Hammarby, the Stockholm side, lost 1-0 in the home leg at 3 Arena in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, the third most prestigious club competition in Europe.
Greek defender Stratos Svarnas scored the only goal of the match for the away team in added time in the first half.
Despite winger Amin Boudri receiving his second yellow card of the match in the 54th minute, and thus a red card, Hammarby pressed on towards the end to equalise and take it to extra time. But the home team never breached goalkeeper Kacper Trelowski's net, and Hammarby were instead eliminated after 1-0 both in the match and on aggregate.
“Fucking angry”
"I'm so angry and frustrated. It feels like we're throwing it away again. It's only up to us and no one else," says Hammarby striker Paulos Abraham in Aftonbladet's broadcast.
Rakow, from the Polish city of Czestochowa, has advanced to the final qualifying round, the playoff later in August. The Europa Conference League's main tournament begins in October.
Mjällby against a big team
Later in the evening, IFK Göteborg were eliminated by Gent in Belgium. The “Blue and Whites” were 1-0 down from the first meeting on the west coast last week but still managed to create drama in the match, despite Gent also scoring one goal in Thursday's match. Saidou Alioum equalised to 1-1 in the 85th minute and Göteborg were then a goal away from extra time. Gent, however, held on and advanced 2-1 on aggregate.
In the Europa League, the second most prestigious club tournament in Europe, it is clear that reigning Swedish champion Mjällby will face RB Salzburg in the playoffs with the first match at home next week.
The Austrian giants knocked out Pafos, Cyprus, after a 3-3 draw in Thursday's match in Limassol and 4-3 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.
