Linfield stun Qarabag 3-2 in Europa League

Linfield pulled off one of the greatest results in their history as they defied the odds to beat Qarabag 3-2 in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie.

The Azerbaijani champions were fluid in the early stages and opened the scoring after 15 minutes, finding the net after Linfield failed to adequately clear a corner.

Medvedev chipped the ball back into the box for the visitors, and right-back Rherras got between the keeper and his marker to loop a shot into the corner.

Qarabag settled with the goal, and almost doubled their lead just 4 minutes later when midfielder Michel cracked the post when sliding in unmarked to meet a cross 6 yards from goal.

They carved Linfield open several times, but couldn't extend their lead which allowed the Blues a route back into the game.

5 minutes before the break Joel Cooper was fouled on the touchline, 10 yards inside the Qarabag half. Andy Mitchell curled the free kick into the area, and Mark Stafford got ahead of his man to glance a header beyond the keeper to pull his side level.

The goal had clearly stunned the Azeribaijani side, but there was still time for Linfield to produce another bit of magic from a set-piece. On the stroke of half-time, Mitchell slung in a corner from the left and Shayne Lavery got in front of the keeper to score with a header.

The quickfire double meant the Blues were under siege right from the beginning of the second half, rarely given the chance to spring a counter attack.

However, David Healy's side stayed patient, and when half a chance presented itself in the 75th minute, it was snapped up by Lavery. He chased a long ball forward, pressuring a defender into an error just inside his own half.

Lavery gathered possession, sprinting down the right wing before skillfully cutting inside another trailing defender and finishing well with his left foot to send the Blues into a scarcely believable 3-1 lead.

Minutes later, visiting striker Emreli hit the post from 6 yards, and when the ball bounced into the arms of Linfield keeper Ferguson, it felt like the Azeris were running out of ideas and patience.

It wasn't until injury time that they were allowed to reduce the deficit with Gueye's penalty making it 3-2.