As expected Czech side Viktoria Plzen advanced to the play-off stages of the Europa Conference League after beating Gzira United 2-0 yesterday at the National Stadium to go through 6-0 on aggregate.

As from the draws and especially after the first leg result, there was little doubt on who will qualify for the next round as Plzen proved to be the better side. However Gzira gave a very good account of themselves, especially yesterday where the Maroons shared the exchanges with their opponents for very long stretches of the match.

Plzen did the early running with David Cassar effecting a string of saves in the opening minutes.

Gzira hit back with a good opportunity for Chaba who missed the target from a good position and later Romero was denied by the Viktoria goalkeeper.

In the closing minutes of the first half Sulc had an effort going just wide and on the other end Gzira’s Macula was denied by a good Jedlicka save.

Two minutes into the second half Viktoria took the lead when Traore slotted home from close range with the same player going close again minutes later with his shot finishing against the crossbar.

Goalkeeper Cassar made two great saves off Mosquera and Kliment but could do nothing on 70 minutes to stop a shot from the edge of the area by Vlkanova.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina

Ferencvaros come from behind to cancel Mbong’s early lead

As expected Hamrun Spartans were eliminated from the Conference League yesterday after going down 2-1 in Budapest for an 8-2 aggregate. Undoubtedly the disastrous five minutes at the start of the second half at Ta’ Qali last week were the turning point of this clash.

Ferencvaros were the better team and deserved the promotion to the play-off stages, but once again the local champions proved their worth with another very positive performance and will now concentrate on the local scene where they are expected to dominate and retain the title.

Hamrun made some changes as they had Prsa and Djuranovic suspended, and Zauri opted to leave Steve Borg and Ryan Camenzuli on the bench.

On six minutes the Spartans stunned their opponents when Montebello floated a good cross from the right and Joseph Mbong hammered home from close range. Ferencvaros, although having much of the ball, took some time to settle down.

Marcelina lost an important ball but Varga failed to score and on 25 minutes Marchetti denied the same Varga. On the half hour Abu Fani’s drive was well saved Marchetti. On 38 minutes Hamrun were unlucky to lose Joseph Mbong who limped off and was substituted by Camenzuli who occupied the usual left flank, with Corbalan shifted on the right.

Four minutes from the break Ferencvaros pressure was rewarded when Varga beat the Hamrun offside trap and crossed towards Traore’ who headed home from close range.

Like in the first half Hamrun started the second period with a good scoring opportunity with Montebello passing towards Camenzuli who was blocked in time by a daring Varga sortie.

Minutes later captain David Siger was unlucky when his scorcher crashed against the crossbar and on the hour a curling drive by playmaker Abu Fani just missed the target. Twenty minutes from time the Hungarian outfit scored what proved to be the winner when Marquinhos did all the damage on the left flank before passing towards Varga who flicked the ball home from close range.

Ferencvaros wanted another high score victory and pushed forward for more goals but Hamrun resisted to suffer a slender defeat after another positive display.