Conference League play-offs: Rangers, PAOK knocked out as Inter Escaldes create history

[p]Andorra will be represented in the group phase of a UEFA club competition for the very first time after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-escaldes/4CambolL/"]Inter Club d'Escaldes[/a] eliminated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/drita/bwWOjXUP/"]Drita[/a] 4-2 in a penalty shootout.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/drita-bwWOjXUP/inter-escaldes-4CambolL/?mid=xla9lS0D"]The match ended 0-0[/a] at the Estadi de la FAF, with the tie level at 2-2. Inter were the more adventurous team of the two, outshooting Drita 28-4, but only managed three attempts on target in the 120 minutes.[/p][p]The hosts shot first in the shootout, with both teams converting their first two kicks each before the third round saw the goalkeepers come up big. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jashari-igball/6DZxvRg3/"]Igball Jashari[/a] then failed to put his penalty on target in the fourth round, allowing for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/faysal-chouaib/zHsy6Ght/"]Faysal Chouaib[/a] to net the decisive kick and sent Inter through.[/p][embed guid="030d9414-6722-419e-ae5a-035aeb139244" url="https://x.com/Fedandfut/status/2093063525363061010?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Formed in 1991, Inter have only participated in the top division regularly since 2017/18. They have won five of the last seven Andorran titles, but never went farther than the second qualifying round in a European campaign before this summer.[/p][p]Drita reached the Conference League play-off stage for the third season running, qualifying for the league phase last term.[/p][p]With Inter's success, it leaves San Marino and Montenegro as the only two countries yet to have a side participate in a group stage/league phase.[/p][p]Also in the champions path, Lincoln Red Imps battled back from a two-goal first leg defeat to get the better of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/larne/44wiLnI5/"]Larne[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/larne-44wiLnI5/lincoln-red-imps-bHbMply6/?mid=6VqTuVKP"]3-0 away[/a] and 3-2 over the two legs.. [/p][p]Two goals in two minutes towards the end of normal time helped the club from Gibraltar force extra time, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/toledano-manu/IHOseDHG/"]Manu Toledano[/a]'s penalty in the 121st minute saw Lincoln advance.[/p][embed guid="db6e65e9-052a-451b-8dc3-c89daf400e58" url="https://x.com/LincolnRedImps/status/2093088601974178238?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The pair met at this stage two years ago, with Larne completing the comeback on that occasion. However, it is Lincoln who will participate in the competition proper for the second autumn in a row.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/riga-fc/l2DXxTjh/"]Riga FC[/a] also needed late heroics to battle past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/klaksvik/j9PptHXf/"]KI Klaksvik[/a] despite finishing the match with 10 men. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/m-hand-salah/O0StoCUG/"]Salah Oulad M'Hand[/a] was the hero for the home side as they [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/klaksvik-j9PptHXf/riga-fc-l2DXxTjh/?mid=hIGChqac"]prevailed 2-1 at home[/a] and 3-2 overall, making them the third Latvian team to play group phase football.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kups/nLBbqJDS/"]KuPS Kuopio[/a] took down [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/shamrock-rovers/KIN6lmnH/"]Shamrock Rovers[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/kups-nLBbqJDS/shamrock-rovers-KIN6lmnH/?mid=Q3zDcxV6"]1-0 on the night[/a], winning 3-2 across both legs. As for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/borac-banja-luka/pWGUPhrD/"]Borac Banja Luka[/a], they are back in the main round of the UECL after beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vikingur-reykjavik/hdKpCN4d/"]Vikingur Reyjavik[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/borac-banja-luka-pWGUPhrD/vikingur-reykjavik-hdKpCN4d/?mid=Olu7wZfd"]3-1[/a] for the second week in a row.[/p][h2]Rangers, PAOK among big sides to fall[/h2][p]The biggest name to be knocked out on Thursday were [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rangers/8vAWQXNS/"]Rangers[/a], who lost 4-3 in spots kicks away to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jablonec/CM8ySpMH/"]Jablonec[/a] after the Czech side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/jablonec-CM8ySpMH/rangers-8vAWQXNS/?mid=tIZATrEs"]won 1-0 in normal time.