KuPS drop into Conference League play-offs after defeat to Craiova in Romania

[p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/kups-nLBbqJDS/univ-craiova-bsd9fGaK/?mid=h6luiAbT"]Universitatea Craiova 2-1 KuPS (3-2 on aggregate)[/a][/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kups/nLBbqJDS/"]KuPS[/a] rallied to come from behind in the second half of the previous week's 1-1 draw in Kuopio, but they travelled to Romania as outsiders to get the result needed to reach the play-off round.[/p][p]But that tag went out of the window just four minutes in, when the visitors attacked down the left before a low cross was controlled at the edge of the area by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jyry-tommi/6BJCj58h/"]Tommi Jyry[/a]. [b]He set the ball back for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gasc-valentin/QeeGhG1h/"]Valentin Gasc[/a], who curled it beyond the goalkeeper from 25 yards.[/b][/p][p]The Finnish side, coming under pressure from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baiaram-stefan/z9fwglZ5/"]Stefan Baiaram[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mekvabishvili-anzor/xEvKuK7K/"]Anzor Mekvabishvili[/a], were not able to hold out until the break, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/magassa-brahima/hbFRyf6a/"]Brahima Magassa[/a] conceded a foul inside the area, allowing [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nsimba-steven/hM1jofUo/"]Steven Nsimba[/a] to send [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kreidl-johannes/U5piqW3F/"]Johannes Kreidl[/a] the wrong way from the penalty spot[/b] in the 43rd minute.[/p][p]That goal galvanised Craiova, who looked the more dangerous as the second half began, and the second goal they were threatening arrived just after the hour mark, when [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/al-hamlawi-assad/tGGM3eK6/"]Assad Al Hamlawi[/a] squared the ball for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mora-carlos/tdoUZac0/"]Carlos Mora[/a] to hit, and his swerving effort from range flew past Kreidl[/b] to give the hosts the aggregate lead again.[/p][p]Kreidl atoned by keeping KuPS in the tie with a fine save from Baiaram, but after a late [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pennanen-petteri/dGM43Ult/"]Petteri Pennanen[/a] strike was comfortably dealt with, the away side were resigned to defeat and a drop down to the UECL. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/univ-craiova/bsd9fGaK/"]Univ Craiova[/a] will take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ararat-armenia/xlT9cL89/"]Ararat-Armenia[/a] for a place in the UEL League Phase.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/europe/europa-league/"]Follow all the UEL qualifiers on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]