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Istanbul Basaksehir secured their place in the UEFA Conference League playoff round Wednesday despite a 1-1 home draw with Norwegian side Viking FK, advancing 4-2 on aggregate after their first-leg victory.
The Türkiye club entered the second leg of their third qualifying round tie with a commanding 3-1 advantage from the away fixture in Norway, providing a comfortable cushion for the return match at Fatih Terim Stadium.
Viking briefly threatened Basaksehir's progression when defender Onur Bulut inadvertently scored an own goal in the 34th minute, cutting the aggregate deficit and giving the visitors hope of a comeback.
However, Basaksehir responded quickly to extinguish any Norwegian optimism. Just six minutes after Viking's goal, German striker Davie Selke restored parity on the night. The forward capitalized on a pass from Eldor Shomurodov, advancing into the penalty area before placing a precise shot into the far left corner to level the match at 1-1.
Both goals came in an eventful first half, with neither side able to find the net after the interval. The final whistle confirmed Basaksehir's progression to the next phase of European competition.
The Istanbul club now awaits the outcome of Thursday's second leg between Spartak Trnava of Slovakia and Romania's Universitatea Craiova to determine their playoff round opponent. That winner will face Basaksehir over two legs scheduled for August 21 and 28.
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