Robbie Keane’s hopes of leading Ferencvaros back to the Champions League group\/league phase took a major blow as the Hungarian champions suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Qarabag in the play-off round first leg.<\/p>\n
Having dispatched Ludogorets 3-0 on aggregate in the previous round<\/a>, Ferencvaros were hopeful of maintaining that momentum in Budapest, but will require a minor miracle in Baku next Wednesday or face a drop into the Europa League.<\/p>\n FULL MATCH DETAILS<\/a><\/p>\n Republic of Ireland international Callum O\u2019Dowda played the full 90 minutes and it was the hosts that led at the interval, courtesy of Barnabas Varga\u2019s opener.<\/p>\n However, the visitors took control after the turnaround at the Groupama Arena.<\/p>\n Within five minutes the tie was level when Marko Jankovic found the net from long range, before Kevin Medina swung the game in Qarabag\u2019s favour.<\/p>\n Musa Gurbanli\u2019s effort five minutes from time means Shelbourne\u2019s conquerors<\/a> are in the driving seat ahead of the return leg.<\/p>\n Keane took over as Ferencvaros manager in the first week of January 2025, with the club second in the Hungarian championship. He subsequently guided the Budapest club to a seventh successive Hungarian title.<\/p>\n