Malta champions Hibernians notched a 1-0 win in Estonia this evening to make it through to the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
The Paolites had already won the first leg in Malta 2-0 last week, to finish off FCI Tallinn with a 3-0 aggregate.
The all-important goal was scored by Jorginho in the 88th minute.
Hibs will now face Austria’s Salzburg in the second qualifying round.
The matches will be played between 11 and 19 July.
BALZAN FC- 3
VIDEOTON FC – 3
(Agg 3-5)
Balzan FC: I. Janjusevic, R. Fenech (J. Zerafa), P. Fenech, S. Bezzina, A. Effiong, U. Ljubomirac, E. Serrano, Cadu (L. Micallef), M. Savic (A. Alves), B. De Oliveira, B. Kaljevic
Videoton FC: A. Kovacsik, P. Vinicius, D. Lazovic (M. Maric), A. Hadzic (J. Varga), L. Nego, M. Patkai, Stopira, R. Juhasz, M. Scepovic, K. Geresi (I. Kovacs), A. Suljic
Referee: F. Glova (Slovakia)
Scorers: B. Kaljevic 3, 86 pen, K. Geresi 15, M. Scepovic 23, A. Effiong 57, R. Juhasz 81
Yellow cards: A. Hadzic, A. Suljic, S. Bezzina, Stopira
Attendance: 550
SILVIO VELLA
Balzan failed to make it to the second qualifying round of the Europa League, despite an entertaining home 3-3 draw yesterday, after going out to Hungarian opponents Videoton FCNK with a 5-3 aggregate score.
Yesterday, at the Hibernians Stadium, in the return leg, Balzan took an early lead that might have given them brief hopes of overturning the 2-0 deficit from the first leg but the visitors soon made their technical superiority count, scoring twice before halftime, to kill all of Balzan’s motivation.
Balzan improved in the second half and started the move the ball around with more purpose, even because Videoton did not need to exert themselves too much in the heat and humidity. Balzan scored twice in the second half after twice trailing their opponents, to avoid defeat with a late leveller from a penalty.
Balzan named an unchanged line-up from the one who played in Hungary the previous week, with the same formation of four at the back, two in front of the defence, three in midfield and captain Bojan Kaljevic their most advanced player.
Videoton coach Marko Nikolic dropped three players, Andras Fejes, Adam Bodi and Jozsef Varga from the first leg, replacing them with centre back Paulo Vinicius, and midfielders Mate Patkai and Krisztian Geresi.
Balzan made the most encouraging start as they took an early lead after hardly three minutes on the clock. Cadu won possession in midfield, played the ball wide on the right for the advancing Ljubomirac whose low cross shot was deflected in by Bojan Kaljevic.
Videoton, sensing danger, were forced to press for an away goal. Scepovic displayed dangerous movement and creative link-up play with Lazovic and Geresi as the visitors started to threaten.
On 13 minutes, Suljic persisted inside the Balzan area, played the ball back from near the byeline to Scepovic, whose shot was well saved into a corner by the Balzan keeper Janjusevic.
That was the prelude to Videoton’s equaliser. Two minutes later, Nego was the first to make contact with a low cross from the right inside the Balzan area. His effort was blocked by Janjisevic but the ball fell invitingly to the unmarked Krisztian Geresi who hit it in from close range.
Conceding at home, Balzan’s task of qualifying became laborious at that point, but was rendered impossible when the visitors scored again midway through the half.
(Photos Domenic Aquilina)
Lazovic opened the Balzan defence with a through pass to put Marko Scepovic clear, only to steer the ball low past the hepless keeper Janjusevic.
Videoton continued to be the better team as the locals looked like losing all their confidence.
Towards the half hour, after Scepovic ran dangerously inside the Balzan area, Lazovic pounced on his pass to clip the bar and then head over as Balzan’s rearguard looked susceptible.
Balzan failed to manage any forays forward for the remaining of the half.
But short of the hour, the locals managed to draw level. Alfred Effiong was the first to react on a bouncing ball just outside the Videoton area and lobbed it over the stranded Hungarian keeper Kovacsik.
A more lively Balzan also looked menacing again when Vinicius and his keeper hesitated on a Kaljevic forward pass. Nego cleared the ball before Effiong could take possession.
The presence of Scepovic inside the area, always posed a threat for the Balzan defence though. On 76 minutes keeper Janjusevic repelled Lazovic’s powerful shot on the run and later a Scepovic firm header, from a corner kick, was headed off the line by Paul Fenech.
Videoton remained more potent going forward. Balzan’s defence was rendered helpless on a set piece, nine minutes from time. A Lazovic floating free kick inside the Balzan area was headed in by the tall Videoton defender and capatin Roland Juhasz.
But Balzan still summoned enough effort to equalise in the dying minutes, when awarded a penalty after Effiong was felled by Nego inside the area, and Bojan Kaljevic converted from the spot for a deserved draw.