Gabala – Panathinaikos (Greece) – 0:0

UEFA EL, Play-off, 1st game
Date: 20 August / Kick-off: 9:00 P.M. AZST,
Venue: Bakcell Arena, Baku
Referee: Andre Marriner (İngiltara)
Assistant Referee: Simon Bennett, Lee Betts (both from England)
4th official: Robert Madli (England)
Referee inspector: Zbignev Przesmicki (Poland)
UEFA member: Oleg Kharlamov (Estonia)
Bookings: Zeka, 31, Rafael Santos, 49, Yens Vemmer, 63, Aleksey Antonov, 83
Stoppage time: I Part: 1 min.; II Part: 4 min.

Gabala started faster and set the 1st real threat in the 4th minute into the game with Aleksey Antonov”s 22-meter shot denied by the opponent goal keeper. The Greek side balanced the course of the show on 15 minutes making trouble in our defense when Mladen Petric”s shot hit the post. Gabala captain Dodo in the left went close to scoring before a poor header from the 8-meter range.

After the restart, Panathinaikos looked passionate with consecutive attacks. Gabala”s Rafael Santos picked up his 2nd yellow card after the 1st booking in the match against Cukaricki from Serbia, and now he will be missing his chance of making up the lineup against Panathinaikos in the 2nd game.

Roman Grigochuk”s team well defended against attacks in the early 2nd period and regained the momentum again. Later on, the visiting footballers fouled on Dodo close to the box. And then Antonov”s long-range kick was converted by an opponent defender.

Greek Markus Berg set up 2 threats but he was denied by Rafael and then Bezotosny held on clear. And Gabala”s pulsating feedback with Sergei Zenjov”s 13-meter shot could not find the net.

In the closing minutes, Gabala stepped up their attacks but they were unable to break the deadlock. The result of the match left the red-black side keeping up their net clear into the 3rd home events – 0:0.

Gabala lineup:
22. Dmitri Bezotosny
21. Arif Dashdamirov
3. Vojislav Stankovic
44. Rafael Santos
20. Ricardinho
6. Rashad Sadigov
7. Ermin Zets
(66. Samir Zargarov, 58)
9. Sergei Zenjov
19. Aleksey Gai
10. Dodo (c)
69. Aleksey Antonov
(11. Asif Mammadov, 90)

Subs.:
33. David Pietrzkevic
4. Elvin Jamalov
8. Mahammad Mirzabayov
5. Georgi Floresku
15. Vitali Vernidub

Head coach: Roman Grigorchuk

Panathinaikos
15. Luke Steele
4. Giorgios Katrumbis
20. Statis Tavlaridis
11. Yens Vemmer
21. Nano
17. Robin Lod
(14. Abdul Ayagun, 67)
10. Zeka (c)
32. Daniel Pranyic
23. Nikos Kaltsas
(8. Tassos Lagos, 76)
19. Nikos Karelis
(9. Markus Berg, 58)
33. Mladen Petric

Subs:
1. Stefanos Katsolis
3. Diamantis Cucumic
12. Nikos Marinakis
29. Sotiris Ninis

Head coach: Yannis Anastasiu