The UEFA Europa League was full of surprises and action on Thursday! It was the first leg of the second qualifying round, and several exciting matches took place across Europe. Some teams showed their strength early, while others struggled to find the back of the net.
Let’s break down what happened—plus learn some cool soccer facts along the way!
🇹🇷 Shakhtar Donetsk Shock Besiktas in Turkiye
One of the most talked-about games happened in Turkiye (Turkey), where Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine played against Besiktas, one of the top Turkish clubs.
Even though they were playing away, Shakhtar didn’t seem scared at all. In fact, they won 4-2, which gives them a big advantage before the return match next week.
How the Game Played Out:
It took only 7 minutes for Shakhtar to score. A Brazilian player named Alisson dribbled past defenders and scored, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Another Brazilian, Eguinaldo, scored the second goal before the 30th minute.
Just before halftime, Besiktas got one back. Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored from a penalty to make it 2-1.
In the second half, Shakhtar scored again—this time after an incredible 51-pass team move that ended with Kevin putting the ball in the net.
Even though Besiktas made it 3-2 late in the game with a goal from Joao Mario, Shakhtar’s Kevin scored again in stoppage time, making it 4-2!
Fun Soccer Fact:
Shakhtar now have 9 wins, 1 draw, and 0 losses against Turkish teams in European competition! That’s an amazing record.
They’ve also scored 10 goals in this season’s Europa League qualifying, more than any other team so far.
🇳🇱 Utrecht Beat Sheriff Tiraspol After Comeback
In another match, Utrecht from the Netherlands (Eredivisie) played against Sheriff Tiraspol, a club from Moldova. Even though Sheriff scored first, Utrecht came back strong to win 3-1.
⚽ Goals for Utrecht:
Souffian El Karouani was the hero. He assisted two goals—one for Victor Jensen and another for Nick Viergever.
Later, Adrian Blake scored the third goal with 20 minutes left, helping Utrecht secure the win.
Soccer Trivia:
Did you know that Sheriff Tiraspol became famous in 2021 when they beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League? That was one of the biggest upsets ever!
🇧🇬 Braga Struggle in Bulgaria
Portuguese club Sporting Braga are one of the most experienced teams in the Europa League. In fact, they’ve played in almost every season since the tournament began in its current format in 2009.
But this time, things didn’t go their way. Playing in Sofia, Bulgaria, against Levski Sofia, Braga could not score. The game ended 0-0.
Record Alert:
This was the first time Braga failed to score in an away Europa League qualifying match since the tournament began under its current name. That’s a pretty big deal!
🇨🇭 Missed Penalty in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the game between Lugano and CFR Cluj (a top team from Romania) also ended in a 0-0 draw. But there was drama early!
What Happened:
Just 11 minutes into the game, Karlo Muhar from Cluj had a chance to score from the penalty spot. But he missed!
Even though Lugano had more possession and 11 shots, they couldn’t score either.
🇧🇪 Anderlecht Edge Hacken 1-0
In Belgium, Anderlecht took on Hacken, a club from Sweden. It was a tight game, but Anderlecht found the goal they needed.
Goal of the Match:
Danish striker Kasper Dolberg scored in the 35th minute.
That goal turned out to be the winner, as Hacken couldn’t find an equalizer.
🇩🇰 Hibernian and Midtjylland Share Points
Scottish side Hibernian traveled to Denmark to face FC Midtjylland. It was a balanced match that ended 1-1.
Jamie McGrath gave Hibs the lead.
Later, Doguhan Simsir equalized in the 72nd minute for Midtjylland.
🇨🇿 Banik Ostrava and Legia Warsaw in Four-Goal Thriller
In Poland, Banik Ostrava from the Czech Republic played Legia Warsaw. This game had everything—goals, excitement, and even a last-minute twist!
Match Summary:
Banik took the lead twice during the game.
Legia came back both times to make it 2-2.
In the last minute, Banik thought they had won when Michal Frydrych scored—but it was ruled offside!
🇨🇾 Celje and AEK Larnaca Draw 1-1 in Cyprus
In Cyprus, Celje (from Slovenia) and AEK Larnaca drew 1-1. Interestingly, both goals were penalties.
AEK scored first.
Celje got their equalizer just eight minutes into the second half.
What Happens Next?
All of these matches were the first legs of the second qualifying round. That means the teams will play each other again next Thursday, switching who’s home and away.
Whoever wins on total goals after both legs will move on to the third qualifying round, which starts in August.
Teams Already Waiting in the Third Round:
Some teams already made it to the next round because they started earlier or came from Champions League qualifiers. These include:
Wolfsberger (Austria)
Fredrikstad (Norway)
PAOK (Greece)
Also, 15 teams that lost in the Champions League second qualifying round will drop into the Europa League qualifiers. That’s how UEFA gives them another chance to stay in European competition.
Europa League Quick Facts for Young Fans:
The UEFA Europa League is the second-biggest club competition in Europe, after the Champions League.
Teams that don’t qualify for the Champions League often play in the Europa League instead.
The winner of the Europa League gets a spot in next season’s Champions League!
Some famous clubs that have won the tournament include Manchester United, Sevilla, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid.
There’s still a lot to play for, and next week’s second legs will decide who goes through. Will Shakhtar keep scoring? Can Braga bounce back? Will there be more surprises?
Stay tuned! ⚽🔥
