Former Bristol City man qualifies for Europe after Cup win

The Wales international had two loan spells at Ashton Gate - but is now plying his trade abroad.
Adam Matthews gets to play in Europe again. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)Adam Matthews gets to play in Europe again. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Adam Matthews gets to play in Europe again. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Mathews - who was a Robins player from 2016 to 2017 - making 39 appearances - is now playing in Cyprus with AC Omonia. He was brought to Nicosia by former Celtic boss Neil Lennon and this season Matthews featured against Manchester United.

The 31-year-old has been in Cyprus for nearly two seasons now and has reason to celebrate after winning the Cypriot Cup. Omonia beat AEL Limassol 1-0 thanks to an 85th-minute winner from Karim Ansarifard. The Cup win means that they have qualified for the Europa Conference League and will enter the second qualifying round.

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He is one of a few players that in as many weeks to qualify for European competitions. Swedish winger Niclas Eliasson won the Greek Super League with AEK Athens, which has seen them qualify for the Champions League. Athens are in the third qualifying round and could come up against Scottish Premiership runners-up Rangers. Eliasson was at City from 2017 to 2020 after joining for a reported £1.8m fee from IFK Norrkoping. He made 96 appearances and got seven goals during his time in the West Country.

Yesterday, Brighton secured Europa League football after a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. The Seagulls haven’t played in Europe before and had been assured of a Conference League place, but after Julio’s Encisco’s goal-of-the-season contender cancelled out Phil Foden’s opener, there was reason to celebrate for two former Bristol City players Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster.

Dunk had a three-game spell at City back in 2013 after joining a one-month loan deal but suffered a knee injury, and then returned to the AMEX Stadium. The 31-year-old was also recently included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming EURO 2024 qualifiers against Malta (June 16) and North Macedonia (June 19). His centre-back partner Webster meanwhile spent the entire 2018/19 campaign at City, and played 47 times before he was sold for a fee of around £25m.

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