UEFA Champions League - 1st qualifying round - 1st leg
02 July - Victoria Stadium - Gibraltar
Lincoln FC (Gib) - HB Tórshavn 1-1 (1-0)
1-0 18' Joseph Chipolina (pen)
1-1 71' Levi Hanssen
HB were trailing at half time, but a goal from Levi Hanssen - who scored for EB/Streymur in both legs of the 1st qualifying round last season - with 20 minutes remaining earned HB a draw and a priceless away-goal which might become crucial in the aftermath of the second leg in Tórshavn 8 July.
For Lincoln, the draw is likely seen a fine result as it is the first time that Gibraltar is represented in European competition, and for HB it will bee seen as OK, as HB should have the qualities to complete the task at home with the luxury of an away-goal in the bag.
Lincoln’s European adventure started perfectly though as they took the lead after 18 minutes with a penalty from Joseph Chipolina after the Belgian referee had deemed that Kristin R. Mouritsen had made a foul on Ryan Casciaro.
HB nearly equalized through Fróði Benjaminsen shortly after the half-hour, but Lincoln were saved by the woodwork.
HB had a clear majority of possession in the second half, but found it difficult to create the opening, however, and in the early stages, Lincoln threatened just as much when they did attack.
But eventually, HB upped the tempo and they started to create some scoring opportunities, and after 20 minutes a smart dummy from Hanssen allowed René S. Joensen to get to the by-line inside the penalty area, but Jóan Símun Edmundsson failed to make the opportunity count. A minute later HB had a decent shot from long range to serve as a warning.
The break came after 70 minutes when Edmundsson and Heini Vatnsdal combined to play Hanssen clear to score the equalizer.
HB continued to dominate for the remainder of the game, but still without creating clear cut scoring opportunities.
At the other hand, HB goalkeeper Teitur Gestsson had to be at his best to tip a Lincoln free kick over the bar 10 minutes before the end.
The return leg will be played at Tórsvøllur Stadium on Tuesday 8 July.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
UEFA Champions League - 1st qualifying round - 2nd leg
http://youtu.be/N94QRfXMOoo
08 July - Tórsvøllur Stadium, Tórshavn
HB Tórshavn - Lincoln F.C. (Gib) 5-2 (3-0)
1-0 11' Levi Hanssen
2-0 25' Tróndur Jensen
3-0 34' Jóan Símun Edmundsson
3-1 50' George Cabrera
3-2 77' John-Paul Duarte
4-2 81' Levi Hansen
5-2 88' Fróði Benjaminsen
At 3-0 up at half-time, HB were cruising towards the second qualifying round, but advancement was suddenly hanging in the balance as Lincoln scored twice and were unlucky not to equalize when they hit the inside of the post. Instead HB scored twice inside the last 10 minutes of the game to go through to the second qualifying round against FK Partizan from Serbia.
HB took the lead after 11 minutes when Fróði Benjaminsen captured the ball on the half-way line, found Jóan Símun Edmundsson whose through-ball played Levi Hanssen clear in centre of goal to fire the ball into the back of the net.
HB then took a stronghold on the game, and Lincoln appeared to be the weakest team that has ever played a European match in the Faroe Islands.
HB doubled their lead after 25 minutes when Benjaminsen’s brilliant pass over Lincoln’s defence played Tróndur Jensen through to score a cracking goal where he chested the ball and fired first time into the roof of the net.
It became 3-0 after 34 minutes; Benjaminsen winning an aerial duel that played Edmundsson clear - also helped by a slipping defender – before he rounded the goalkeeper and scored.
Last action of the first half was when Edmundsson from the edge of the penalty area stretched the goalkeeper to deny HB’s fourth goal.
Before that Troest Davidsen shot over the goal when it looked easier to score and Benjaminsen also had two golden opportunities, but one went over and the other wide.
Lincoln had only one decent attempt during the first 45 minutes, a long range effort from Joseph Luis Chipolina that went just wide of the post.
Judging from the first half, it looked like it was just a question of how big HB’s victory was going to be in the end. EB/Streymur won 5-1 at home last season against Lusitans which is the biggest winning margin for a Faroese club in European competition, and it looked like HB could easily break that record.
But the game took a dramatic turn in the second half when Lincoln pulled a goal back after 50 minutes on a counter attack with four against three down the left to cut back the pass in front of goal where George Cabrera slotted home.
