AMSTERDAM – Litex Lovech striker Bjørn Maars Johnsen opened his Europa League account with a brace on Thursday night, but it wasn't quite enough to avoid elimination on away goals following a 2-2 (3-3 on aggregate) draw against visiting FK Jelgava.
With his team down one in both the game and the tie, Johnson leveled all matters in the 25th minute with a stunning lob from 25 yards. The 23-year-old took a 50-yard long ball in stride and smoothly placed it over the netminder from the left channel.
Eleven minutes after intermission, the 6-foot-5 North Carolina native nodded home a Strahil Popov cross to put the Oranges in a position to advance. However, the joy was short-lived, as Abdoulaye Diallo bagged the equalizer and tie decider just four minutes later.
Johnsen, who became the first American to bag a double in Europa League play since Terrence Boyd pulled the trick for Rapid Vienna in November of 2013, also earned his first tournament yellow card.
Meanwhile, Morgan Langley made a 35-minute Europa League debut off the bench as St. Patrick's bowed out with a 2-0 (4-1 aggregate) loss to second leg visitors Skonto Riga.
