FootyDream

Ghanaian winger Joseph Paintsil played a dual role of hero and villain as KRC Genk faced elimination in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers on Thursday evening.

The Black Stars forward found the back of the net and experienced a sending off when Genk battled Olympiacos to a 1-1 draw at the Cegeka Arena.

Olympiacos secured a late-game triumph to advance to the next round with a 2-1 aggregate victory over the two legs.

Paintsil confidently converted a penalty, granting the Belgian club the lead halfway through the match.

However, the Ghanaian’s fortunes took a turn when he received a direct red card in the 65th minute, reducing Genk to ten players and offering the visitors an advantage for the remainder of the game.

In deep stoppage-time, midfielder Sotiris Alexandropolous netted the equalizer for Olympiacos, propelling them to the final round of qualifiers.

After transitioning from the Champions League to the Europa League a few weeks ago, Genk now descends to the Europa Conference League, where they are set to face Turkish side Adana Demirspor in the concluding stage of the qualifications.

Ghanaian forward Bernard Tekpetey showcased his exceptional goal-scoring abilities as he netted twice for Ludogorets Razgrad 1945 in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers on Thursday evening.

The former Schalke 04 player delivered a remarkable performance, guiding his team to a convincing home victory against FC Astana in Bulgaria, securing their advancement to the playoffs stage of the tournament.

Tekpetey’s opening goal came in the midst of the first 45 minutes, providing his team with an early advantage through a skillfully executed strike.

In the second half, Tekpetey continued to shine, completing a brace by adding his team’s third goal. This followed Jakub Piotrowski’s effort that had restored the lead for the home side, subsequent to Dembo Darboe’s equalizer, extending the scoreline to 3-1.

Piotrowski and Kiril Despodov further bolstered the lead with the fourth and fifth goals, respectively, culminating in a resounding 5-1 final score in favor of the Green and Whites Eagles.

Ghanaian star Ibrahim Sadiq shone brightly for BK Hacken as he scored an impressive brace during their successful Europa League qualification match against FK Zalgiris on Thursday night.

After a period of not finding the net in his previous appearance for the club, the dynamic winger made a remarkable comeback to goal-scoring form. He executed two clinical finishes and even contributed to another goal, contributing significantly to their convincing 5-0 victory on their home ground.

Sadiq’s first goal of the match showcased his composed accuracy as he calmly slotted the ball into the net from within the 18-yard box. The setup for the opportunity came from a superb crossfield pass by a teammate, extending their lead to 3-0 following two earlier goals.

Sadiq didn’t stop there and swiftly added another goal to his name, this time from the penalty spot, further extending their advantage to an unassailable 4-0 lead. The fifth and final goal was scored during injury time in the second half, solidifying a comprehensive triumph that left no doubts about BK Hacken’s supremacy.

The commanding 5-0 victory against FK Zalgiris results in an impressive 8-1 aggregate victory for BK Hacken, earning them a matchup against Aberdeen in the final qualifying round.