Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia advanced to the third qualifying round of the Europa League after defeating Azerbaijan's Qarabag in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Fyodor Lapoukhov producing the decisive performance in Sofia.
The return leg at Vasil Levski Stadium finished 0-0, matching the score from the first game in Baku. With neither side able to break the deadlock over 120 minutes, the tie was decided from the penalty spot, where CSKA prevailed 5-4.
Lapoukhov was the central figure in the victory. The Belarusian goalkeeper denied three clear scoring chances during extra time before saving Qarabag’s second penalty, taken by Matheus.
CSKA’s success came in front of club and Bulgarian football legend Hristo Stoichkov.
Hristo Yanev’s team overturned expectations against a Qarabag side with considerably more experience in European competition. The match was largely balanced, although the visitors controlled possession for longer periods and created more dangerous attacks.
