Vardar beat KuPS but exit Champions League on aggregate

North Macedonian champions Vardar won 3-2 after extra time in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, but their 2-0 defeat in Skopje proved decisive as Finnish champions KuPS advanced 4-3 on aggregate.

After an evenly contested first half, in which both sides created scoring opportunities, Vardar took the lead in the 59th minute through Azer Omeragić, CE Report quotes MIA.

The "Red and Blacks" forced extra time with a penalty converted by Goran Zahariev in the first minute of stoppage time (90+1), after Scottish referee Matthew MacDermid reviewed a foul on Gerson Rodrigues using VAR.

Three goals were scored in extra time. KuPS pulled one back in the 100th minute through Bob Nii Armah, but Vardar restored their two-goal advantage just two minutes later when Jan Puljeić made it 3-1.

The Finnish champions reduced the deficit again in first-half extra-time stoppage time (105+1), with Piotr Parzyszek converting a penalty.

Despite the victory, Vardar were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate.

Vardar will now continue their European campaign in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, where they will face Riga FC.

Photo Facebook/fcvardarad