Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports
Topics: Europa League, Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso
Jack Kenmare
Qarabag defender Elvin Cafarguliyev was involved in one of the more entertaining moments from this week's Europa League action – and we can't stop watching.
It was a quite remarkable night at the BayArena. Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen came from 2-0 behind to secure a 3-2 win against the Azerbaijan Premier League side.
Patrik Schick secured Leverkusen's place in the Europa League quarter-finals after netting twice in stoppage time to make it 5-4 on aggregate, which extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 37 games.
But the result on Thursday night may have been very different had it not been for Elvin Cafarguliyev's red card in the 62nd minute, when he was given his marching orders for a last-man tackle.
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As you can see from the footage below, the 23-year-old Azerbaijan international was convinced Anthony Taylor had overturned his yellow card following a VAR review.
In fact, a relieved-looking Cafarguliyev clapped and tried to give Taylor a high-five when he signalled that the yellow card was being rescinded.
But moments later, the Premier League referee brandished a red – a decision that infuriated the visitors.
Ten-man Qarabag managed to score a second but goals from Jeremie Frimpong
and Schick completed the comeback.
As mentioned earlier, Leverkusen maintained their 37-game unbeaten run with another late win.
"To be honest, I'm not too scared of the first defeat," said manager Xabi Alonso after they almost suffered defeat in the first leg of their clash against Qarabag.
"It can happen, that's football... I won't be worried.
"The most important thing for me is that the momentum, the mood and the energy in the team is good. And hopefully that will still be the case after a defeat."
Leverkusen, who sit 10 points ahead of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race, will be hoping to continue their superb run of form on Sunday when they come up against Freiburg.