FC Dynamo Kyiv survived a late VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach rally to book their place in the group stage of the UEFA Champions league.
With a 3-1 first-leg deficit to overturn Mönchengladbach controlled the match for long stretches but Dynamo proved defiant in defence. That was until the final 20 minutes, when Yevhen Khacheridi set nerves jangling by heading past his own keeper before Juan Arango drew the aggregate score level. The hosts still held the advantage on away goals, and Ideye Brown chipped a late goal to kill off Die Fohlen's fightback and confirm Dynamo's progress.
Down by two goals the visitors had no choice but to attack if they were to make the group stage in their first appearance in Europe's premier club competition since reaching the semi-finals in 1978. It was a huge ask for Lucien Favre's men, but with two minutes gone they almost got the perfect start. Arango's curved ball over the top sent Patrick Herrmann clear, but the winger was stretching and could only prod an effort wide.
Despite their cushion, Dynamo knew another goal would kill the tie, and, but for Martin Stranzl's perfectly timed intervention, Ideye seemed certain to get it when Oleh Gusev's neat step-over sent the forward through. Barring the threat of Dynamo's Nigerian attacker, the half was dictated by the German side. Mike Hanke shot off target at the back post from Arango's cross, before looping a volley over the bar.
It was all or nothing for Mönchengladbach after the interval and Dynamo brought Favre's men on by sitting deep. Maxym Koval spilled Arango's low shot but Herrmann was unable to turn the loose ball in before Khacheridi headed in to offer a glimmer of hope. That glimmer turned to real belief when Arango thumped a header in with 12 minutes remaining. The visitors threw everything at Dynamo, but when Ideye scored his tenth goal of the season with two minutes left the Dynamo fans finally relaxed, knowing a place in Thursday's draw was theirs.
