Neftchi Baku were smashed 3-0 and knocked out of the Europa League by HJK on Thursday night.
After a 2-2 outcome at the Bakcell Arena in Baku where the Azerbaijan club side had grind out a result, they simply capitulated at intervals in the return leg.
Neftchi Baku fielded their strongest side which included exciting Nigerian wide attacker, Yusuf Lawal.
Lawal played the entire duration of the game, but was deployed as a wing back in a flat 5-4-1 shape.
The visitors put up a good fight in the first half, ending the first 45 minutes goalless but also with an impressive performance.
However, although their second half performance wasn’t entirely different, the hosts simply took things a notch higher – and that pressure saw Neftchi Baku cave in.
Riku Riski (49′), Roope Riski (60′) from the penalty spot stretched the lead and put the aggregate score at 4-2.
Roope Riski grabbed his second and it came late on (89′) to wrap up the game and push the team across the line into the play-off.
Lawal and his teammates will now turn their attention to the Europa Conference League in the hope for European football this season.
