Banja Luka’s Borac defeated Belarusian side ML Vitebsk in Hungary after a penalty shootout, winning 4:2 on penalties to secure a place in the Conference League qualifying play-offs.
Vitebsk took the lead late in the first half, scoring in the 46th minute.
Following a throw-in from the left, the ball was sent into the heart of the penalty area, where Kleonis reacted quickest and found the net to give Vitebsk the lead at halftime.
Borac equalized near the end of the first period of extra time to make it 1:1. Hiroš delivered a superb cross from the right and Matej Deket found the back of the Belarusian side’s net.
After several chances at both ends, Banja Luka’s side suffered a shock in the 120th minute. Kontsevoy scored from a free kick from 25 meters to make it 2:1 and send the tie to penalties.
In the penalty shootout, Borac held their nerve and won 4:2 to advance to the final qualifying round of Europe’s third-tier club competition.
Borac had won the first leg in Banja Luka seven days earlier by a narrow 1:0 scoreline.
The final obstacle standing between the Platonova Street side and the league phase of the Conference League will be Iceland’s Vikingur, who were eliminated from the third qualifying round of the Europa League by Swiss side Thun, losing 5:3 on aggregate.
Borac will play the first leg of the Conference League play-offs in Reykjavik on August 20, with the return leg scheduled seven days later at the City Stadium in Banja Luka.
Source: RTRS
