Jan Sykora needed just 12 seconds to enter the Europa League record books by scoring the fastest goal in the competition s history in Slovan Liberec s visit to Qarabag on Thursday.
The midfielder coolly slotted into the bottom left-hand corner from the edge of the penalty area at the Dalga Arena to put Slovan into a swift 1-0 lead in the Group J contest, although Michel equalised for the hosts in the seventh minute.
Sykora s effort shaved a second off the former record set by Vitolo for Sevilla in a 3-1 victory over Villarreal in March 2015.
12 Jan Sykora scored after just 12 seconds for Slovan Liberec against FK Qarabeg the fastest goal in Europa League history. Rapid.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
The match ended in equally dramatic circumstances as Rashad Sadygov scored an injury-time equaliser to earn Qarabag a 2-2 draw after Milan Baros had put Slovan back in front in the 68th minute.
Top 5 quickest Europa League goals
1) Jan Sykora 12 seconds (Qarabag v Slovan Liberec, September 2016)
2) Vitolo 13 seconds (Villarreal v Sevilla, March 2015)
3) Ismael Blanco 15 seconds (AEK Athens v BATE, November 2009)
4) Keita Balde 16 seconds (Ludogorets v Lazio, February 2014)
5) Juan Mata -18 seconds (Valencia v Club Brugge, February 2010)
