Nsame’s double propels Young Boys past 10-man KF Tirana

Young Boys secured a 3-0 victory over KF Tirana in Thursday’s Europa League play-off encounter, with Jean-Pierre Nsame finding the net twice.

The Cameroon international beat goalkeeper Visar Bekaj twice in the second-half as Gerardo Seoane’s men progressed to the competition’s group stage.

Having crashed out of the Champions League, Ndubuisi Egbo’s Albanian outfit was demoted to Europe’s second-tier competition but they were unable to contain Young Boys; firepower at the Wankdorf Stadium.

The game was a test of character for the hosts, who fluffed several scoring chances against a Tirana side that put up some solid defending.

Three minutes before the half-time break, Christian Fassnacht broke the duck for Young Boys after heading home a cross from Cameroon star Moumi Ngamaleu.

Seven minutes into the second-half, Nsame put the Swiss top-flight side two goals ahead with Ngamaleu again providing the assist.

In the 64th minute, the 27-year-old striker completed his double after getting a pass from Fassnacht in the goal area of the reigning Albanian champions.

Tirana’s hopes of launching a comeback got dashed three minutes later after Argentine midfielder Agustine Torassa was given his marching orders for a second caution.

Young Boys’ inability to convert begging chances that came their way in the final third ensure that scores stood at 3-0 at the final whistle.

After an impressive shift, Nsame was substituted for on-loan Rennes forward Jordan Siebatcheu, while his compatriot Ngamaleu came out for Gianluca Gaudino after 65 minutes.

Guinean defender Mohamed Ali Camara and DR Congo's Meschak Elia were in action from start to finish for the 14-time Swiss Super League kings.

For Egbo’s Tirana, Ghana’s Winful Cobbinah was handed a starter’s role, albeit, he was relieved for compatriot Derrick Sasraku in the 71st minute, while Ibrahim Sulley, Richard Danso and Isaac Gyamfi played no part in the game.

Young Boys return to domestic action when they host Vaduz on Sunday. They currently sit fourth in the Super League log after accruing four points from two games.

Despite this defeat, ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper Egbo wrote his name in the history books being the first Nigerian to lead a team in the Europa League.