Lithuanian head coach Valdas Dambrauskas continued his perfect start to the UEFA Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday as his Sabah Baku side defeated Finnish champions KuPS 2-0 away from home, completing a 3-0 aggregate victory and securing the club’s place in at least the UEFA Conference League league phase for the first time in its history.
The result also sends the Azerbaijani champions into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, with Dambrauskas’ side now boasting four wins from four European qualifiers this summer.
Sabah had already eliminated Welsh champions The New Saints 4-1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round before taking a narrow 1-0 advantage into Tuesday’s second leg following last week’s home victory over KuPS.
After a goalless first half in Kuopio, the visitors took control shortly after the restart. Serbian forward Veljko Simic opened the scoring with his third goal in four Champions League qualifying matches this season, putting Sabah firmly in command of the tie.
The Azerbaijani champions sealed their progression in the 70th minute when Rwanda international Joy-Lance Mickels doubled the lead on the night, making it 3-0 on aggregate and ending any hopes of a KuPS comeback.
The victory guarantees Sabah a place in at least the UEFA Conference League league phase, marking the most successful European campaign in the club’s history. However, Dambrauskas’ side remains in contention for a place in the UEFA Champions League and is expected to face Polish champions Lech Poznań in the third qualifying round. Lech hold a commanding 4-1 advantage over Danish side AGF Aarhus ahead of Wednesday’s second leg in Poland.
