Qarabag overturn first-leg deficit to reach Conference League playoffs

Azerbaijani champions Qarabag completed a stirring second-leg recovery at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium on Thursday, defeating Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 to secure a 2-1 aggregate progression to the UEFA Conference League playoff round. The Baku side had entered the return fixture trailing by a single goal following their defeat in Poland last week.

Jaly Mouaddib provided the breakthrough in the 12th minute, calmly finishing inside the penalty area to level the tie on aggregate and shift momentum firmly toward the hosts. Aleksey Kashuk doubled the advantage in the 69th minute with a clinical strike that completed the turnaround, leaving Dynamo unable to find a response despite late pressure.

Twente await in playoff round

The victory sets up a playoff meeting with Dutch club Twente on August 20, when Qarabag will contest a two-legged tie for a place in the tournament's group stage. The return leg in the Netherlands is scheduled for seven days later.

Qarabag's defensive resilience in the closing stages denied the Ukrainian side any away goals that would have shifted the aggregate balance, ensuring the Azerbaijani representatives advanced despite their first-leg setback.