Schick heroics return as Leverkusen oust Qarabağ in dramatic finish
Die Werkself looked to be staring down the barrel of a Europa League exit until two injury time goals from Patrik Schick secured a 3-2 win (5-4 agg).
Leverkusen fired a number of early warning shots inside a dominant opening half. The most notable of the bunch fell at the feet of Amine Adli who tested ex-teammate Lunev. There was some cause for concern as Jonas Hofmann was withdrawn from play due to a thigh injury just before the half-hour mark. However it was a quiet half from both sides compared with what was to come.
Amazingly Qarabağ drew first blood on the evening. With their first shot on target, Leandro Andrade got down the right side of the box. His cross was weighted perfectly for Zoubir whose downward header packed just enough power to beat Kovar. Die Werkself found themselves a man to the good directly after conceding. Full-back Cafarguliyev saw red for a synical foul on the marauding Frimpong. But the unsuspecting 10-men struck again - a mirror image of their first as Vešović squared to Juninho for a tap in.
The defecit was halved by Alonso's men in the 72nd minute as Grimaldo fed Frimpong to snatch a lifeline. Multiple chances fell and it looked like Leverkusen's unbeaten race was run. However cometh the man, cometh the hour. Substitute Patrik Schick steered home a wonderful Grimaldo cross in the 93rd minute.
The game looked set for extra time; Schick had other ideas. With continued Leverkusen pressure, Palacios picked out the Czech Republic striker at the back post. The BayArena exploded into delirium as Die Werkself reach the Europa League last eight.