maltafootball.com - UEFA Intertoto Cup

UEFA Intertoto Cup: Hibernians FC vs ND Gorica

28/6/07 Stadion Sportni Park - Gorica

Gorica vs Hibernians 0-0

GORICA

GORICA: Vasja Simcic, Aris Zarifovic, Sebastjan Komel, Simon Zivec (71' Gregor Balazic), Admir Krsic (58' Dario Smitran), Bojan Djukic, Nebojsa Kovacevic, Goran Cvijanovic, Enes Demirovic, Milan Osterc, Etien Velikonja (59' Mladen Kovacevic).

HIBS

Mario Muscat, Timothy Fleri Soler, Aaron Xuereb, Jonathan Caruana, Adrian Pulis, Uzeh Edafe, Adrian Mifsud (62' Jonathan Pearson), Clayton Failla, Jonathan Xerri, Andrew Cohen (90' Triston Caruana), Terence Scerri.

Referee

Siarhei Shmolik (BLR)

Assistant Referees

Siarhei Zhuk, Aleh Kolb (BLR)

21/6/07 Hibernians Ground

Hibernians vs Gorica 0-3 (HT 0-1)

HIBS

Mario Muscat, Timothy Fleri Soler, