Birkirkara maintained alive hopes of securing a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League after obtaining a prestigious 1-1 draw with NK Široki Brijeg in the first leg of the first qualifying round at the Stadion Pecara on Thursday.

Cain Attard put the Stripes ahead on the 14th minute but just before half-time, the hosts levelled matters through Ivan Baraban.

Birkirkara host NK Široki Brijeg in the second leg at the Hibernians Stadium on Tuesday where a goalless draw would be enough for Drazen Besek’s side. A clash with FC Infonet of Estonia or Scottish side Heart of Midlothian awaits the winner of the two-legged clash.

BIRKIRKARA Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic, Predrag Jovic, Joseph Zerafa (63′ Matthew Guillaumier), Emerson Marcelina, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna (76′ Edison Bilbao Zarate), Srdjan Dimitrov, Ryan Camenzuli (57′ Shaun Bajada), Vito Plut.

SIROKI BRIJEG Antonio Soldo, Boris Pandza, Dino Coric, Ivan Krstanovic, Jure Ivankovic (70′ Zoran Plazonic), Ivan Baraban (85′ Luka Menalo), Josip Corluka (46′ Wagner), Ivan Sesar, Slavko Brekalo, Ivan Crnov, Stipo Markovic.

Referee: Sandro Scharer (SUI)
Assistant Referees: Raffael Zeder, Jan Kobeli (SUI)
Fourth Official: Sebastien Pache (SUI)