Celje and three Lithuanians one step from Champions League

FC Celje has taken a significant step towards the Champions League, securing a dramatic 2-0 victory over Ararat-Armenia in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie. This win, coupled with their first-leg performance, sees the Slovenian champions advance with a 3-2 aggregate score.

The home crowd at Celje's stadium endured a tense match as the team struggled to break down the Armenian defense for most of the game. The deadlock was finally shattered in the 83rd minute when Yannis Dukuly found the back of the net, igniting hope among the fans. Just two minutes later, Benjamin Verbič scored the decisive goal, sealing their progression to the next stage of the prestigious tournament.

Celje's lineup featured all three of their Lithuanian players. Pijus Širvys and Armandas Kučys played until the 69th minute, while Artemijus Tutyškinas played the entire match, earning a yellow card for his efforts.

Looking ahead, Celje will face Bratislava's Slovan in the crucial final qualifying round. Notably, Slovan is now managed by Yaya Touré, the former Barcelona and Manchester City star, who has signed a three-year contract with the Slovakian champions. This marks the 43-year-old Ivorian legend's first senior head coaching role. Regardless of the outcome against Slovan, Celje has already guaranteed a spot in the main stage of the UEFA Europa League, as a losing team in this playoff round would drop into that competition.