The minute after, Lincoln were close again when George Cabrera struck over the bar on an almost replica attack and after 65 minutes HB were lucky to survive a shot from Chipolina that hit the inside of the far post.
HB looked shell-shocked – but went close to decide matters just a minute later when Benjaminsen headed on the upright following a corner.
But the decision was far away when Lincoln pulled another goal back after 77 minutes when John-Paul Duarte turned in from a corner.
But the nerves settled for HB four minutes later though after Réne Shaki Joensen made most of the spadework before he found a clear Hanssen to tap in from close range to make it 4-2. This was Hansen’s 8th goal in European competition, a record he broke in the 1st leg where he scored his 6th to overtake Bergur Midjord and Olgar Danielsen, both retired, who have scored five.
On 88 minutes, Benjaminsen sealed the victory when he volleyed the ball into the back of the net after chesting the ball following a long pass from Troest Davidsen
HB play away to FK Partizan on 15 July while the second leg will be played in Tórshavn on 21 July.
UEFA Europa League - 1st qualifying round - 1st leg
03 July, Tórsvøllur Stadium, Tórshavn:
B36 Tórshavn - Linfield FC (N. Ire)1-2 (0-1)
0-1 38' Jamie Mulgrew
1-1 72' Adeshina Lawal
1-2 88' Michael Carvill
B36's chances look slim after losing 2-1 against Northern Irish side Linfield FC as B36 will have to score at least two goals on away soil in the second leg.
But the prospects looked much better two minutes from time with the score tied at 1-1, before Linfield scored the winner as they took advantaged of a failed B36 clearance and attacked down the left flank to the byline to make a flat cross that was extended by a clever back-heel to a clear Michael Carvill, who just needed to tap in from close range.
Linfield had also taken the lead in the match, but only after B36 had had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside after about 10 minutes – just a minute after Linfield – rightfully – also had had a goal disallowed for offside.
Linfield took the lead after 38 minutes after B36 had been under a sustained pressure for a minute where the visitors were winning the tackles and the ball was bouncing their way, and when a ball was crossed into the penalty area, a Linfield player shielded the ball before laying it back to an unmarked Michael Carvill who fired the ball into the back of the net from just outside the box. - A goal that sometimes had look imminent, as Linfield had been in similar situations earlier.
But the match as a whole had seen few scoring opportunities, and the second half continued as an even contest and after 72 minutes also the score-line became even again as Nigerian forward Adeshina Lawal headed home an equalizer from Róaldur Jacobsen’s free kick.
B36 thereafter had two or three golden situations they should have gotten more from, but inaccurate passes spoiled the opportunities.
And they paid dearly for that two minutes from the end of normal time.
UEFA Europa League - 1st qualifying round - 1st leg
03 July - Svangaskarð Stadium, Toftir
Víkingur - FC Daugava Daugavpils (Lat) 2-1
1-0 23' Finnur Justinussen
1-1 56' Erik Kokins
2-1 59' Andreas Lava Olsen
Although Víkingur celebrate another excellent European win, they still rue a host of missed chances that could have put the tie beyond reach of their opponents, but with an away-goal against them, Víkingur will face a tough task in Latvia in a week.
Víkingur was the better team for most of the first half and should have taken an early lead when Filip Djordjevic had a free header from close range, but the glorious opportunity was squandered.
Instead Víkingur had to wait until midway in the first half to take the lead when Finnur Justinussen’s perfect looping header went straight into the top corner from Hanus Jacobsen’s equally perfect cross.
Víkingur should have scored again, but again Djordjevic squandered the opportunity when he just had to put a low cross past the goalkeeper from 10 metres.
The visitors started to threaten towards the end of the first half and continued from the start of the second half and so nearly equalized when Jevgenijs Kosmacovs shot just wide with a clear sight of goal after some good combinations.
The pressure continued and 10 minutes after the break Daugava scored the equalizer when Aleksandrs Solovjovs brilliant pass split Víkingur’s two – very hesitating – defenders to play Eriks Kokins clear finish clinically.
But Víkingur regained the lead just three minutes later as fast thinking experienced centre-back Atli Gregersen cleverly played Andreas á Lava Olsen clear with a 60-metre long free kick-pass to score in his return for Víkingur after several years in Denmark.
Gregersen used the same old trick shortly after; this time playing Heðin Hansen clear, but again a golden opportunity was misused as the shot was straight on the goalkeeper with about a quarter of an hour remaining.
