The champions of Bosnia and Herzegovina in football, Zrinjski from Mostar, qualified for the second preliminary round of the UEFA Champions League, eliminating the champions of Armenia, Urarta, reports Anadolu.
The score at the end of the regular part of the match was 1:2, and after the second overtime – 2:3, while the penalty series went to Zrinjski, with the score 4:3. Zrinjski won seven days ago in Yerevan – 1:0.
During the first half of tonight’s game, the champion of Bosnia and Herzegovina was a much better opponent, but he failed in the continuation. Already in the third minute, Nemanja Bilbija missed the first chance of the match. He shot with his right foot from eleven meters, and the ball went wide.
Three minutes later, Zrinjski’s captain hit the post. Previously, persistent Stanić fought for the ball, after which Bilbija broke free from Tsymbalyuk, and then hit the frame.
The visitors’ net was shaken in the 29th minute. The excellent Bilbija scored a header after Ćorluka’s cross from the right. The coordinated action of Zrinjski was seen many times during the last season.
Five minutes before the break, Urartu created the first chance of the match. Salou acted from the second plan, shot with the head, but not enough for a goal. Marić made the save.
The second half brought a better game from the visitors, who were able to equalize in the 71st minute, when Maksilenko reacted badly in a “one on one” situation. Zrinjski’s goalkeeper stood out again. It was a foreshadowing of Urartu’s equalizing goal that followed two minutes later. Grigoryan accepted a pass from deep and hit the opposite – undefended corner of Zrinjski’s goal with a precise shot.
It was a wind at the back for the visitors who managed to score a second goal by the end of the regular part and thus win extra time. The contact between Barišić and Ozbiliz was characterized by referee Kjaesgaard from Denmark as a foul for a penalty kick, which was then realized by Grigoryan.
In the last minute of stoppage time, Bilbi was close to scoring, but his header from five meters was saved by Melikhov. At the beginning of the first overtime, Zrinjski equalized and again reached the result that led them to the second preliminary round. Tomislav Kiš scored from the penalty spot that he won himself. Previously, he was improperly stopped by goalkeeper Melikhov.
Urartu’s last attack in the first overtime gave the visitors a new lead. Ozbiliz provided a great assist for Maksimenko, who scored the third time for the Armenians with a strong shot. A good chance for Zrinjski was missed by Kiš in the 110th minute, after a cross from Ćorluka. After 120 minutes of play without a final winner, the penalty shootout began, in which the home players had more concentration and luck.
The visitors took the lead with a goal by Maksimenko, and Kish scored the equalizer for Zrinjski. Safe in the second series were Ozbiliz and Kožulj. In the third, Grigoryan scored for Urarta, while on the other side, Zlomislić shot over the goal. In the fourth series, Eduardo was not lucky on the other side either, hitting the crossbar, while Senić was sure of a new tie. Marić then saved Ghazaryan’s shot, while on the other side Barišić scored to place Zrinjski in the second preliminary round.
Zrinjski will get the better opponent in the second preliminary round on Wednesday from the Hesperanga – Slovan Bratislava match.
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