BERLIN, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Eintracht Frankfurt secured a spot in the Europa Conference League group stage, clinching a 2-0 (0-0) win over Levski in the second leg of the playoffs on Thursday.
From the outset, the Eagles asserted their dominance, pushing the Bulgarian visitors onto the defensive. Despite Frankfurt's control over possession, they struggled to capitalize due to a lack of precision in their attacking third.
The hosts believed they had broken the deadlock in the 25th minute, but Omar Marmoush's goal was disallowed for offside. The 26-time Bulgarian champions, Levski, remained resilient in defense. However, they briefly threatened around the half-hour mark when Ronaldo sent a volley just over the bar from a close angle.
Following halftime, the Eagles picked up where they left off. Levski's goalkeeper, Plamen Andreev, made a crucial save in the 49th minute, denying Mario Gotze's close-range attempt. Dina Ebime also had a chance five minutes later but missed the target.
Frankfurt's persistence paid off in the 79th minute. Newcomer Jessic Ngankam netted his first goal for the club, just nine minutes after coming on, capitalizing on a well-orchestrated play involving Gotze. The goal deflated Levski, and Ellyes Skhiri added another to ensure Frankfurt's place in European competition. ■
