Maribor (Slovenia) 1:0 Gabala

UEFA Europa League, Play-off, Return Match
Date: Thursday, August 25, 2016
Kick-off: 10:15 P.M. AZT
Venue: Lyudski Vrt Stadium, Maribor
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Assistant referees: Gyorgi Ring (Hungary), Vencel Tot (Hungary)
Fourth official: Tamas Bognar (Hungary)
Referee observer: Igor Ishenko (Ukraine)
UEFA delegate: Kris Bonet (Malta)
Goal: Markos Tavares, 66”
Bookings: Erik Yanza, 49”, Aleks Pihler, 60”, Denis Sme, 65”, Marvan Kabha, 67” // Vitali Vernydub, 38”, Asif Mammadov, 87”, Filip Ozobic, 89”
Red card: Theo Weeks, 69”
Stoppage time: 1st Part- 0 min.; 2nd Part- 6 min.
First tie: Gabala 3:1 Maribor

Gabala have reached up to the group stage of the UEFA EL for their second time on the trot ending the return match against Maribor in away with 1:0 after the 3:1 home event last week.

The match got underway by sustainable attacks by Maribor. But they were unable to break the defensive line of Gabala. And Roman Grigorchuk”s red-black team set up their early threat with Theo Weeks capitalizing on the ball to pass to Filip Ozobic in the box. But the latter was unable to kick in the close corner.

The Slovenian side also gained some occasions in the box but the Gabala defense and keeper Dmytro Bezotosnyi held on.

It was Gabala looking faster after the restart and pushing with their best power. The visitor”s some many efforts missed the target. Although the ball touched a Moribor players”s hand in one of the powerful shots by Ozobic, the referee did not stopped the game.

Later on, the home side could balance the game and Bezotosnyi denied Damyan Bohar before Mahammad Mirzabayov was fouled on close to the box.

The Slovenian side scored the only goal of the show in the 66th minute with Markos Tavares setting up 24-meter drive – 1:0.

After the goal, Theo Weeks picked up a red card and Gabala went down to 10. But the red-black defense deflected the home side some many times and Bezotosnyi held on clear giving great saves to his teammates up to the final whistle.

Gabala ended the game as the better side and now are waiting for the result of the group stage draw to be start at 3:00 P.M. AZT Friday in Monaco.

Maribor lineup:

33. Yasmin Handanoviç
3. Erik Yanza
4. Marko Shuler
5. Blaz Vrhovec
(24. Marvan Kabha, 46”)
6. Aleks Pihler
(8. Sintayehu Solelikh, 63)
9. Markos Tavares (k)
11. Milivoye Novakovic
22. Dare Vrisic
35. Rodrigo Defendi
(20. Gregor Bayde, 65)
39. Damyan Bohar
44. Denis Sme

Subs.:
69. Matko Obradovic
14. Sanni Omoregi
28. Mitya Viler
70. Ales Mertelj

Head coach: Darko Milanich

Gabala lineup:
22. Dmytro Bezotosnyi
3. Vojislav Stankovich
7. Nika Kvekveskiri
9. Sergei Zenjov
(11. Asif Mammadov, 86”)
15. Viatliy Vernydub
17. Mahammad Mirzabayov
18. Bagali Dabo
(32. Rashad Eyubov, 90+6”)
19. Filip Ozobic
20. Ricardinho
27. Theo Weeks
44. Rafael Santos (c)

Subs.:
33. David Pietrzkievic
4. Elvin Jamalov
6. Rashad Sadigov
13. Murad Musayev
34. Urfan Abbasov

Head coach: Roman Grigorchuk