Anderlecht recover to beat Qarabağ and advance
Thursday, December 10, 2015
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Anderlecht 2-1 Qarabağ
Three goals in six first-half minutes settled the tie as the Belgian hosts recovered from one down to book their place in the last 32.
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- All three goals come in the space of six first-half minutes
- Ex-Italy striker Stefano Okaka ends nine-game goal drought for the winner
- Anderlecht's fifth straight home victory seals runners-up spot in Group J
- Qarabağ triumphed 1-0 when the sides met on matchday two
- The round of 32 draw takes place at 13.00CET on Monday
Anderlecht made a swift recovery from going behind as they ousted Qarabağ to seal their place in Monday's UEFA Europa League round of 32 draw as Group J runners-up.
Dani Quintana well-taken goal on 26 minutes stunned the home fans, but their team would not be silenced as they roared back. A fine pass from Youri Tielemans released Andy Najar for the equaliser and Stefano Okaka then chose a fine time to return to form and turn the game on its head – there was no way back for Qarabağ.
With Monaco being dismantled at Tottenham, Qarabağ would have been through with a victory and for two first-half minutes it was on. With the Azerbaijani side having soaked up the early pressure, a switch of flanks for Quintana and Afran Ismayilov sowed a moment of uncertainty in the home back line and Quintana profited, cutting in from the right and firing in.
Anderlecht's reply was quick and deadly. Tielemans was the instigator, showing an assurance beyond his 18 years with a lovely ball through for Najar to prod in. Three minutes later and the comeback was complete as Okaka muscled his way into a central position before dispatching a shot into the near corner.
Qarabağ now needed two goals, but for all their full-blooded endeavour and Samuel Armenteros's determination against his former employers, they could not even find one. Anderlecht advance.