Nigerian midfielder Philip Azango has continued to deliver standout performances for Spartak Trnava, scoring yet another crucial goal during their UEFA Conference League qualification Round 3 clash on Thursday evening.

The second-leg fixture at the Štadión Antona Malatinského saw the 28-year-old midfielder net the third goal for his side as the Slovak outfit battled to a thrilling 4–3 victory over Universitatea of Romania, Footballrover reports.

Spartak Trnava’s Near-European Miracle Ends in Heartbreak

Despite his best efforts, Azango, who was clearly the star of the match, and his teammates failed to progress to the next round after losing 4–6 on aggregate.

The night nearly turned into a fairy-tale comeback for Spartak, who transformed a 0–1 deficit into a roaring 4–1 lead by the 80th minute — overturning the memory of their 3–0 first-leg defeat.

Stefan Baiaram fired Universitatea ahead after just 32 minutes, but Milos Kratochvil quickly equalised to restore hope.

After the break, Patrick Nwadike’s header and Azango’s composed finish put Trnava in control.

Timotej Kudlicka’s 80th-minute strike seemed to seal a famous European turnaround at 4–1.

Extra time, however, brought heartbreak. Universitatea roared back, thrilling fans with more drama.

Tudor Baluta’s 101st-minute strike and Steven Nsimba’s late goal in the 117th minute dragged the Romanian side back from the brink, ultimately dumping Spartak out of Europe—no Europa League, no Conference League, only domestic football ahead.

Philip Azango’s Season Still Promising Despite European Exit

For the Nigerian star, the night was bittersweet. His performance during the qualifying series—two goals and an assist, plus an early league goal—shows his immense potential for the season.

Next for Spartak is a home clash against Komarno on Sunday, where they’ll need to channel the fire and fighting spirit they displayed in Europe into their domestic campaign.

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Last Updated on August 15, 2025 3:59 pm by Sir Kris