Asteras Tripolis knocks out German side Mainz to make Europa League playoffs
Asteras Tripolis sprung a surprise in the Europa League on Thursday, beating German side Mainz 3-1 to advance from the third qualifying round.
The side from the Peloponnese had lost the away leg 1-0 but managed to turn the score around at the Theodoros Kolokotronis stadium.
Asteras’s Pablo de Blasis levelled the tie in the 30th minute but Ja-Cheol Koo equalised before half-time. However, two goals from the home side’s Pablo Mazza in the 68th minute and four minutes before the final whistle gave Asteras the win against the Bundesliga team.
The Greek side goes into the tournament’s playoff round but fellow Super League side Atromitos was knocked out after losing 3-1 to FK Sarajevo in extra time.
The Athens side led 2-1 from the first leg in Bosnia but was unable to capitalize on its advantage. Despite a late Stathis Tavlaridis goal to take the tie into extra time, it was the visitors that came up with the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