[/a][/p][p]Having taken a 1-0 advantage into the decider, the Gers had just one shot on target on the road. Their last two penalty takers both faltered, with Jablonec captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chramosta-jan/8MTkuYs9/"]Jan Chramosta[/a] providing the final blow.[/p][embed guid="54cd3820-ccfa-4102-958b-94e69f483437" url="https://x.com/FKJablonec/status/2093047021196206329?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]This will be the second time Jablonec will feature in the Conference League proper after playing in the inaugural group stage in 2021/22. As for Rangers, they will be without main round European football for the first time since 2017/18.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paok/Kry6HxA9/"]PAOK[/a] will also miss out on the league phase after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brann-QBbt6ivB/paok-Kry6HxA9/?mid=IRtfB1bD"]they were beaten 3-2 in Norway[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brann/QBbt6ivB/"]Brann[/a]. Despite battling back from two goals down, the Greek outfit were undone by a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/castro-niklas/88s58bu0/"]Niklas Castro[/a] penalty four minutes from time as the hosts held on for a 5-4 aggregate success.[/p][p]Twice have PAOK reached the UECL quarter-finals, in 2021/22 and 2023/24, but have been knocked out in qualifying twice now. Brann, on the other hand, lost at the final hurdle of qualification twice, with this being their maiden voyage into the group phase.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panathinaikos/SENMmweG/"]Panathinaikos[/a] avoided the same fate, though they required an extra 30 minutes to get past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hradec-kralove/vFXjbHms/"]Hradec Kralove[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hradec-kralove-vFXjbHms/panathinaikos-SENMmweG/?mid=pvv7YnDa"]2-1 on their travels[/a]. Over two legs, [i]Prassinoi [/i]won 4-3.[/p][p]Just like the first leg, the side from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aek/ANpZncAM/"]Athens[/a] conceded in stoppage time. They were not to be denied on this occasion, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dessers-cyriel/Srk6p31d/"]Cyriel Dessers[/a] scoring a penalty at the death to send them through.[/p][p]The sides from the top five leagues all moved on, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/monaco/2PIvr8o4/"]AS Monaco[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/freiburg/fiEQZ7C7/"]Freiburg[/a] the only two to win both legs. [i]Les Monegasques [/i][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/gornik-zabrze-2LH3Ywq4/monaco-2PIvr8o4/?mid=jJkMU4CO"]cruised to a 4-1 victory[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gornik-zabrze/2LH3Ywq4/"]Gornik Zabrze[/a], completing a 7-3 aggregate success. As for the Bundesliga outfit, they [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/freiburg-fiEQZ7C7/motherwell-YuW7ZfMM/?mid=lQebcKXo"]won by the same score on the night[/a] versus [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/motherwell/YuW7ZfMM/"]Motherwell[/a], triumphing 7-2 across the two matches.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a], held to a goalless draw last week in Norway, made the most of their chances at home to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tromso/25HpQh9o/"]Tromso[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/brighton-2XrRecc3/tromso-25HpQh9o/?mid=lGvTfL7t"]completing a dominant 4-0 win[/a]. The Seagulls scored thrice in the opening 45 minutes, adding a fourth towards the end to secure a spot in the league phase.[/p][embed guid="fce0b900-dd54-4b5f-92d5-29e57bdc867d" url="https://x.com/BHAFC/status/2093073056092623331?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atalanta/8C9JjMXu/"]Atalanta[/a] only managed one goal against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hapoel-tel-aviv/jigstDrf/"]Hapoel Tel Aviv[/a], scored by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scamacca-gianluca/vDgQxOYl/"]Gianluca Scamacca[/a]. The striker found the back of the net less than a minute after coming on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atalanta-8C9JjMXu/hapoel-tel-aviv-jigstDrf/?mid=4ddOmtKb"]in the 1-0 success[/a]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/getafe/dboeiWOt/"]Getafe[/a] held on for a 4-3 aggregate win against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/partizan/8OLvlKz0/"]Partizan Belgrade[/a], but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/getafe-dboeiWOt/partizan-8OLvlKz0/?mid=WEI0QlgJ"]lost the return match 2-1[/a] in the Serbian capital.