By Burnley FC
August 16 2018
The Clarets are only one more win away from the group stages of the Europa League after again saving the best until last to earn another extra-time win.
After knocking out Aberdeen inside an added half-hour at Turf Moor, Sean Dyche’s battlers did it again to send Istanbul Basaksehir the same way and advance to the play-off round and two-legged showdown with multiple former Greek champions Olympiakos. And once again it was Jack Cork who provided the catalyst for another landmark victory to extend the European tour in nerve-biting style. This time Cork came off the bench as Dyche juggled his resources ahead of Sunday’s home Premier League opener against Watford. And in the first half of extra-time he repeated his goal against the Dons with another top-class effort – this time with a crisp right-footed strike to kill of a Turkish side that in 210 minutes of football couldn’t find a way past Burnley’s rock solid defence. The Clarets had never drawn a European tie at Turf Moor before, winning six times and losing only once - a defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt ending their last run in European competition 51 years. And the only draw that would potentially take Burnley through this time from the third qualifying-round tie would be a repeat of the 0-0 scoreline in Turkey a week ago followed by the possibility of a penalty shoot-out. To read the full match report please click on the link below; |
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