Qarabag produced a sensational comeback to win 3-2 at Benfica on Tuesday night in the UEFA champions League .
Qarabag thus become the first Azerbaijani club to win a UEFA Champions League group stage match.
Making their first appearance in Europe’s elite competition in eight years, Gurban Gurbanov’s side found themselves trailing 2-0 within 16 minutes.
Early goals from Enzo Barrenechea and Vangelis Pavlidis gave Benfica a good start and what looks like an easy match.
The Azerbaijan champions have another idea and struck back on the half-hour mark.
Leandro Andrade finished superbly to halve the deficit, with Kady Borges later rattling the post before half-time.
Just three minutes into the second half, Qarabag silenced the Estádio da Luz as Marko Jankovic’s incisive pass released Camilo Duran, who coolly found the far corner on his Champions League debut.
The decisive moment came five minutes from time when substitute Oleksii Kashchuk, with his back to goal, turned brilliantly and fired home the winner to complete the comeback.
At the final whistle, Qarabag’s players and staff fell to their knees in celebration, savouring a night that will be remembered in Champions League history.
Their last campaign in the competition ended winless, with two draws and four defeats.
Up next, Gurbanov’s men host Copenhagen in Baku, while Benfica travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.
