Lech Poznań defeated KuPS 1:0 in the second leg of the UEFA Conference League knockout stage playoffs, thereby sealing their advancement to the next stage of the competition. Niels Frederiksen’s players can now begin preparing for the Round of 16 clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
The side managed by Niels Frederiksen secured a fairly comfortable advantage in Finland ahead of the return fixture - Lech won 2:0 in Tampere thanks to goals from Antoni Kozubal and Taofeek Ismaheel. As a result, the coaching staff made several changes to the line-up to rest some players before the upcoming matches.
Thursday’s game looked similar to the one a week earlier. The hosts enjoyed more possession and attempted to break down the defensive wall that the KuPS players had constructed. The Finnish side mainly sought its opportunities from counterattacks, but those efforts were swiftly thwarted by Lech’s defensive line. In the first half, Luis Palma came closest to scoring, though he failed to loft the ball over the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
After the halftime, Lech struck a single but decisive blow. Michał Gurgul won the ball in KuPS’s half, Palma flicked it on with his heel to Pablo Rodríguez, who beat Johannes Kreidl with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The hosts held onto the favourable result until the final whistle and progressed to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, where Shakhtar Donetsk awaits.
Next matches
Saturday
07.03 godz.20:15
Widzew Łódź
Lech Poznań
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