European League, Qualifying, First game

Date: 3 June 2014 / Kick-off: 20:00 / Gabala City Stadium / Crowd: 4,200

Referee: Artiom Kucin

Referee assistants: Yevgeniy Belskiy, Rustam Suyunov

4th official: Denis Izmaylov (All from Kazakhstan)

Referee-inspector: Kornelis A. Bakker (Holland)

Yellow cards: Brakalo, 62, Ropotan, 69

Goals: Vagner, 74, 89

Extra time: I part - 1min.; II part - 3 min.

Gabala took the first-leg match of the 2014/15 season. Having their first-ever European League experience, the red-black team accepted Shiroki Brijeg of Bosnia-Herzegovina at home. 

It was Munteanu"s first experience as a head coach for Gabala where he introduced his team in a 4-5-1 style. 

The sides started by check-up efforts in early 15 minutes. Then the lead was taken by the home side and we kept the things up in the way within the last 30 minutes of the half.

 

Moving back, the visitors were in alert mind of chance to drive their counter attack. But this did not help to set up threats as crosses from Ruslan Taghizade in the right were not followed up. Victor Mendy"s solo efforts and Luis Hilario"s toil in the midfield did not work out. So the sides left the half with no goals.

Gabala are expected to keep their lead also in the second period. Head coach Munteanu could introduce just Andrei Cristea as the only sophisticated figure to step up the attack while there were only academy students in the reserve. 

As the midfielder came on, the home side kept up the lead for further 15 minutes. The visitors could balance the game until the 60th minute before gaining the momentum. At times, Zakaric looked close to scoring but his powerful shot was denied by Kamran Aghayev. The team from Bosnia and Herzegovina stepped up their inroads into the Gabala defensive led to the opener in the 74th minute when the red-black side failed to set off-side in the right. Opponent captain Vagner seized on the mistake and put his team one ahead – 1:0.

After the goal, Gabala pushed hard to leveling but were unable to set up a real threat in the other end.

With minutes rest, Vagner doubled his team”s lead this time taking benefits from another space in the left. The South American came one on one with the Gabala keeper and scored the second.

Now the pair will meet again in Siroki Brijeg on 10th July.

Gabala lineup:

1. Kamran Ağayev (c)

4. Elvin Jamalov

(11. Andrei Cristya, 56)

6. Vladimir Levin

8. Nizami Hajiyev

9. Victor Mendy

10. Luis Hilario

15. Ruslan Abışov

16. Ruslan Tağızadə

25. Adrian Ropotan

36. Elnur Allahverdiyev

44. Rafael

 

Subs.: 

30. Anar Nazirov

2. Cristian Pulhak

3. Shirmahammad Mammadov

5. Sadig Guliyev

34. Urfan Abbasov

88. Müshfig Teymurov

Head coach: Dorinel Munteanu

Siroki Brijeg lineup:

23. Antonio Soldo

7. Dino Coric

8. Mate Pehar

9. Mirko Moric

11. Goran Zakaric

(18. Zvonimir Kojul, 90+2)

14. Davor Landeka

15. Vagner (c)

19. Ivan Peko

(10. Jure Ivankovic, 90)

21. Slavko Brekalo

27. Neven Laştro

33. Stipo Markovic

(6. Yosip Barisic, 27)

Subs:

 

12. Luka Bilobrk

4. Daniel Kojul

17. Vlado Zadro

28. Filip Mihalyevic

Head coachi: Slaven Musa