Later, Lava Olsen had another great opportunity as Justinussen’s perfect cross played him clear just in front of the goalkeeper who, however, blocked the back heel attempt.
UEFA Europa League - 1st qualifying round - 1st leg
03 July - Saviniemi Football Stadium - Kouvola
MyPa 47 (Fin) - ÍF Fuglafjørður 1-0 (0-0)
1-0 76' Denis Abdulahi
With a narrow away loss, ÍF are still alive in the contest when they take on the Finns on Thursday 10 July at Tórsvøllur Stadium in Tórshavn.
But it was MyPa who dominated throughout the 90 minutes, but with superb defending and excellent goalkeeping from Jákup Mikkelsen - who was also lucky to be saved by the woodwork twice – ÍF managed to minimize the defeat to just a single goal which came with a quarter of an hour remaining through Denis Abdulahi.
UEFA Europa League - 1st qualifying round - 2nd leg
08 July, Morneview Park - Lurgan
Linfield FC (N. Ire) - B36 Tórshavn 1-1 (1-0)
1-0 17' Michael Carvill
1-1 48' Adeshina Lawal (pen)
UEFA Europa League - 1st qualifying round - 2nd leg
10 July, Sloka - Jurmala
F. C. Daugava Daugavpils (Lat) - Víkingur 1-1 (0-0)
1-0 Olegs Zatkins
1-1 Andreas Lava Olsen
Sigfríður Clementsen has for a fourth time manage to guide a team to advancement in European competition as Víkingur drew 1-1 with FC Daugava to go through to the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
But it looked like Víkingur would pay dearly for the conceded goal at home in the 1st leg as Olegs Zatkins gave MyPa the lead on the hour-mark; sneaking in at the post from close range after a low cross had eluded a bunch of Víkingur legs.
Víkingur had to dig deep and two minutes from end of normal time, Andreas Lava Olsen, who had come on after 73 minutes, scored the equalizer to send Víkingur through.
But they had to wait some nervous last minutes before confirming their second round spot as Víkingur came under heavy pressure in the remainder and where goalkeeper Geza Turi had to make a superb diving save to deny the Latvians the equalizer.
In the second qualifying round, Víkingur will meet Tromsø who plays in the Norwegian 2nd tier, as they were relegated at the end of last season. Tromsø beat Estonian outfit FC Santos Tartu 13-1 on aggregate in the first qualifying round.
UEFA Europa League - 1st qualifying round - 2nd leg
08 July, Tórsvøllur Stadium - Tórshavn
ÍF Fuglafjørður - MyPa 0-0
1-0 on aggregate after two games tells the story of an even contest – at least it was today. Although ÍF had a majority of the possession, they lacked fire-power up front – not helped by the absence of Brazilian striker Clayton Soares – and rarely managed to create decent scoring opportunities.
Towards the end ÍF threw caution to the wind which MyPa nearly took advantage of, but Jákup Mikkelsen made the necessary saves.
Re-Live on Youtube here
UEFA Champions League - 2nd qualifying round - 1st leg
15 July - Beograd
Partizan Beograd - HB Tórshavn 3-0 (1-0)
1-0 '14 Danko Lazovic
2-0 '64 Danko Lazovic
3-0 '71 Petar Skuletic
HB all but crash out of the Champions League after a typical away loss against a better team where there just are too many minutes on the clock to avoid the errors that give the goals.
But HB did quite well to keep Partizan from creating chances in the first half, but went behind after 13 minutes when a corner was flicked on to Danko Lazovic who headed home from close range.
HB were lucky that they didn’t concede in the opening five minutes though as an inviting free kick was just centimetres from connecting with the clear Partizan forward. Except from that, there was just one other save Teitur Gestsson had to make when he dived to punch away a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
HB had never threatened in the first 45 minutes and never did in the second period either, where the pressure on the HB goal eventually mounted, and in the 64th minute Partizan doubled their lead after a cross from the left hand side where first Petar Skuletic headed on the crossbar before Lazovic slotted in the rebound.
It became 3-0 seven minutes later when Lazovic was allowed to turn on the right hand side of the penalty area to make a cross to Skuletic who turned in with his head as he had left his marker in front of goal.
In addition, Gestsson also made a couple of saves to keep the score at 3-0.
The second leg will be played at Tórsvøllur in Tórshavn on 22 July an will now only be about formalities.
