Greek women’s football club PAOK were knocked out of the Women’s Champions League after Brann came from behind to beat them 3-2 in Budapest in the final of the second qualifying round.
PAOK took the lead early but could not hold on as set pieces proved costly for Thanasis Patrikidis’ side.
The Greek champions made the perfect start, opening the scoring in the 11th minute. Panagiota Argyriou took advantage of Drakogiannaki’s through ball and calmly finished to put PAOK 1-0 ahead.
Brann responded in the 23rd minute. After a prolonged attacking move, Dilya Sommers finished from close range to level the score.
The teams went into half-time at 1-1. PAOK goalkeeper Giannaka cleared the ball off the line in the 32nd minute, while Skoglund denied Argyriou’s effort in the 41st.
Brann completed the turnaround in the 53rd minute. A free-kick from the left reached Sommers, who found herself unmarked and beat Neuhaus with a first-time finish to make it 2-1.
PAOK struggled to create a decisive response. Giopis tested Skoglund in the 67th minute, but her effort lacked the power to trouble the Brann goalkeeper.
Brann then missed chances through Tinila in the 69th minute and Kvame in the 75th. Giannaka prevented Sommers from completing her hat-trick in the 79th minute, clearing the ball off the line.
Brann finally added a third goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Following a PAOK free-kick, the Norwegian side launched a counter-attack, with Noa Lehtola finishing to make it 3-1.
PAOK pulled one goal back through Maria Mitkou’s penalty, but there was no time left to complete another comeback.
Brann therefore advance in the Women’s Champions League, while PAOK will continue their European campaign in the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup Round of 32.
German referee Karolina Wacker officiated the match.
Brann (Laura Kaminski): Skoglund, Kvame, Birkelund, Tinila, Svendheim (46’ Lehtola), Haugland (63’ Alfredsen), Pokurinen, Elkeland, Davidson, Aazem (55’ Lovera), Sommers (85’ Isaksen).
PAOK (Thanasis Patrikidis): Neuhaus, Giannaka, Gouni, Morris, Mitkou, Giopis, Drakogiannaki (86’ Vardali), Kiourekxidou (71’ Michail), Andreevska, Gkatsanika (80’ Djurdjevic), Argyriou (88’ Gkizari).