Finally! Vidi make it into the Champions League play off – HIGHLIGHTS

MOL Vidi FC was at home in the second leg of the Champions League Q3, following last week’s 1-1 draw away against Malmö FF. A battling draw in the return leg means that Vidi are now certain of at least the Europa League Group stage.

Marko Nikolic did not make any changes to his starting team compared to the first leg. However, the league game with Debrecen on Friday saw 5 changes. There was a minutes silence ahead of the game after 3 Vidi supporters tragically died on their way home from the MOL Vidi FC – Debrecen game in a car crash. Danko Lazovic then took the kick off.

A cross from Stopira after 3 minutes was flicked in to the middle and Nego hit a left foot shot from 15 meters, which went well over the top. The game continued without any real chances being created. There were plenty of hard battles being fought on the pitch. Vinicius did well to stop the ball from going into the net after 19 minutes.

Vidi created a big chance on 27 minutes when a move involving Lazovic-Nego-Scepovic-Nego-Scepovic ended with the Serbian forward stepping into the box from a tight angle, and he shot powerfully across the face of goal, which István Kovács just failed to get on the end of.

István Kovács and Anders Christiansen, photo: MTI

The remaining 18 minutes of the first period passed off without event and the sides went in at the break 0-0. Neither manager made a change at half time. Strandberg controlled a ball after 48 minutes inside the box, and he found Christiansen, who shot from 17 meters into the hands of Kovacsik.

Christiansen then played in Larsson down the right after 52 minutes, who ran in and shot from a tight angle, but Kovacsik connected with it and Hadzic cleared the danger. There was a free kick for Malmö shortly afterwards. The 30 meters effort took a deflection and went just over the bar. The resulting corner was headed wide by Borsson.

Events quickened up and there was a big chance to take the lead after 59 minutes. Lazovic lifted a free kick into the box, which Juhász met at the far post, but his headed ended up bouncing over the bar.

Vidi were awarded a penalty after 66 minutes: Scepovic played the ball to Lazovic, who released Nego and he took the ball beyond Dahlin in the visiting goal, but the keeper brought him down. Ferrnadez pointed to the penalty spot and also booked the keeper. Lazovic stood behind the spot kick and sent a low hard shot, which the Swedish keeper got down to and blocked from going in. There was a stop in play as the netting attached to the goal had to be fixed. Antonsson came on for Strandberg. Larsson was replaced by Vindheim and Innocent also came off to be replaced by Gall.

Istvan Kovács was shown a yellow card after 80 minutes. Malmö tried to come forward in the last 10 minutes leaving bigger spaces at the back. Nikolov came off for Patkai. Huszti also came on for a few minutes in place of Kovacs.

A Barchirou cross on 93 minutes was flicked on by Rosenberg, but Kovacsik pulled off a good save. Krisztián Tamás came on to replace Danko Lazovic in the dying moments.

The team defended heroically and Malmö could not find a way through as the game ended 0-0.

That means MOL Vidi FC go through on the away goals rule and they will now face AEK Athens FC in the Champions League Play Off’s. They are also guaranteed a place in the Europa League group stage as a minimum.

Photo: MTI

MOL Vidi FC 0-0 (0-0) Malmö FF

MOL Vidi FC:
Kovácsik — Stopira, Vinícius, Juhász, Fiola — Hadzic, Nikolov (Pátkai 84), Nego — Lazovics (Tamás 90), Scsepovics — Kovács (Huszti 89)
Malmö FF:
Dahlin — Larsson (Vindheim 76), Rieks, Lewicki, Bachirou, Rosenberg, Strandberg (Antonsson 71), Christiansen, Innocent (Gall 79), Nielsen, Brorsson
Venue: Felcsút, Pancho Aréna
Attendance: 3,432
Referees: Javier Estrada, Javier Rodriguez, Teodoro Sobrino, Javier Alberola Rojas

Photo: MTI

Source: VIDI