AEK ATHENS BREAK CS UNIVERSITATEA CRAIOVA HEARTS IN 105TH MINUTE TO STUN THE ROMANIANS

AEK Athens came from behind to beat CS Universitatea Craiova 3-2 in the final seconds of added time, progressing straight to the UEFA Conference League (UECL) quarter-finals and denying the Romanian team a spot in the knockout stages.

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AEK had already secured a place in the knockout rounds, but a win would see them bypass the group stage and go straight to the last 16.

They started strong, with Aboubakary Koita hitting the post after a good move just three minutes in. Luka Jovic then shot wide, and Domogoj Vida's header from a corner was just cleared by the crossbar.

Nineteen minutes into the game, Dikfalos won the ball high up the pitch, and Orbelin Pineda's strike took a big deflection, leaving Pavlo Isenko stranded as the ball went into the net.

AEK started the match just one point inside the top 24, so a win was needed for safe passage.

They began to trouble the home defense midway through the half when Thomas Strakosha made a smart save to deny Monday Etim's volley.

Etim created another chance after half an hour, and this time Strakosha could only push the ball to Stefan Baiaram, who scored the rebound.

CSU Craiova had two late attempts in the half — an Assad Al Hamlawi header and a Samuel Teles volley — both missing wide. Isenko saved a firm Jovic header.

Jovic was involved in AEK's fightback soon after half-time, but he couldn't connect cleanly with a low cross from six yards out or direct a header on target.

AEK again absorbed the pressure and made the home side pay with a counter-attack just before the hour mark.

Alexandru Cicaldau played a neat one-two with Al Hamlawi, and a deflected ball gave Cicaldau a good chance to score past the rooted Strakosha.

CSU Craiova quickly pulled level seven minutes later when Isenko failed to claim a Razvan Marin corner, allowing Vida to head in.

With the game still open, Marko Nikolic's side pushed more players forward late on, but Isenko was called into action only once when he saved another Vida header seven minutes from time.

CSU Craiova thought they had won for the first time in their third attempt, but in the final minute of stoppage time, a curling Niclas Eliasson cross was headed in by Dereck Kutesa at the back post.

The drama wasn't over yet.

With seconds left, Vida was caught inside the area, and after a long VAR check, the referee awarded a penalty. Jovic stepped up and scored, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The 105th-minute goal saw AEK finish in third place, while U Craiova missed out on the top 24 on goals scored.

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