CSKA Sofia Advances After Penalty Shootout Against Qarabag

CSKA Sofia 0-0 Qarabag (5-4 on penalties) at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy ended goalless after 120 tense minutes before the Bulgarian side held their nerve in the shootout to progress from the UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round. With no league standings context available, the significance here is purely knockout: CSKA advance after a disciplined, attritional display, while Qarabag exit despite having more of the ball and the clearer chances.

Match Report

The first half unfolded as a tight, physical contest with neither side able to convert territory into clear chances. The opening notable incident came on 39', when Bruno Jordão (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card for tripping, underlining the hosts’ combative approach out of possession.

Shortly after the restart, the disciplinary tone continued. On 48', Leandro Godoy (CSKA Sofia) was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct, reflecting growing frustration in the attacking third. Qarabag’s first caution followed on 50', with Marko Janković shown a yellow card for roughing as the visitors tried to disrupt CSKA’s transitions.

Qarabag picked up a second booking on 55', Bence Várkonyi cautioned for roughing after stepping in aggressively to halt a counter, as both midfields increasingly traded fouls instead of passes.

The first wave of substitutions arrived on 70'. For Qarabag, Renaldo Cephas replaced Kady Borges, a clear attacking move to add more direct running from the forward line. One minute later on 71', CSKA Sofia responded in midfield: James Eto'o came on for Bruno Jordão, injecting fresh legs and energy into the central areas.

Eto'o’s impact was felt quickly but not entirely positively. On 74', he collected a yellow card for roughing after a late challenge, another sign of CSKA’s willingness to break up Qarabag’s rhythm at any cost.

Qarabag then made a triple change on 82' to tilt the balance in extra time. Cebrail Makreckis replaced Bədavi Hüseynov, Bruno Langa came on for Elvin Cafarquliyev, and Jaly Mouaddib replaced Olexiy Kashchuk. The visitors effectively refreshed their back line and attacking midfield band, aiming to maintain intensity and exploit CSKA’s fatigue.

CSKA adjusted their forward line on 89', with Joël Zwarts replacing Leandro Godoy to offer a different profile up front and more running in behind as the game stretched.

On 90+2', Qarabag made another attacking tweak: Joni Montiel came on for Abdellah Zoubir, adding a fresh creative presence between the lines just before the end of normal time.

Extra time began with the disciplinary pattern unchanged. On 95', Ángelo Martino (CSKA Sofia) was booked for holding, punished for a cynical intervention as Qarabag tried to break down the left. Four minutes later, on 99', Martino was withdrawn, with Mohamed Amine Brahimi coming on for CSKA Sofia to restore balance on the flank and protect against a second booking.

Qarabag made their final attacking change on 100', when Musa Qurbanlı replaced Zakaria Sawo, a like-for-like centre-forward swap intended to keep pressing CSKA’s centre-backs.

The closing stages of extra time were increasingly scrappy. On 105+3', Teodor Ivanov (CSKA Sofia) received a yellow card for roughing, another example of the home side prioritising defensive duels over controlled build-up. Qarabag’s Bruno Langa was then booked on 106' for roughing after an aggressive challenge, as the visitors pushed higher and took more risks.

On 112', Joël Zwarts, already heavily involved since his introduction, was shown a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct, reflecting the emotional strain of a goalless tie heading towards penalties.

With neither side able to find a breakthrough from open play or set pieces, the match advanced to a penalty shootout at 0-0 after 120 minutes.

The shootout began on 120+1' with Qarabag’s Marko Janković converting from the spot (penalty shootout). CSKA immediately responded on 120+1', Ioannis Pittas scoring his penalty to level the contest.

The first major swing came on 120+2', when Qarabag’s Matheus Silva missed his penalty in the shootout, handing CSKA an early advantage. Teodor Ivanov capitalised on 120+2', calmly converting his kick to move CSKA ahead in the sequence.

On 120+3', Jaly Mouaddib scored his penalty for Qarabag, keeping the visitors in touch, but Jean-Philippe Gbamin answered on 120+3' with a successful effort for CSKA Sofia, maintaining the hosts’ edge.

The tension rose further on 120+4'. Renaldo Cephas, who had been introduced to add attacking thrust, held his nerve and scored for Qarabag. However, Stefano Sensi converted his own penalty on 120+4', preserving CSKA’s narrow lead in the shootout.

Joni Montiel then stepped up on 120+5' and scored for Qarabag, forcing CSKA to convert their next attempt to win. James Eto'o, who had earlier been booked in regulation time, completed his personal redemption arc on 120+5' by scoring the decisive penalty for CSKA Sofia. That kick sealed a 5-4 shootout victory after a 0-0 draw, sending CSKA through.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

• xG: not available vs not available
• Possession: 42% vs 58%
• Shots on Target: 3 vs 5
• Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available
• Blocked Shots: 3 vs 7

Without xG data, the territorial and shooting numbers still frame the tactical story. Qarabag’s higher possession share (58% vs 42%) and greater volume of shots on target (5 vs 3) underline that the visitors were the more front-foot side, circulating the ball and probing in the final third. CSKA, by contrast, played a reactive, defence-first game, evidenced by their heavy foul count (26 vs 14) and multiple yellow cards, using tactical fouls to disrupt Qarabag’s rhythm. The blocked shots figures (3 vs 7) suggest Qarabag spent more time shooting through traffic, with CSKA committing bodies to protect their box. The goalless scoreline is consistent with this pattern: Qarabag controlled more of the ball and territory but struggled to generate truly decisive chances, while CSKA accepted a lower-volume attacking output in exchange for defensive solidity and the opportunity to settle the tie from the spot.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

As this was a UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round tie and no league standings data is available, the impact is binary rather than positional. CSKA Sofia’s penalty shootout success means they advance to the next stage of European competition, extending their continental campaign and the associated financial and sporting benefits. Qarabag, despite their territorial control and more frequent efforts on goal, are eliminated, ending their European run at this hurdle and shifting their focus back to domestic objectives.

Lineups & Personnel

CSKA Sofia Starting XI

• GK: Fedor Lapoukhov
• DF: Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, Facundo Rodríguez, Ángelo Martino
• MF: Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Max Ebong, Stefano Sensi, Bruno Jordão
• FW: Ioannis Pittas, Leandro Godoy

Qarabag Starting XI

• GK: Mateusz Kochalski
• DF: Matheus Silva, Bədavi Hüseynov, Bence Várkonyi, Elvin Cafarquliyev
• MF: Pedro Bicalho, Marko Janković, Olexiy Kashchuk, Kady Borges, Abdellah Zoubir
• FW: Zakaria Sawo

Post-Match Verdict

CSKA Sofia’s progression owed much to a disciplined, pragmatic game plan that prioritised defensive structure over expansive attacking play. Their willingness to engage physically (26 fouls, six yellow cards) and commit to last-ditch defending (three blocked shots) successfully limited Qarabag to five shots on target despite conceding 58% possession. In attack, CSKA were far from clinical (only three shots on target) but showed composure when it mattered most, converting all five penalties in the shootout.

Qarabag, by contrast, delivered a territorially dominant but ultimately sterile performance. Their control of the ball (58% possession) and superior shooting volume (5 shots on target, seven blocked shots forced) indicated a side capable of reaching advanced areas, yet lacking the incisiveness to break down a compact block. The missed penalty by Matheus Silva in the shootout encapsulated their evening: structurally sound and often on the front foot, but unable to translate that platform into the decisive moments required in knockout football. In a tie of fine margins, CSKA’s defensive resilience and penalty execution proved the difference.