UEFA Champions League - 2nd qualifying round - 2nd leg
22 July - Tórsvøllur Stadium, Tórshavn:
HB Tórshavn - Partizan Beograd (Ser) 1-3 (1-0)
1-0 35' Bartal Wardum
1-1 49' Nikola Ninkovic
1-2 75' Danko Lazovic
1-3 90' Petar Grbic
Partizan had little to offer in the first half, and although they had a majority of possession, they failed to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.
But take nothing from HB for their effort, though, and with some luck, HB so nearly took the lead inside the first quarter of an hour when the Partizan’s goalkeeper’s clearance was blocked by Jóan Símun Edmundsson, and the ball went spinning goalwards, but the goalkeeper desperately managed to save his blushes by sweeping the ball off the line.
However, HB did take the lead 10 minutes before half-time where Edmundsson was involved again, and as one of few Faroese players to have the necessary speed, he pressured the defender to make an error and got clear with the ball, but from the very acute angle it was virtually impossible to curl it into the far corner. But the ball went across to the other side where Kristin R. Mouritsen was ready and sent Pál Mohr Joensen to the by-line where he made a perfect cross in front of goal where the unmarked 17-year-old Bartal Wardum – having come on after 20 minutes to replace the injured Heini Vartnsdal – headed home from close range.
Unfortunately, the hard work was wrecked almost immediately in the second half. Having survived a strike against the post and another close scare where HB’s focus and concentration seemed to have been left in the dressing room, Partizan took advantage in the 49th minute as they much too easily got to make a flat diagonal cross towards the far post where Jógvan Rói Davidsen failed to clear the ball out for a corner which resulted in an easy tap-in for Nikola Ninkovic.
HB eventually got their grip together again, but rarely managed to threaten the Partizan goal, however, and a long range effort from Fróði Benjaminsen that went close by the far post was about the only qualified attempt. Partizan on the other hand regularly created chances, and after a couple of great saves form Teitur Gestsson, they finally made one count after 75 minutes as Danko Lazovic was played through down the middle to make it 2-1 for the visitors.
In added time Petar Grbic made it 3-0 as Partizan combined to play him through on the right hand side to score at the near post.
UEFA Europa League - 2nd qualifying round - 1st leg
17 July - Svangaskarð Stadium, Toftir
Víkingur - Tromsø IL (Nor) 0-0
Víkingur are still alive in the Europa League after tonight’s stalemate at home. Although Tromsø had a majority of the possession and at times pushed Víkingur back, Víkingur had more and better scoring opportunities.
After a nervous first 10 minutes for Víkingur, they had three qualifies finishes in the next ten minutes where Finnur Justinussen was closest with a header on the post from a corner.
The visitors had upped the tempo in the second half and went close with a strike on the upright before the hour-mark.
With some 20 minutes remaining, Víkingur had maybe the best opportunity of the match when Filip Djordjevic brilliantly played Justinussen clear just to see him squander the chance which he usually would have buried.
UEFA Europa League - 2nd qualifying round - 2nd leg
24 July
Tromsø IL (Nor) - Víkingur 1-2 (0-0)
1-0 52' Simen Wangberg
1-1 60' Bárður Hansen
1-2 77' Hallur Hansson
Víkingur come from behind to beat 10-man Tromsø to qualify for the 3rd round of the Europa League; the first time a Faroese team qualifies to the third qualifying round of a European competition.
UEFA Europa League - 3rd qualifying round - 1st leg
31 July - Tórsvøllur Stadium, Tórshavn:
Víkingur - HNK Rijeka (Cro) 1-5 (1-2)
0-1 14' Marko Leskovic
1-1 35' Hallur Hansson
1-2 45' Adis Jahovic
1-3 52' Adis Jahovic
1-4 76' Zoran Kvrzic
1-5 81' Andrej Kramaric (pen)
It looked encouraging
for Víkingur when Hallur Hansson equalized after 35 minutes, but the half-time march
to the dressing room became less enjoyable when Rijeka scored
in added time and went on to score another three in the second half to win 5-1 on
the night.
UEFA Europa League - 3rd qualifying round - 2nd leg
07 August
HNK Rijeka - Víkingur 4-0 (1-0)
1-0 39' Adis Jahovic
2-0 49' Adis Jahovic
3-0 64' Adis Jahovic
4-0 76' Owngoal (Erling Jacobsen)