UEFA Europa Conference League: Antony scores as Real Betis easily defeats Gent, while Shamrock Rovers surprise Molde.

**Real Betis Dominate Gent in Europa Conference League Play-Off**

Real Betis delivered a commanding performance as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Gent in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League knockout play-off at the Planet Group Arena. Under the astute management of Manuel Pellegrini, the Verdiblancos showcased their superiority throughout the match in Belgium.

The scoring was opened just after the break when January signing Antony, who joined from Manchester United, struck a well-placed shot into the far corner in the 47th minute. The Brazilian’s goal was a classic display of his talent, cutting in from the right flank onto his left foot, reminiscent of his days at Ajax.

Antony, who made headlines with his £86 million transfer to United in 2022, has quickly settled into life in Seville. He now boasts two goals and an assist in his first three appearances for the club, and his performance was a clear indication of the attacking prowess Betis possess this season.

The hosts continued to assert their dominance, with Cedric Bakambu and Sergi Altimira adding to the scoreline. Their contributions ensured a comfortable lead heading into the second leg of the play-off.

In other matches, Panathinaikos faced an unexpected setback, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Vikingur. The Icelandic side made history with their victory, thanks to goals from David Orn Atlason and Matthias Vilhjalmsson. Rui Vitoria’s men managed to pull one back late in the game through a penalty from Fotis Ioannidis, awarded under contentious circumstances. However, it was not enough to prevent Vikingur from becoming the first Icelandic club to win a UEFA knockout match.

Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers pulled off a remarkable 1-0 win in Norway against Molde. Sixteen-year-old Michael Noonan made headlines as the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Conference League history at just 16 years and 197 days.

In Denmark, Bundesliga side Heidenheim required a late winner from Tim Siersleben to secure a 2-1 victory over Copenhagen. After falling behind to a Jordan Larsson goal just before half-time, Heidenheim equalised through Thomas Keller and completed the turnaround with Siersleben’s decisive strike. This victory provided a much-needed boost for a team currently struggling in the German top flight.

Cypriot rivals Omonoia and Pafos played out a thrilling 1-1 draw, with Willy Semedo’s penalty being cancelled out by Mislav Orsic’s late equaliser. The match was marred by a missed penalty from Muamer Tankovic, who failed to convert a spot-kick that could have levelled the scores earlier in the game.

Borac Banja Luka of Bosnia and Herzegovina secured a narrow 1-0 victory over ten-man Olimpija, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Sandi Ogrinec. In Poland, Jagiellonia Bialystok triumphed over Serbian side Backa Topola with a convincing 3-1 win at the TSC Arena.

Finally, one-time UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists APOEL Nicosia will return to Cyprus with a 2-2 draw after a dramatic encounter against Celje. Armandas Kucys opened the scoring for the home side within two minutes, only for David Abagna to equalise. Kucys netted again in the second half, but Konstantinos Laifis responded with a header from a corner. The visitors were reduced to ten men when Lasha Dvali received a second yellow card shortly after, adding to the drama of the match.

As the competition heats up, the second legs promise to deliver even more excitement and drama.