Gabala 3:1 Maribor (Slovenia) – 3:1

UEFA Europa League, play-off, first tie
Date: Thursday, August 18, 2016
Kick-off: 9:00 P.M. AZT
Dalgha Arena, Baku
Referee: Aleksey Kulbakov (Belarus)
Baş hakimin köməkçiləri: Vitali Malyutin, Oleg Maslyanko (both Belarus)
Fourth official: Denis Sherbakov (Belarus)
Referee observer: Sergey Zuyev (Russia)
UEFA delegate: Bakar Jordaniya (Georgia)
Goals: Sergey Zenyov, 37”, Bagali Dabo, 50, 52 // Markos Tavares, 17
Bookings: Marko Shuler, 29, Blaz Vrhovec, 58”
Stoppage time: 1st Period- 1 min.; 2nd period 3 min.

Gabala won 3:1 over Maribor (Slovenia) in the first tie of the UEFA EL play-off.
Roman Grigorchuk”s side took the lead from the early minutes with efforts by Mahammad Mirzabayov, Nika Kvekveskiri and Ricardinho. But they were unable to find the goal.

Maribor backed on counter attacks and opened the scoring in the 15th minute with Markos Tavares – 0:1.

After the goal, the red-black side pushed harder to changing the course of the game. Kvekveskiri and Vernydub game some troubles to the visitor keeper.
Gabala could score the leveler on 37 minutes when Theo Weeks set up Zenjov finished clinically – 1:1.

It was Gabala keeping the opponent team under sustained period of pressure after the restart. This led to the EL debut goal by Dabo coming one-on-one with the keeper after Zenjov”s superb pass- 2:1.

Then the visitors looked lost under ongoing pressure by Gabala that sealed in the winner with the double from Dabo. The result left Gabala side having their third home win on the trot.

Gabala lineup:
22. Dmytro Bezotosnyi
3. Vojislav Stankovic
7. Nika Kvekveskiri
9. Sergei Zenjov
15. Vitaliy Vernydub
(4. Elvin Jamalov, 90”)
17. Mahammad Mirzabayov
18. Bagali Dabo
19. Filip Ozobic
(11. Asif Mammadov, 80”)
20. Ricardinho
27. Teo Weeks
(32. Rashad Eyubov, 90+2)
44. Rafael Santos (c)

Subs.:
33. David Pietrzkievic
8. Gismat Aliyev
13. Murad Musayev
34. Urfan Abbasov
Head coach: Roman Grigorchuk

Maribor lienup:
33. Yasmin Handanovic
3. Erik Janza
4. Marco Suler
5. Blaz Vrhovec
6. Aleks Pihler
9. Markos Tavares (c)
(14. Sanni Omoregi, 80”)
11. Milivoye Novakovic
22. Dare Vrisic
(20. Gregor Bayde, 72”)
35. Rodrigo Defendi
39. Damyan Bohar
(8. Sintayehu Solelix, 72)
44. Denis Sme

Subs.:
69. Matko Obradovic
7. Amar Rahmanovic
28. Mitya Viler
70. Ales Mertelj

Head coach: Darko Milanic