Željezničar and Široki celebrate in first European matches, Sarajevo narrowly defeated

Football players of Željezničar played a European match at the Grbavica stadium after 13 years. The opponent in the first round of the Europa League was Montenegro's Zeta from Golubovci, and the final result was 1:0 for the Blues.

After an initial probing of strength, Jovan Blagojević was the first to threaten Zeta's goal. The midfielder of the Blues shot from about 20 meters, but the ball went wide of the right post of Marko Novaković's goal. Just a minute later, the Blues had their first corner of the match. Zajko Zeba combined with Ivan Lendrić and Goran Zakarić, but Zeta's defense cleared the ball for another corner. After Zeba's new cross, there was no danger to the Montenegrins' goal.

Željo could have crowned their dominance in the 11th minute. Zeba delivered a good corner again, Asim Zec shot on the volley. Novović was beaten, but Cavnić cleared the ball off the goal line. After Zeba's new cross, Uglješa Radinović also shot well, but over the goal.

 

Zeta approached Vedran Kjosevski's goal for the first time in the 20th minute. Kukuličić made an excellent run down the right side and crossed into the Blues' six-yard box, but Siniša Stevanović sent the ball into a corner. The visitors had another chance in the 25th minute. Šekulić crossed, but Graovac managed to clear the ball into a corner.

The home players missed another good opportunity in the 38th minute. Zeba toyed with a Zeta defender and shot well from the edge of the penalty area. Novović didn't even move, but the ball went wide of the right post.

The Blues went all out towards Zeta's goal at the start of the second half, and it paid off in the 48th minute. Zeba delivered a phenomenal corner, Bogičević jumped excellently and shot towards the goal. The ball deflected off Lendrić and ended up in Novović's net.

It was the 66th minute when Zajko Zeba shot brilliantly, but the ball went wide. Immediately in the next attack, Zeta had a great counter-attack, Kukuličić went one-on-one with Kjosevski, the Željo goalkeeper was beaten, but the ball went wide of the post.
Zeta could have scored in the 75th minute. Kalezić crossed, Ljuljđuraj attempted an overhead kick, Kjosevski was motionless, but the ball went wide of the post.

Željo could have scored again in the 81st minute. Debutant Graovac shot excellently, but Novović saved his net with a desperate effort. Another debutant in Slavko Petrović's team, Asim Zec, tried with a good shot five minutes before the end of the match, but the visiting goalkeeper was again in place.

There were no more excitements until the end of the match, so the Blues travel to Podgorica for the second leg with a one-goal advantage, and hopefully, that will be enough for them to advance to the next round. The second leg between Željezničar and Zeta will be played in seven days at the Pod Goricom stadium, starting at 8:30 PM.

In the first match of the first round of the Europa League, Sarajevo was defeated away by Moldova's Zaria with 2:1. The hosts started the match better, having an opportunity after a set piece in the fourth minute, but it remained 0:0. In the seventh minute, Zaria crowned their initial initiative, and Zaginailov scored the goal.

Three minutes after the goal, a chance for Sarajevo, but Hebibović's cross-shot was not followed by any teammates.

In the 23rd minute, another good attack by our representatives. Ivetić crossed brilliantly, but his teammates were late for the ball, and it remained 1:0.

In the 34th minute, an unbelievable detail occurred. Namely, Gomez shot from half the field and beat Sarajevo's goalkeeper, Pavlović, who had come out of his goal, and the hosts took a 2:0 lead, which was also the score at halftime.

In the second half, the hosts threatened first through Zaginailov in the 55th minute, but without a change in score. Hebibović had a chance for Sarajevo in the 59th minute, but Zaria's defense reacted well. The same player tried again in the 65th minute, the scoreboard remained 2:0.

The Maroon team scored a goal in the 74th minute, and the captain, Marko Mihojević, hit the net of the Moldovan team, making the score 2:1. Radovac had a good chance in the 85th minute, but it remained 2:1.

There were not too many chances until the end of the match, and the second leg at Koševo will decide the participant of the second round of the Europa League.

The footballers of Široki Brijeg also took a big step towards qualifying for the 2nd round of the Europa League, as they defeated Ordabasy 2:0 tonight at Pecara.

Široki Brijeg started the match better, and in the first twenty minutes, they had good chances through Blaić and Čabraja, but the visitors' net remained still. Široki took a deserved lead in the 37th minute of the match when Ivan Krstanović scored from a penalty. The same player scored again in the 45th minute and took Široki Brijeg into halftime with a two-goal lead (2:0).

In the second half, Široki Brijeg managed to preserve their lead and will travel to Kazakhstan with a significant advantage and a good chance to qualify for the second round of the Europa League qualifiers.

(sportske/NAP)