OFI’s two second-half decisions secure 2-0 win over CSKA Sofia

OFI secure 2-0 win in Sofia

OFI defeated CSKA Sofia 2-0 at the Vasil Levski National Stadium on Thursday, August 27, 2026, to win their UEFA Europa League play-off match. The Greek side led 1-0 at half-time and added a second goal late in the game, while CSKA Sofia could not find a response.

Nuss breaks the deadlock

CSKA Sofia, set up in a 5-3-2 under Hristo Yanev, and OFI, playing a 3-4-3 led by Christos Kontis, remained scoreless during the opening stages. The first significant breakthrough came in the 36th minute, when T. Nuss put OFI ahead with a normal goal assisted by A. Poungouras.

That goal gave OFI the advantage going into the interval and shaped the match after half-time. CSKA Sofia made two changes at the break, replacing Pastor with I. Solet and B. Jordao with J. Zwarts. A further change followed in the 56th minute, with P. Panayotov coming on for C. Itu, as Yanev sought to alter the course of the game.

Theodosoulakis seals the result

CSKA Sofia’s changes did not produce an equaliser. OFI remained in front until the 78th minute, when I. Theodosoulakis doubled the visitors’ lead from a normal goal assisted by I. Apostolakis. The second goal removed the possibility of a late CSKA Sofia recovery and completed OFI’s clean-sheet victory.

OFI also made changes of their own during the closing stages. I. Apostolakis replaced A. Cantalapiedra in the 71st minute, while Z. Karachalios came on for A. Bouchalakis in the 77th. Apostolakis’ involvement in the second goal made him one of the notable contributors to OFI’s decisive finish, alongside goalscorers Nuss and Theodosoulakis.

Discipline and result impact

The match produced four yellow cards. OFI’s D. Nikolaou was booked in the 21st minute, while CSKA Sofia players C. Itu and B. Jordao were cautioned in the 41st and 42nd minutes. J. Eto'o received the final booking in the 88th minute.

The result gives OFI a 2-0 Europa League play-off victory and extends their listed recent form from a single win to two consecutive wins. CSKA Sofia, who entered the match with five wins, one draw and two losses in their most recent listed results, now have another defeat. No standings data was available for either team, so their exact league positions cannot be assessed from the information provided.