Despite heavy home defeat in Sofia, CSKA continue in the Europa League

CSKA’s football team lost their home second-leg match against Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-1 in the third qualifying round of the Europa League. However, after their 3-0 away victory, the Bulgarian side advanced to the decisive playoff round of UEFA’s second-tier continental club competition with a 4-3 aggregate score.

Even if they are eliminated by OFI Crete, the “Reds” are already guaranteed European football through Christmas in the group stage of UEFA’s third competition, the Conference League.

The match in Sofia turned out to be far from a formality, and only Stefano Sensi’s 66th-minute goal spared the “Army Men” from extra time, elimination, or potentially a penalty shootout.

The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute through Dor Peretz. Despite CSKA’s attempts to change the course of the game in the second half, Maccabi were leading 2-0 by the 61st minute, after a goal from Ester Sokler.

With the score at 1-2, CSKA goalkeeper Fyodor Lopoukhov scored an own goal in the 69th minute. The hosts defended for the remainder of the match and preserved the valuable aggregate result that sent them through.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov