Gzira U.            0
Hajduk Split     2

Gzira U. - J. Haber, F. Barbosa, G. Conti (A. Cohen 72), N. Muscat (S. Borg 83), Z. Scerri, R. Soares, J. Corbolan, H. Kone, R. Adeyemo (E. Sakyi 62), A. Henrique, J. De Assis

Hajduk - T. Duka, H. Barry, D. Nejasmic, A. Gyursco (T. Tahiraj 67), O. Svatok (S. Simic 74), I. Delic, Jairo, S. Juric, D. Bradaric (I. Dolcek 62), A. Ismajli, B. Jradi

Referee: G. Leibovitz (Israel)

Asst refs: T. Adi, M. Bohbot

4^th official: SB Avraham

Scorers: A. Gyurcso 44 pen, I. Dolcek 90.

Yellow cards: S. Juric 73, I. Dolcek 90

An Adam Gyurcso penalty two minutes from the interval whistle and a second edeep into injury time by substitute Ivan Dolcek gave Croatian side Hajduk a strong 2-0 lead to carry into next week's 2^nd leg in Split.

It was, however, a merited win for the Croatian side which was obviously superior to the Maroons.

The match did not reach any great heights and there were few emotional moments. In fairness, the scorching heat did not help the players much.

In the first half, Gzira were forced on the defensive by the more alert Croatian side, but the Maroons were well organised at the back where Soares and Barbosa were outstanding.

Hajduk enjoyed the lion's share of the attacking, but goalie Haber was never seriously tested and the visitors had to wait till the 44^th minute to take the lead from a penalty.

On their part, Gzira also failed to test Hajduk goalie Duka, but they did not fare badly as when the occasion arose, they also counter-attacked with purpose. However, their finishing was quite erratic with their fewer shots going well over the Hajduk post.

In the second half, the match followed the same pattern with Hajduk in control and enjoying a lot of possession.

Kone again had a good opportunity, but his shot was blocked

And in the latter stages of the game, the same player had a shot deviated to a corner by a defender.

But just before the end, the Croatians scored a second goal to assure themselves of their win, with a very strong possibility of advancing into the next round.

Hajduk were in control in the opening minutes and the first shot arrived in the 9^th minute when Jairo's grounder was saved by goalie Haber.

The Croatians insisted and on 13 minutes, Haber was called to intercept a dangerous cross from Bradaric.

In the 22^nd minute, Juric crossed into the area, but Jairo's header went wide.

Moments later at the other end, Gzira had their first effort, but Corbolan's shot went well over the bar. And soon after from a Scerri cross, Adeyemo's header also finished well over the goalpost.

On the 31^st minute, Adeyemo set Kone beautifully, but the latter lifted his effort over the bar.

The best chance was created by Hajduk on the 38^th minute. It was Jradi who went past three defenders on the right flank, and crossed low for Gyurcso whose effort just missed the target.

Two minutes later, Juric tried his luck from 10 metres, but his shot went wide.

Hajduk took the lead on the 44^th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a handling infringement by Adeyemo off a shot by Gyurcso. The latter's 11-metre shot was partially parried by Haber, the ball hit the upright and the same Gyurcso had no difficulty in planting the ball into the empty net.

Before the interval whistle, Delic was involved in a solo move in the Gzira area, but the action came to an end as goalie Haber managed to collect the ball during a melee which ensued.

Gzira created their best chance soon after the start of the second half when off an Adeyemo cross, Kone came face to face with goalie Duka, but his effort was excellently blocked by the Croatian goalie.

In the 56^th minute, Gzira had another chance, but Muscat's shot was central and easily saved by goalie Duka.

On 74 minutes, Gzira thought they had equalised when Barbosa found the net following a good choral move involving substitute Cohen and Corbolan, but the scorer was ruled offside.

In the 79^th minute, Hajduk's Jradi had a shot from the edge of the area going over the bar.

Soon after, at the other end, Kone had two attempts. The first was blocked and the second was deviated to a corner by a Croatian defender.

Deep into added time, Hajduk scored their second goal when substitute Ivan Dolcek was set in the Gzira area and his shot was saved by Haber who, however, could not hold the ball which rolled into the net.