A. Kučio team, having survived an incredible drama, in the Conference League quarter-finals

2025-03-13 22:35 © „Reuters“

Armandas Kučys will extend his season in the UEFA Conference League.

On Thursday, the team represented by the Lithuanian, "Celje," experienced an incredible drama and eliminated the "Lugano" team after a series of 11-meter penalty kicks.

Let us recall that in the first match, "Celje" won 1:0 at home, while this time the regular time ended with a victory for "Lugano" 4:3, and during extra time, both teams scored another goal.

The match started more successfully for the "Lugano" team, which took the lead in the 21st minute through Mohamed Belhadji.

In the 40th minute, after a great pass from A. Kučys, Svitas Seslaras equalized the score.

However, the first half ended tragically for the visitors – "Lugano" managed to score two goals in the remaining time, with Georgios Koutsias and Danielis Dos Santos finding the back of the net.

The score of the series was equalized in the 68th minute by "Celje" defender Tamaras Svetlinas.

In the 80th minute, it seemed that "Lugano" would finally secure a place in the next round when G. Koutsias scored the fourth goal for his team.

Already in added time, "Lugano" defender Albian Hajdari not only conceded a penalty kick against his own team but also received a red card. A. Kučys stood at the 11-meter mark and sent the teams into extra time with a precise shot.

In the first half of extra time, Juanjo Nieto turned the score in favor of "Celje," and it seemed that the team with a numerical advantage would finally advance to the quarter-finals.

However, "Lugano" did not give up and, at the end of the second half of extra time, Ousmane Doumbia equalized the score once again.

Ultimately, the winner was determined in the 11-meter penalty shootout, where "Celje" converted all three attempts, while "Lugano" failed to score on three out of four attempts. A. Kučys did not participate in the penalty shootout, as he was substituted during extra time.

Other results:

"Cercle Brugge" 2:0 "Jagiellonia" (aggregate score 2:3)

"Djurgarden" 3:0 "Pafos" (aggregate score 3:1)

"Rapid" 2:1 "Borac" (aggregate score 3:2)