AEK Athens stunned Croatian counterparts Dinamo Zagreb with a late flurry of goals in added time to secure the final play-off spot in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round.
The Greek side, facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit, mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring two goals in the dying moments of the match to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The tie between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb had already been marred by tragedy, with a fan being fatally stabbed ahead of the original first-leg match, resulting in a delay. As the teams finally took to the pitch, only one play-off spot remained up for grabs among the 12 competing teams.
Dinamo Zagreb took control of the tie with goals from Josip Sutalo and Robert Ljubicic, putting themselves in a favorable position to secure the play-off spot. However, AEK Athens refused to give up and showed incredible resilience.
In the 92nd minute, Sergio Araujo breathed life into AEK Athens' hopes with a crucial goal, leveling the tie and giving his team a glimmer of hope. The game proceeded into extra time, and AEK Athens continued to push forward in search of a winner.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 102nd minute when Domagoj Vida scored the decisive goal, completing the dramatic comeback and securing AEK Athens' place in the play-off round. The Greek side will now face Royal Antwerp for a chance to qualify for the prestigious group stages of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League.
