos both win
Steven Berghuis of Ajax during the UEFA Conference League play-off match between Ajax Amsterdam and Bodo/Glimt at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on February 15, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Image credit: Getty Images
Steven Berghuis scored a stunning late goal as Ajax avoided embarrassment in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League knockout play-off.
The Dutch side, who have dropped into the competition after finishing third in their UEFA Europa League group, were well off the pace for the majority of the clash, but scrambled from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw thanks to a couple of stoppage-time goals.
Albert Gronbaek got the opener for the Norwegian outfit early on when he tucked delightfully into the bottom corner from inside the area, wrong-footing the goalkeeper in the process.
Ajax offered little in terms of a response, apart from a number of efforts that were fired off-target from distance, and found themselves 2-0 down when Gronbaek grabbed his second of the night by delightfully curling into the far corner shortly after the hour mark.
However, the hosts would stage a late comeback, as Branco van den Boomen converted from the penalty spot after Odin Bjortuft had been sent off for a foul on Brian Brobbey, before Berghuis dinked the ball over the goalkeeper, who was off his line after missing a cross.
That was a gut punch for Bodo/Glimt, who must now pick themselves up ahead of the second leg, as they attempt to reach the last 16 of a European competition for just the second time.
Goals were few and far between in the rest of the 8pm kick-offs, as Servette's clash with Ludogorets Razgrad finished 0-0.
However, it was an enjoyable night for Maccabi Haifa, who beat Gent 1-0.
Frantzdy Pierrot scored the only goal of the night for the Israeli side, in a match that was played on neutral territory in Budapest due to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.
And Bruno Petkovic was on target for Dinamo Zagreb as they registered a famous 1-0 victory in Spain against Real Betis, netting a 75th minute penalty to earn a first leg lead.
Arsenal loanee Biereth helps Sturm Graz to big win
Elsewhere, Sturm Graz took a huge step towards the last 16 of a UEFA competition for the first time, as they beat Slovan Bratislava 4-1.
The Austrian side have not competed in European football post-Christmas since reaching the second group phase of the UEFA Champions League in 2000/01.
The tie was evenly poised early on, with Arsenal loanee Mika Biereth giving the hosts the lead, before Gerson Rodrigues equalised with just eight minutes on the clock.
However, Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Otar Kiteishvili netted either side of half-time to give Graz a commanding lead ahead of the second leg.
To rub salt into the wounds, former Manchester City man Vladimir Weiss was sent off for the visitors, before Amady Camara added the fourth in injury time.
Royal Union Saint-Gilloise also finished with 10 men in their clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, as Charles Vanhoutte received his marching orders.
The midfielder picked up two yellow cards, but only after his side had come from 2-0 down to grab a 2-2 draw against their German visitors, who won the UEFA Europa League in 2021/22.
Legia Warsaw also mounted an important comeback against Molde, but fell just short of restoring parity in a clash that the Norwegian outfit won 3-2.
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Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiakos celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 Playoff First Leg match between Olympiacos FC and Ferencvarosi TC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 15, 2024 in Piraeus, Greece
Image credit: Getty Images
Fredrik Gulbrandsen scored twice for the hosts, who were 3-0 up within 24 minutes, and clung on for a slender victory against their Polish opponents.
And Olympiacos left it late, but eventually saw off Hungarian visitors Ferencvarosi 1-0, courtesy of an 83rd minute strike from Ayoub El Kaabi.
The second legs of the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs take place on Thursday, February 22.
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