Kučys with a brace in the Conference League knockout phase play-off match against APOEL

On Thursday, the Lithuanian talent Armandas Kučys scored two goals in the UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-off first leg match as NK Celje drew 2-2 against the Cypriot side APOEL FC.

NK Celje finished the league phase in 21st place with just seven points. They advanced to the playoffs on the last matchday thanks to a 3-2 victory against Welsh side The New Saints on the last matchday.
Their opponents in knockout phase play-off APOEL FC, finished 11th in the league phase with 11 points.

Before this match, Kučys had already scored four goals in this European campaign, two of which came in the qualifiers and two against Turkish side Basaksehir in the league phase.

In the last Slovenian league match against Maribor, Kučys scored his first goal of 2025 after returning to action following a three-month injury layoff sustained during a Conference League match against Real Betis in November. Another Lithuanian player for NK Celje Artemijus Tutyškinas was not registered by Celje for this round.

Kučys opened the scoring in the second minute, receiving a long ball on the right flank and unleashing a low shot from a very tight angle that slipped through APOEL goalkeeper Belec’s legs, making it 1-0.

APOEL equalized in the first half when Ghanaian David Abagna scored from close range.

Kučys scored his second goal in the second half after Celje was awarded a penalty kick. His initial shot in the bottom left corner was saved by the goalkeeper, but Kučys was quick to react, pouncing on the rebound and smashing it in from close range to give Celje the lead again.

APOEL answered back shortly after, with Cypriot international Konstantinos Laifis scoring from a set-piece to tie the game again.

Three minutes later, Kučys drew a foul that resulted in a second yellow card for Georgian defender Lasha Dvali. This left Celje with a one-man advantage for the final 20 minutes. However, Celje could not capitalize on the extra player, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

The second leg will take place in Nicosia next Thursday.