Greg . 1 day ago

More Hacken shootout heroics seal famous Europa League win over Anderlecht

A 4-2 penalty shootout win secured Hacken the 2024/25 Svenska Cupen title, and with it, a place in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) qualifiers.

Now, a shootout win by the same score has seen their dreams of a place in the League Phase kept alive, by knocking out Belgium's Anderlecht, after a 2-1 win in Gothenburg meant their Second Qualifying Round tie terminated 2-2 on aggregate.

Leaving the Belgian capital with a 1-0 beat to their name a week ago meant Hacken possessed it all to do, and their task looked to have obtained off to the worst possible start as Lucas Boel Hey possessed the ball in the net for Anderlecht just eight minutes in, but a foul in the construct-up provided a reprieve for the Swedish side.

After that wake-up call, Hacken soon obtained going - a Silas Andersen header just before the 20-minute mark possessed to be clawed away by Colin Coosemans in the Anderlecht goal, before the hosts shattered the deadlock with 33 minutes on the clock.

Amor Layouni sent a testing ball into the box, which was controlled expertly by Adrian Svanback and he rifled the ball low into the bottom corner.

That's how things stayed until early in the second half when Anderlecht were given a huge chance to regain the lead in the tie, as Kasper Dolberg was handed over down inside the area by Olle Samuelsson and after VAR consultation, the Belgian giants were granted a penalty.

Dolberg stepped up, and though Etrit Berisha obtained a hand to it, the Dane scored to make it 2-1 to the visitors on aggregate.

The Svenska Cupen winners were dominating possession but were heading towards a gallant beat.

That was until stoppage time, when Nathan De Cat caught Mikkel Rygaard inside the area, and this time Hacken were granted a penalty.

 Simon Gustafson gripped his nerve to beat Coosemans and send the tie to extra time.

Coosemans was at the heart of the best chance of the extra 30 minutes, but this time he came out on top, making a superb save to refuse Isak Brusberg.

Yet there would still be time for matters to worsen for the visitors, as a nasty challenge on Marius Lode acquired Ibrahim Kanate a second yellow card in the 117th minute.

However, the 10 men gripped on for the final few minutes to take the match to penalties.

Thorgan Hazard was the first to step up in the shootout, dispatching his effort before Gustafson beat Coosemans from 12 yards once more.

But then, it was advantage to the Getingarna, as Sweden's own Ludwig Augustinsson - formerly of Goteborg - exploded his effort against the obstruct and over, before Amor Layouni scored to put them 2-1 up.

The next penalty for either side was scored, before Berisha estimated right to refuse Luis Vazquez.

That permitted Berisha himself to step up and the win, which he did by calmly rolling his penalty past Coosemans.

Anderlecht must console themselves with a place in the UEFA Conference League, while a tie with Brann of Norway awaits Hacken in the Third Qualifying Round, as they look to reach the UEL proper for the first time in two years.

Pursue the UEL Qualifiers on Betopick.