Conference League qualifying: Inter Club d'Escaldes near history as Swiss trio advance

[p]The biggest story of the round came in Estonia, where Andorran side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-escaldes/4CambolL/"]Inter Club d'Escaldes[/a] scored thrice in 12 second-half minutes to complete [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/flora-zLFV5ykn/inter-escaldes-4CambolL/?mid=zyFLGRSI"]a dominant 4-0 success[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/flora/zLFV5ykn/"]Flora Tallinn[/a]. That, combined with their 2-0 home win last week, sends them through 6-0 over the two legs.[/p][p]Inter, playing in Europe for the seventh season in a row, had never gotten farther than the second qualifying round before this summer. That changed after they were given a bye to this stage despite their elimination in the Champions League first qualifying round.[/p][embed guid="0f46d142-5b62-4f89-afd3-e064a09e6520" url="https://x.com/FootRankings/status/2087959732338168122?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The club from Escaldes-Engordany are Andorra's second-ever playoff round participants after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ue-santa-coloma/6kBSnSvE/"]UE Santa Coloma[/a] achieved the same feat two years ago. However, no side from the microstate have ever gotten to the group stage/league phase in Europe. The only other nations that can make the same claim are San Marino and Montenegro.[/p][p]Flora made the Conference League group stage in 2021/22, but have yet to make it back since.[/p][p]Inter's next opponent are Kosovo's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/drita/bwWOjXUP/"]Drita[/a], who [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/drita-bwWOjXUP/tre-fiori-Yq1P1sCB/?mid=MaTv5OMa"]enjoyed a 5-0 victory[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tre-fiori/Yq1P1sCB/"]Tre Fiori[/a]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nguena-kemelho/ObXa1X1B/"]Kemelho Nguena[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/manaj-arb/Q55JkbXd/"]Arb Manaj[/a] scored twice each for the home side, who move on 9-1 on aggregate. [/p][p]Drita made the knockout round playoffs in the UECL last term, ultimately falling to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/celje/SpbURe4O/"]Celje[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/borac-banja-luka/pWGUPhrD/"]Borac Banja Luka[/a] needed penalties to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ml-vitebsk/UkzXzc1n/"]ML Vitebsk[/a] after the team from Belarus, making their European debut, scored in the 125 minute in extra time [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/borac-banja-luka-pWGUPhrD/ml-vitebsk-UkzXzc1n/?mid=pKgCMmd2"]to win 2-1 on the night[/a].[/p][p]With the aggregate score being 2-2, Borac held their nerve from the spot, converting all four of their attempts to triumph 4-2 in the shootout.[/p][p]In Hungary, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/riga-fc/l2DXxTjh/"]Riga FC[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caio-ferreira/8hlNbBwk/"]Caio Ferreira[/a] was the hero for the visitors, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/gyor-4WnsYev9/riga-fc-l2DXxTjh/?mid=ENiII4Gt"]who drew 1-1 away[/a] to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gyor/4WnsYev9/"]Gyor[/a]. That was just enough for them to prevail 2-1 overall and make the playoff round for the second year running. They have never gotten further than that in a UEFA club competition.[/p][h2]Swiss trio move through[/h2][p]It was a very good day for Switzerland's three teams, who all managed to advance to the playoff round.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lugano/IHaUjgT1/"]Lugano[/a] were given the most trouble, having went down 2-0 at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nsi-runavik/UaOluym1/"]NSI Runavik[/a] with half an hour left. It did not take long for the visitors to recover, retaking the aggregate lead five minutes later before adding another later on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/lugano-IHaUjgT1/nsi-runavik-UaOluym1/?mid=6Bsz4c2d"]to complete a 2-2 draw[/a] and 4-2 victory overall.[/p][p][i]Bianconeri [/i]will be looking to make the UECL proper for the second time after doing so in 2024/25.[/p][embed guid="8a5b55fb-080d-4b11-8f8c-5151863b60ed" url="https://x.com/FCLugano1908/status/2087982025210765777?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sion/KbwIFIoN/"]Sion[/a] were also able to successfully negotiate their match against Armenia's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/noah/IeATrtcs/"]Noah[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/noah-IeATrtcs/sion-KbwIFIoN/?mid=j1ORRiyK"]winning 2-1 at home[/a]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/boteli-winsley/4rr4MzGc/"]Winsley Boteli[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baltazar/Q3IRxGoj/"]Baltazar[/a] got the goals for the hosts as they move through. [/p][p]Sion had played in the Europa League group stage 11 years ago, getting as far as the round of 32.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/st-gallen/bkxMEx1T/"]St. Gallen[/a] had far fewer issues in their tie as they topped [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sheriff-tiraspol/KfATZRQt/"]Sheriff Tiraspol[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/sheriff-tiraspol-KfATZRQt/st-gallen-bkxMEx1T/?mid=EuLVMdjo"]5-1 to complete a resounding 8-2 aggregate win[/a]. Two players scored braces for [i]Espen, [/i]allowing them to qualify for the playoff round just as they did two years ago.[/p][p]On both previous occasions where St. Gallen made it to the final qualifying round, they advanced past that stage.