Celje vs Sabah: Overview

In a thrilling UEFA Europa League qualification fixture, NK Celje and Sabah FK delivered a spectacular 3-3 draw at the Stadion Z'dežele, with the Slovenian side advancing 6-5 on aggregate after extra time. The match showcased exceptional attacking football from both sides, with Sabah's Joy Lance Mickels stealing the spotlight by completing a remarkable hat-trick (9', 63', 66').

The atmosphere at the stadium was electric as the home fans witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the 120 minutes of play. Celje, who carried a 3-2 advantage from the first leg in Azerbaijan, found themselves under pressure early when Mickels opened the scoring. The Slovenian champions showed resilience, however, fighting back each time they fell behind.

Despite Sabah's valiant effort, particularly in the final third where they continued their impressive attacking form from the first leg, Albert Riera's Celje side managed to secure the crucial result needed to progress to the second qualification round. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the Europa League qualifiers, with both teams demonstrating why they deserve to compete at the European level.

For NK Celje, this result represents a significant step in their European campaign, while Sabah FK will reflect on what might have been after producing five goals across both legs but ultimately falling short in the tie.

"We showed tremendous character today against a very strong attacking side. Sabah created numerous problems for us with their forward line, particularly Mickels who was outstanding. Progressing to the next round was our objective, and despite some defensive issues, we achieved that. Now we must analyze our performance and strengthen our defensive organization for the challenges ahead," remarked Albert Riera, NK Celje's coach after the dramatic qualification.

"I'm incredibly proud of my players, especially our offensive performance. Scoring three goals away from home in Europe is no small achievement. Joy [Mickels] was exceptional today with his hat-trick, but football can be cruel sometimes. We dominated many phases of both matches statistically but couldn't advance. This experience will make us stronger for domestic competitions," reflected Valdas Dambrauskas, Sabah FK's coach.

"It's difficult to describe my feelings right now. Scoring a hat-trick in European competition is a special moment in my career, but the team's elimination overshadows personal achievements. We believed we could turn the tie around, and we came so close. Sometimes in football, you need more than just goals," shared Joy Lance Mickels, Sabah FK's hat-trick hero.

"The tie perfectly illustrated the unpredictable nature of European qualifiers. NK Celje demonstrated tremendous resilience, while Sabah FK showcased attacking flair. The Azerbaijani side can leave with their heads held high despite the elimination, having scored five goals across both legs against a disciplined Slovenian champion," analyzed Ivan Kovačević, former European football technical observer.

Possession: NK Celje 47% - 53% Sabah FK

The visitors continued their dominance in possession from the first leg, controlling the ball particularly well in midfield through the efforts of Ivan Lepinjica, who completed 94% of his passes.

Shots: NK Celje 11 (6 on target) - Sabah FK 14 (8 on target)

Reflecting their attacking approach, Sabah created more scoring opportunities, with Joy Lance Mickels registering 5 shots, all on target, resulting in his perfect hat-trick.

Corners: NK Celje 5 - Sabah FK 7

Fouls: NK Celje 12 - Sabah FK 10

Yellow Cards: NK Celje 3 (Kvesić, Karničnik, Zabukovnik) - Sabah FK 2 (Nogueira, Nuriev)

Player Performance Highlights:

• Joy Lance Mickels (Sabah FK): 3 goals, 5 shots on target, 2 key passes, 7.2 km distance covered

• Mario Kvesić (NK Celje): 2 assists, 4 key passes, 89% passing accuracy

• Pavol Šafranko (Sabah FK): 1 assist, 3 aerial duels won, 4 shots

• Simon Sluga (NK Celje): 5 crucial saves, including a spectacular stop in the 85th minute to prevent Sabah from taking a decisive lead

The statistics underline Sabah's offensive approach, having generated more attempts in both legs (26 total shots across the tie compared to Celje's 20). However, NK Celje's clinical finishing and defensive resilience in crucial moments proved decisive for their aggregate victory.

9' GOAL (0-1): A brilliant start for Sabah FK as Joy Lance Mickels capitalizes on a defensive error, intercepting a misplaced pass from Karničnik before calmly slotting past Sluga to give the visitors an early lead and reduce the aggregate deficit to 3-3.

27' GOAL (1-1): NK Celje respond through a well-worked team goal, finished by Damjan Vukliševič following a precise cross from Mario Kvesić. The stadium erupts as the home side restores their aggregate advantage.

45+2' GOAL (2-1): Just before the half-time whistle, Milot Avdyli puts Celje ahead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after Sabah failed to clear their lines from a corner.

63' GOAL (2-2): Joy Lance Mickels scores his second of the night, demonstrating exceptional skill by dribbling past two defenders before finding the bottom corner with a precise finish.

66' GOAL (2-3): Incredibly, Mickels completes his hat-trick just three minutes later! A spectacular volley from Šafranko's cross puts Sabah ahead on the night and level on aggregate at 5-5.

74' Substitution: NK Celje's coach makes a tactical change, introducing fresh legs in midfield to regain control of the match.

83' GOAL (3-3): Franko Kovačević scores a crucial equalizer for Celje with a header from Kvesić's perfectly delivered free-kick. The goal puts the home side back in front on aggregate.

90+4' - 120': Despite Sabah's relentless pressure in extra time, including two shots hitting the woodwork, NK Celje's defense holds firm to secure qualification to the next round.

The NK Celje vs Sabah FK encounter represented the first-ever competitive meetings between these clubs, with no previous history in UEFA Europa League or any other competition. The two-legged tie has certainly established a fascinating initial chapter in this new European confrontation.

Across the two matches, fans witnessed a total of 11 goals, highlighting the offensive capabilities of both teams. NK Celje scored six times over the two legs, demonstrating clinical finishing, while Sabah FK netted five goals, showcasing their attacking threat led by Joy Lance Mickels and Pavol Šafranko.

The tie featured several compelling individual battles across the pitch. Artemijus Tutyškinas of Celje faced a significant challenge containing Mickels, who ultimately scored three times in the second leg. In midfield, Celje's Mario Kvesić and Sabah's Ivan Lepinjica engaged in an intriguing tactical battle, with both players demonstrating their technical abilities.

While the aggregate score of 6-5 suggests defensive vulnerabilities on both sides, it also reflects the attacking philosophies of both coaches. Riera's Celje proved more pragmatic and efficient when it mattered most, while Dambrauskas' Sabah team demonstrated their commitment to positive, forward-thinking football even in challenging away conditions.

Should these teams meet again in future European competitions, fans can certainly anticipate another goal-filled, tactical encounter based on this initial two-legged thriller.

In the UEFA Europa League qualification picture, NK Celje has now secured advancement to the second qualification round, continuing their European journey after winning the Slovenian PrvaLiga last season. Their victory over Sabah represents their first successful European qualification round since the 2020/21 season, highlighting significant progress under coach Albert Riera's leadership.

Sabah FK, despite their elimination, demonstrated they belong at this level of European competition with their attacking prowess. The Azerbaijani side will now focus on their domestic campaign in the Azerbaijan Premier League, where they are positioned to challenge for a top-three finish based on last season's performances.

For Celje, the path ahead in Europe looks challenging but promising. They join other advancing teams from the first qualification round, including sides from Sweden, Romania, and Poland. Their potential opponents in the next round will be determined in the upcoming draw, with several established European clubs awaiting in the second qualification phase.

Sabah's European exit means they'll concentrate on domestic success, aiming to improve their league position to ensure another opportunity at European qualification next season. Their performance against Celje, particularly their attacking output, suggests they have the quality to compete for the Azerbaijan Premier League title if they can translate their European form to domestic matches.