Wonder-goal helps København beat Dnipro

A wonder-goal from Bashkim Kadrii helped FC København to get past FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, and reach the UEFA Champions League play-offs.

Urged on by their home crowd, the Danish runners-up registered their second clean sheet of the tie with goals from Andreas Cornelius and Kadrii propelling them to the play-offs. Dnipro will hope for better luck as they enter the UEFA Europa League at the play-off stage.

With everything to play for after a 0-0 draw in Ukraine, FCK made a positive start. After ten minutes, striker Cornelius had an effort chalked off for offside, but the Danish international did not have to wait too long for a goal. On 36 minutes, he linked up well with wing-back Pierre Bengtsson, who took the ball to the byline before crossing for the unmarked Cornelius to score from inside in the box.  

København continued to press after the break, knowing that a Dnipro away goal could turn the tie against them. After 52 minutes, Kadrii delivered a second goal when he picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and sped past challenges before finishing his spectacular run with a finish off the far post.

Dnipro's best chance fell to Nikola Kalinić, who controlled a cross on his chest before firing just wide with just under an hour played. The hosts did a professional job of seeing the game out and could have scored a third late on, but Danny Amankwaa failed to find the target from close range.