Slovan Bratislava 2-0 Mjallby (4-1 on aggregate)
Victory on their UCL debut against Lincoln Red Imps of Gibraltar was Mjallby's only victory in their previous 11 competitive games heading into this crunch second leg in the Slovakian capital. Yet, they made the brighter start here, as early opportunities fell to Tom Pettersson and Aki Samuelsen, before Villiam Granath’s looping header grazed the roof of the net.
Slovan did not need to force the issue too much with a coveted 2-1 first-leg lead to protect, but Mykola Kukharevych had the game’s first shot on target when his close-range strike was parried behind by Robin Wallinder.
The hosts looked the more likely to break the deadlock with half-time approaching, as Wallinder manoeuvred himself well to push away Suleiman Camara’s awkward swerving effort. Despite a positive start, this was a frustrating opening 45 minutes for Mjallby, who failed to test Slovan goalkeeper Dominik Takac before the break and were perhaps feeling the effects of selling Sweden international and first-leg scorer Elliot Stroud to Hull City.
There was no question that the momentum was in favour of Toure’s side, and they took a deserved 47th-minute lead thanks to Camara. The Gambian jinked his way in from the left flank and unleashed a fine right-footed strike past Wallinder to give the Slovakian champions a 3-1 aggregate lead.
Jeppe Kjaer sought to provide an immediate response when his troublesome deflected attempt was pushed over by Takac, as Gulsvart’s UCL hopes hung by a thread. That thread had seemingly been cut when Alasana Yirajang became the second Gambian to score on the night, after he also exploited space down the left-hand side and coolly dispatched a right-footed finish beyond Wallinder in the 78th minute.
Ultimately, Karl Marius Aksum’s men exited the UCL with a whimper, and will have to settle for a place in the Europa League play-off round. They face a tussle with either Pafos or Red Bull Salzburg, knowing that League Phase football is still assured even in defeat, as they will enter the UEFA Conference League.
The Belasi have one more hurdle to surpass after claiming a seventh win in their last eight home UCL qualifiers. Victory over Ararat-Armenia in the play-off round would end a two-season absence from the UCL league phase.