[/p][p]Denmark will have four teams in the UECL proper, after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-copenhagen/hSPZwbEh/"]FC Kobenhavn[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/midtjylland/8GZDmdbB/"]FC Midtjylland[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nordsjaelland/2wZHnGDH/"]FC Nordsjaelland[/a] all prevailed in their respective play-off ties. Joining them will be [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aarhus/OOXnKGbO/"]AGF[/a], one of the 12 defeated sides from the Europa League play-off round.[/p][p]Elsewhere, Hadjuk Split ended a 15-year wait to play group phase football again after defeating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rakow-czestochowa/SQOrbYim/"]Rakow[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hajduk-split-2w5qgpq0/rakow-SQOrbYim/?mid=ngZChjmA"]3-2 in extra time[/a]. The Croatian outfit held their nerve after conceding in the 88th minute to force the 30-minute period, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pukstas-rokas/vZk0SkHt/"]Rokas Pukstas[/a] finding the winner in the 94th minute.[/p][embed guid="d87779b1-1a30-49ea-bf72-69649fe76c0d" url="https://x.com/FootRankings/status/2093060536166494630?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hajduk-split/2w5qgpq0/"]Hajduk[/a] advanced 5-4 on aggregate, ensuring Poland will not have any UECL teams this time around.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hibernian/f5Fnxcx4/"]Hibernian[/a] suffered late heartbreak in their match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gent/MgkzUx7T/"]Gent[/a], with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/changa-chaiwa-miguel/2J7eJgQC/"]Miguel Chaiwa[/a]'s own goal at the beginning of stoppage time helping the Belgians [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/gent-MgkzUx7T/hibernian-f5Fnxcx4/?mid=AHHQm70k"]to a 3-2 victory in Edinburgh[/a]. That was also the aggregate score, as the first leg ended goalless.[/p][p]Gent have successfully negotiated the UECL qualifiers for the fourth time, more than any other team.[/p][p]Europa League regulars [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/braga/dpUer7ht/"]Sporting Braga[/a] finished off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria-vienna/lvnOzIkE/"]Austria Wien[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/austria-vienna-lvnOzIkE/braga-dpUer7ht/?mid=tbLrYwOG"]as their 0-0 draw away[/a] was enough to advance, having won 2-0 in the first leg.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/twente/dhOKTHGA/"]Twente[/a] overcame [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/qarabag-agdam/Qgd3eSin/"]Qarabag[/a] thanks to a very late goal from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruns-max/xGYd4bRn/"]Max Bruns[/a], which pushed the match into extra time. From there, the Eredivisie outfit scored twice more [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/qarabag-Qgd3eSin/twente-dhOKTHGA/?mid=ANKmKyyh"]to win 4-1 in Azerbaijan[/a] and 4-2 overall. They, along with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a], will be the Dutch representatives after the former European Cup winners [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ajax-8UOvIwnb/sion-KbwIFIoN/?mid=MeyRP0D6"]triumphed 5-3[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sion/KbwIFIoN/"]Sion[/a] and 9-5 in total.[/p][embed guid="84d37558-a5fa-4f47-98f2-2cd44c7a33fc" url="https://x.com/fctwente/status/2093050040520700007?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hearts/0rGrwwNc/"]Hearts[/a] are the only Scottish team to make it to the UECL proper after they needed penalties to edge out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rapid-vienna/rejcUFSs/"]Rapid Wien[/a] on Wednesday after the sides [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/hearts-0rGrwwNc/sk-rapid-rejcUFSs/?mid=ILkpVekn"]drew 2-2 once more[/a].[/p][p]Playing down a man for the whole second half plus extra time, the Jam Tarts held on before winning the shootout 4-3.[/p][p]The other teams to make it through the Conference League's play-off round were [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lugano/IHaUjgT1/"]Lugano[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pafos/n99DUVW8/"]Pafos[/a].[/p][p]The league phase draw is set to take place Friday in Monaco as the 36 teams will discover their six opponents. Action will not start again until mid-October, with all six matchdays occurring between then and December.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/europe/conference-league/"]Follow the UEFA Conference League action on Flashscore, with the competition returning in October.[/a][/b][/p]