[/p][h2]Dinamo Tirana complete turnaround as big names struggle[/h2][p]There were some comebacks throughout the week in the UECL, with the largest one coming from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dinamo-city/KdZNQkgm/"]Dinamo Tirana[/a]. The Albanian club got past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fk-auda-riga/n9K4jY6A/"]FK Auda[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/auda-n9K4jY6A/dinamo-city-KdZNQkgm/?mid=2cByswaE"]4-0 at home[/a] to progress 4-1 on aggregate.[/p][p]Two goals in either half did the trick for Dinamo, who are one of two teams to make this season's playoff stage from the opening qualifying round. They also made it this far a year ago before being knocked out.[/p][embed guid="94c65d96-4110-4b1a-9068-1c599546a552" url="https://x.com/TheMatchdayMan/status/2088009395670221113?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Also winning a third tie of the summer is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-turku/QwkNUoNH/"]Inter Turku[/a] thanks to their 4-3 result over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vaduz/G6Ih9GOj/"]Vaduz[/a]. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/inter-turku-QwkNUoNH/vaduz-G6Ih9GOj/?mid=Ys9sR10N"]The game ended 2-2 in Liechtenstein[/a], which was just enough for the Finnish outfit to move on.[/p][p]This is the farthest [i]Sinimustat [/i]have reached in Europe in a season where they got past the second hurdle for just the second time.[/p][p]Some of the more established names in the round had a much tougher time in their deciders. Four-time European Cup champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a], for instance, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ajax-8UOvIwnb/shelbourne-OjQROO8j/?mid=S6cf4xMb"]could only manage a 2-2 draw[/a] at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/shelbourne/OjQROO8j/"]Shelbourne[/a]. The Dutch giants still moved on 5-3 in total, but it was much more work than they would have expected.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/braga/dpUer7ht/"]Sporting Braga[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/braga-dpUer7ht/din-minsk-Wtzu8xF1/?mid=t65FZfil"]failed to find the back of the net[/a] against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/din-minsk/Wtzu8xF1/"]Dinamo Minsk[/a] in Bulgaria, only scraping through thanks to their solitary goal from the opening leg.[/p][p]Former UECL quarter-finalists [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gent/MgkzUx7T/"]Gent[/a] held off a late [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ifk-goteborg/UovQtopk/"]IFK Goteborg[/a] attack to move on 2-1 over two legs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/gent-MgkzUx7T/goteborg-UovQtopk/?mid=S0tzaBKa"]despite a 1-1 home stalemate[/a].[/p][p]On Tuesday, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panathinaikos/SENMmweG/"]Panathinaikos[/a] needed extra time to finish off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cska-1948-sofia/fgaHZGUb/"]CSKA 1948 Sofia[/a], with the Greek side getting their winner from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dessers-cyriel/Srk6p31d/"]Cyriel Dessers[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/cska-1948-sofia-fgaHZGUb/panathinaikos-SENMmweG/?mid=YR4aowY9"]to come out on top 2-1 away[/a]. The aggregate score ended 3-2 for [i]Prassinoi. [/i][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brann/QBbt6ivB/"]Brann[/a] were also in need of an extra 30 minutes to get past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/apollon-limassol/pjUEaE29/"]Apollon Limassol[/a] after scoring a stoppage-time leveller. Going behind once again in the opening period of extra time, the Norwegians recovered once again before adding another.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/apollon-pjUEaE29/brann-QBbt6ivB/?mid=Wjf10N0C"]The victory 4-2 in Cyprus[/a] (4-3 on aggregate) ended a six-game winless run in European away matches for the side from Bergen.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fc-copenhagen/hSPZwbEh/"]FC Kobenhavn[/a] cruised through on Wednesday against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/debrecen/8KymAhn2/"]Debrecen[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/debrecen-8KymAhn2/fc-copenhagen-hSPZwbEh/?mid=WE22s2T6"]winning 5-1 at home[/a] to move on 8-1 overall. They were joined by fellow Danish sides [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] in the playoff round on Thursday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rapid-vienna/rejcUFSs/"]Rapid Wien[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/paide-CAjWlFop/sk-rapid-rejcUFSs/?mid=6m9JW5Wo"]also progressed[/a] on Wednesday against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paide-linnameeskond/CAjWlFop/"]Paide[/a], with local rivals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria-vienna/lvnOzIkE/"]Austria Wien[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/austria-vienna-lvnOzIkE/beitar-jerusalem-t2BgeFT0/?mid=Y7E5PeBj"]needing penalties a day later[/a] versus [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/beitar-jerusalem/t2BgeFT0/"]Beiter Jerusalem[/a] make it through.[/p][p]The 30 third qualifying round winners are now through to the playoff round, joining five direct entrants and 13 losing teams from the Europa League. The 24 teams that prevail in the two-legged ties taking place over the next two weeks, along with the 12 defeated teams in the UEL playoffs, will qualify for the league phase, which begins in October.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/europe/conference-league/"]Follow the closing stages of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]