Lugano, Copenhagen and Rapid Vienna advance to third round of UEFA Conference League qualifiers
Swiss side Lugano, Danish club Copenhagen and Austria's Rapid Vienna secured their spots in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League on Wednesday.
The second leg matches of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round took place on Wednesday, with several teams booking their places in the next stage.
Swiss club Lugano thrashed Kosovo's Dukagjini Klinë 5-1 away from home. The visitors led 2-1 by the 10th minute. Kevin Behrens, a German international, scored a hat-trick. Lugano won the tie 6-1 on aggregate. They are likely to face Slovenia's Koper in the next round.
Rapid Vienna dominated at home, beating Andorra's FC Santa Coloma 6-2, doubling their first-leg advantage (3-1). Ercan Kara, a striker of Turkish origin, scored three goals for the Austrian side. Rapid will next face either Estonia's Paide or Azerbaijan's Zirə.
Copenhagen had a tougher time. After a 3-3 draw in the first leg against Ukraine's Polissya, they took the lead in the 27th minute through Mohamed Elyounoussi. Early in the second half, Japanese defender Yunnosuke Suzuki received a straight red card. Despite being a man down, Copenhagen doubled their lead in the 61st minute through Robert. Polissya only pulled one back in stoppage time via Mykola Haidenchuk. Copenhagen advanced 5-4 on aggregate. In the third round, they will face Hungary's Debrecen or Armenia's Pyunik.
