CSKA Sofia Edges Qarabag in Penalty Shootout

CSKA Sofia 0-0 Qarabag (5-4 on penalties) at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy ended goalless after 120 tense minutes before the Bulgarians held their nerve from the spot to edge this UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round tie. With no league standings context available, the significance is purely continental: CSKA progress after a disciplined, attritional display, while Qarabag exit despite having more of the ball and the clearer chances.

Match Report

The first half unfolded as a tight, physical contest with few clear openings and growing tension. The tone was set on 39' when Bruno Jordão (CSKA Sofia) collected a yellow card for tripping, reflecting the hosts’ willingness to break up Qarabag’s passing rhythm in midfield.

Early in the second half, CSKA’s aggression again drew the referee’s attention. On 48', Leandro Godoy (CSKA Sofia) was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct, underlining the increasingly fractious nature of the battle for second balls.

Qarabag’s midfield enforcer Marko Janković (Qarabag) went into the book on 50' for roughing, a sign that the visitors were also prepared to foul to stop transitions. Five minutes later, on 55', Bence Várkonyi (Qarabag) was shown a yellow card for roughing as CSKA tried to release their forwards more directly.

The first wave of substitutions arrived on 70' as Qarabag sought extra attacking thrust: Renaldo Cephas replaced Kady Borges (Qarabag), adding fresh legs in the final third. A minute later, on 71', CSKA responded by injecting energy into midfield, with James Eto'o replacing Bruno Jordão (CSKA Sofia).

Eto'o’s impact was immediate in terms of intensity, but also ill-disciplined. On 74', James Eto'o (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card for roughing, another example of CSKA using fouls to disrupt Qarabag’s build-up.

Qarabag then made a triple substitution on 82' to tilt the game further in their favour. Cebrail Makreckis replaced Bədavi Hüseynov (Qarabag), Bruno Langa came on for Elvin Cafarquliyev (Qarabag), and Jaly Mouaddib replaced Olexiy Kashchuk (Qarabag), effectively refreshing both the back line and creative midfield options for the closing stages of normal time.

CSKA’s response came on 89', with Joël Zwarts replacing Leandro Godoy (CSKA Sofia) to offer a different profile in attack as penalties loomed.

Qarabag made another offensive tweak deep into stoppage time of the second half: on 90+2', Joni Montiel replaced Abdellah Zoubir (Qarabag), adding a fresh playmaker for extra time.

Extra time began in the same combative vein. On 95', Ángelo Martino (CSKA Sofia) was booked for holding as Qarabag tried to exploit the flanks. Four minutes later, on 99', Martino made way, with Mohamed Amine Brahimi replacing him (CSKA Sofia), a move that aimed to preserve defensive solidity while adding some pace on the left.

Qarabag adjusted their forward line on 100', with Musa Qurbanlı replacing Zakaria Sawo (Qarabag) to offer a different reference point up front against tiring CSKA defenders.

In added time at the end of the first extra-time period, on 105+3', Teodor Ivanov (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card for roughing, another example of CSKA’s readiness to sacrifice aesthetics for control. Qarabag’s Bruno Langa (Qarabag) was then booked for roughing on 106', as the physical battle remained finely poised.

With penalties approaching, tempers still flared. On 112', Joël Zwarts (CSKA Sofia) was shown a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct, the sixth caution for the hosts in a bruising encounter.

After 120 minutes without a goal from open play, the tie moved to a penalty shootout. The sequence unfolded as follows, all efforts unassisted:

On 120+1', Marko Janković (Qarabag) converted his penalty, followed at the same 120+1' mark by Ioannis Pittas (CSKA Sofia), who calmly replied to keep the scores level in the shootout.

At 120+2', Matheus Silva (Qarabag) missed his penalty, a pivotal moment that handed CSKA an early advantage. Teodor Ivanov (CSKA Sofia) then scored at 120+2', capitalising on that miss to put CSKA ahead in the shootout.

On 120+3', Jaly Mouaddib (Qarabag) found the net from the spot, but Jean-Philippe Gbamin (CSKA Sofia) immediately restored CSKA’s cushion with a composed conversion at 120+3'.

The drama continued at 120+4' as Renaldo Cephas (Qarabag) scored, keeping Qarabag alive. Stefano Sensi (CSKA Sofia) responded at 120+4' with another successful kick, maintaining CSKA’s edge.

At 120+5', Joni Montiel (Qarabag) converted his penalty to pile pressure on the final CSKA taker, but James Eto'o (CSKA Sofia) stepped up at 120+5' and scored, sealing a 5-4 shootout victory for CSKA Sofia after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

xG: not available vs not available
Possession: 42% vs 58%
Shots on Target: 3 vs 5
Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available
Blocked Shots: 3 vs 7

The statistical profile underlines a Qarabag side that controlled territory and tempo (58% possession, 5 shots on target to CSKA’s 3) yet could not convert that superiority into a decisive goal. CSKA, by contrast, accepted a reactive role, defended deep, and relied on volume and bravery in the block (3 blocked shots for CSKA, but notably 7 for Qarabag, reflecting how often the visitors’ defenders had to step out to deny CSKA’s sporadic attacks). With xG data unavailable, the balance of shots on target and possession suggests Qarabag fashioned the better opportunities, but CSKA’s compact shape and repeated tactical fouls effectively dragged the contest into a low-margin scenario where a penalty shootout became their likeliest route to progression.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

With no league standings information provided for either CSKA Sofia or Qarabag, the impact can only be framed within this UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round tie. CSKA’s shootout win sends them into the next qualifying stage, extending their European campaign and the associated financial and sporting benefits. Qarabag, despite dictating possession and creating more on-target efforts, exit the competition at this hurdle, curtailing their continental ambitions for the season.

Lineups & Personnel

CSKA Sofia Starting XI

GK: Fedor Lapoukhov
DF: Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, Facundo Rodríguez, Ángelo Martino
MF: Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Max Ebong, Stefano Sensi, Bruno Jordão
FW: Ioannis Pittas, Leandro Godoy

Qarabag Starting XI

GK: Mateusz Kochalski
DF: Matheus Silva, Bədavi Hüseynov, Bence Várkonyi, Elvin Cafarquliyev
MF: Pedro Bicalho, Marko Janković, Olexiy Kashchuk, Kady Borges, Abdellah Zoubir
FW: Zakaria Sawo

Post-Match Verdict

CSKA Sofia delivered a resolutely pragmatic performance, prioritising defensive structure and controlled aggression over expansive play. Their approach was physically intense (26 fouls, 6 yellow cards) and risked disciplinary trouble, but it succeeded in throttling Qarabag’s rhythm and funnelling the game towards penalties, where composure and execution from the spot were exemplary (5 successful penalties from 5 attempts). Qarabag, meanwhile, were more dominant in open play (58% possession, 5 shots on target to 3) and carried greater territorial threat, yet lacked the incision and penalty-box quality to translate control into goals. Their single missed kick in the shootout encapsulated a night where they were often the more progressive side but not the more ruthless one in the decisive moments. CSKA advance on the strength of defensive resilience and flawless penalty-taking; Qarabag depart reflecting on a performance that was structurally sound but ultimately short on cutting edge.