Late Schick double extends Leverkusen's unbeaten run / Photo: INA FASSBENDER - AFP
Late Schick double extends Leverkusen's unbeaten run
Patrik Schick scored two goals in stoppage time to rescue Bayer Leverkusen's unbeaten run and their dreams of a remarkable treble with a 3-2 (5-4 aggregate) home win over Qarabag in their Europa League last-16 second leg on Thursday.
The win keeps Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen unbeaten after 37 matches this season, sending them through to the last eight of the Europa League.
With Leverkusen 2-1 down on the 90-minute mark, the Czech striker -- who scored in stoppage time in the first leg to level the scores at 2-2 -- scored in the 93rd and 98th minutes to turn the game on its head.
After fighting back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in Baku, Leverkusen, one of the favourites to win the Europa League, were heavily tipped to beat the Azerbaijani outsiders at home.
After going to half-time locked at 0-0, Qarabag took the lead midway through the second-half, Abdellah Zoubir turning in a cross from Leandro Andrade.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men shortly after when Elvin Jafarguliyev was sent off, his yellow card upgraded to a red by VAR for a challenge on Frimpong.
Despite the disadvantage, Qarabag doubled their lead just five minutes later through Juninho.
Leverkusen pulled a goal back through Jeremie Frimpong shortly after to keep hope alive.
Striker Schick, who had been criticised for not scoring in seven league games since December, got a boot to an Alex Grimaldo cross to level the scores after 93 minutes.
With the match seemingly headed for added time, Schick scored again, heading in another Grimaldo assist for a remarkable win.
The win keeps unbeaten Leverkusen's dream of a remarkable treble alive, with Alonso's side 10 points clear in the Bundesliga with nine games to play and in the German Cup semi-finals.
M.Russo--GdR
