Birkirkara ended their European adventure with the second defeat against Krasnodar in Russia 3-1 in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.
Despite that a defeat is always a defeat, Birkirkara saluted European football with a respectable score against a much tougher opponent, although the Russian side fielded a different formation than the one thay they played with at the Hibernians Stadium.
Birkirkara coach Drazen Besek practically kept the same team with the exception of the suspended Ryan Scicluna who was replaced by Mislav Andelkovic in a typical formation.
Krasnodar took the lead after 15 minutes when Kouassi Eboue took advantage of an indecision by Emerson Marcelina and Miroslav Kopric and scored in an empty net. That goal ended any very small hope that they could turn what seemed to be an impossible comeback.
Krasnodar kept playing on the attacking side and doubled the score on the 37th minute with a goal by Joaozinho. The Russian side caught Birkirkara off guard and scored another one just a minute later by Ricardo Laborde.
The second half continued to reduce its rhythm and this gave the opportunity to reduce tha gap which they did with a goal on the 61st minute by susbstitute Predrag Jovic who scored with a header in his right corner.