For historic, economical and sporting reasons, clubs from the Asian country of Azerbaijan are competing in European football competitions. It’s a long and not exactly thrilling story, but the consequences of the decision are rather interesting. One of them is that European clubs have to travel far to face Azeri clubs.Harambee Star Joseph Okumu and his KAA Gent teammates had to travel more than 4,300 kilometres to reach Baku for their UEFA Europa Conference League play-off first leg against Qarabag. And by accounts – they didn’t enjoy the trip.The home side dominated from start to finish at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in the Azeri capital and missed a penalty ten minutes into the second half. But there was no escape for De Buffalo’s some 15 minutes before the final whistle.Montenegro international Marko Jankovic swung in a fine cross from the left wing, Cameroonian defender Michael Ngadeu miscued it and left it for Cape Verde international Leandro Andrade to sweep home and give Qarabag a slender lead ahead of the return leg in Belgium.Our man Okumu didn’t enjoy the best of games as he struggled to retain possession of a few occasions and contributed little going forward. He wasn’t to blame for the conceded goal, though, so it was probably a decent day at the office.AA Gent XI: Roef, Godeau, Ngadeu, Okumu, De Sart, Kums, Torunarigha, Castro-Montes, Hong, Cuypers en Orban #qargnt #cobw #kaagent pic.twitter.com/NDN2xXgszw— AA Gent News (@AAGentNews) February 16, 2023 The Belgian side will try to overturn the deficit in a week and make it to the last 16 in the competition.Elsewhere in the Europa Conference League, former Real Madrid flop Luka Jovic scored two goals as Fiorentina ran out 4-0 winners away at Portugues side Braga, while Turkish champions Trabzonspor beat Basel 1-0 in what was the first football match in that country in the wake of the devastating earthquake.UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUEPlay-off, first legThursdayBodo/Glimt – Lech Poznan 0-0Braga – Fiorentina 0-4 (0-1)/Jovic 45+1, 60, Cabral 79, 90/Qarabag – KAA Gent 1-0 (0-0)/Andrade 78/Trabzonspor – Basel 1-0 (0-0)/Larsen 65/23.00: (1.40) Lazio (4.80) Cluj (9.50)23.00: (2.10) AEK Larnaca (3.50) Dnipro-1 (3.80)23.00: (2.90) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.15) Partizan (2.75)23.00: (2.30) Ludogorets (3.30) Anderlecht (3.45)***odds are subject to change
