Ferencváros end 25-year wait to reach Champions League

By: The Associated Press Posted: Last Modified:

Advertisement

Advertise with us

GENEVA - Ferencváros ended a 25-year wait to return to the Champions League group stage on Tuesday, giving Hungary a rare place on European club soccer’s biggest stage.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/09/2020 (2192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GENEVA – Ferencváros ended a 25-year wait to return to the Champions League group stage on Tuesday, giving Hungary a rare place on European club soccer’s biggest stage.

A 0-0 draw at home to Molde in the second leg of the qualifying playoffs took Ferencváros through on the away goals rule after a 3-3 draw in Norway last week.

Coach Serhiy Rebrov’s team will be the first from Hungary in the 32-team group stage since Debrecen 11 years ago.

Dynamo Kiev's head coach Mircea Lucescu gives instructions during the Champions League Play-offs, 2nd leg soccer match between Gent and Dynamo Kyiv at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Dynamo Kiev's head coach Mircea Lucescu gives instructions during the Champions League Play-offs, 2nd leg soccer match between Gent and Dynamo Kyiv at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ferencváros, which last played in the group stage in 1995, will be the lowest-ranked team in Thursday’s draw in Geneva.

It began the season ranked No. 135 in Europe by UEFA and had to advance through four qualifying rounds, beating the champions of Sweden, Scotland, Croatia and Norway..

Rebrov’s former team, Dynamo Kyiv, also advanced Tuesday by beating visiting Gent 3-0 to complete a 5-1 aggregate score.

Dynamo scored from the penalty spot in each half to seal its first group-stage place in four years under new coach Mircea Lucescu. The veteran coach was a Champions League regular during a long spell at Dynamo’s main rival Shakhtar Donetsk.

At age 75, Lucescu is set to become the oldest coach in a Champions League match when the group stage begins. Jupp Heynckes was 72 as Bayern Munich’s coach in the 2017-18 competition.

Olympiakos sealed its 20th Champions League entry by drawing 0-0 in Cyprus against Omonia for a 2-0 aggregate win.

Tokmac Nguen, centre, of Ferencvaros and Magnus Wolff Eikrem of Molde FK, on ground, vie for the ball, during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Ferencvaros and Molde FK in Groupama Arena, in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP)
Tokmac Nguen, centre, of Ferencvaros and Magnus Wolff Eikrem of Molde FK, on ground, vie for the ball, during the Champions League playoff second leg soccer match between Ferencvaros and Molde FK in Groupama Arena, in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Tamas Kovacs/MTI via AP)

The last three playoff matches are played Wednesday. All qualifying games in UEFA club competitions are being played without fans in the stadiums during the coronavirus pandemic.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Related Articles

Montreal Impact acquires striker Mason Toye from Minnesota Alejandro Pozuelo named MLS player of the month
Toronto FC's Alejandro Pozuelo, front is pressured by Columbus Crew's Luis Diaz during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in East Hartford, Conn. Pozuelo has been named MLS Player of the Month for September. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Jessica Hill
Azerbaijan soccer federation asks for support amid conflict Mewis' first Man City goal secures Women's FA Cup final spot
Manchester City's Sam Mewis, left, celebrates with teammmate Ellen White, after scoring her team's second goal, during the Women's FA Cup semi final soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal, at the Academy Stadium, in Manchester, England, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Warren Creavalle making his mark off the field
Toronto FC's Jonathan Osorio, right, shoots past Philadelphia Union's Warren Creavalle during first half MLS soccer playoff action in Toronto, Wednesday, October 26. Creavalle, a former Tornto FC midfielder, has been making his mark off the field in recent months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
5 Brazilian youngsters possible targets for European clubs
Corinthians' Ederson, left, fights for the ball with Palmeiras' Patrick de Paula during the Sao Paulo league final soccer match at Allianz Parque, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020. The match is being played without spectators to curb the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Carla Carniel)
League Cup: Arsenal beats Liverpool on penalties; Fulham out
Fulham's Antonee Robinson, right, is challenged by Brentford's Finn Stevens during the EFL Cup 4th round soccer match between Brentford and Fulham at Brentford Community Stadium in London, England, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. (Andrew Couldridge/Pool via AP)
Impact acquire striker from Minnesota FC
Houston Dynamo defender Aljaz Struna, left, and Minnesota United forward Mason Toye fight for possession during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Houston. The Montreal Impact have a new attacking piece, acquiring striker Mason Toye from Minnesota FC on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Houston Chronicle, Eric Christian Smith
Winger Michael Petrasso re-signs with York 9 FC
York 9 FC winger Michael Petrasso is shown in this undated handout photo. Winger Michael Petrasso has re-signed with York 9 FC for the 2021 and 2022 Canadian Premier League seasons. The 25-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont., joined the Toronto-based side in January after spending the league's inaugural 2019 season with Winnipeg's Valour FC. But injury restricted him to just 130 minutes of action spread over three matches at this summer's Island Games. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Canadian Premier League
Champions League group stage draw list Ronaldo's Juventus gets Messi's Barcelona in CL group stage
Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, right, controls the ball next to Sevilla's Sergio Escudero during the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Bayern Munich and Sevilla at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh, Pool)

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Advertisement Advertise With Us

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Learn more about Winnipeg Free Press Advertising solutions

Soccer

LOAD SOCCER ARTICLES