CSKA Sofia Edge Qarabag 5-4 in Penalty Thriller

CSKA Sofia Hold Nerve in Penalty Drama

CSKA Sofia squeezed past Qarabag 5-4 on penalties after 120 minutes of deadlocked tension in the Europa League 2nd qualifying round, the Bulgarian side’s spot-kick precision breaking Azerbaijani hearts in Sofia.

Qarabag Dominate But Can’t Convert

The visitors controlled 58% possession and fired 10 corners at CSKA’s backline, Marko Jankovic forcing a smart save before the break. But Qarabag’s frustration grew as Bence Várkonyi and Jankovic both saw yellow in a spiky second half – the latter’s 50th-minute booking foreshadowing his crucial penalty miss later.

CSKA’s Disciplinary Tightrope

Hristo Yanev’s men collected six yellows, Bruno Jordão and Leandro Godoy both hooked after early cautions. Teen substitute Jonathan Eto’o somehow avoided red for a wild 74th-minute lunge, the hosts clinging on through sheer bloody-mindedness as Qarabag’s 7 blocked shots told the story of Bulgarian resistance.

Penalty Shootout Agony and Ecstasy

Jankovic buried Qarabag’s first spot-kick, only for Matheus Silva to sky theirs at 1-1. CSKA’s Teodor Ivanov and Jean-Philippe Gbamin held their nerve before Eto’o – the walking disciplinary timebomb – smashed home the decider after Jankovic’s earlier miss proved fatal.

The Vasil Levski erupts as CSKA progress, while Qurban Qurbanov’s side return to Baku wondering how 10 corners and 5 shots on target yielded nothing. For Sofia, a rare European night to remember; for Qarabag, the long flight home with only regrets for company.

Key Moments

120+1′ ⚽ Qarabag — M. Jankovic

120+1′ ⚽ CSKA Sofia — I. Pittas

120+2′ ⚽ CSKA Sofia — T. Ivanov

120+3′ ⚽ Qarabag — J. Mouaddib

120+3′ ⚽ CSKA Sofia — J. Gbamin

120+4′ ⚽ Qarabag — R. Cephas

120+4′ ⚽ CSKA Sofia — S. Sensi

120+5′ ⚽ Qarabag — J. Montiel

120+5′ ⚽ CSKA Sofia — J. Eto'o

🔮 Before kick-off: our match preview & prediction.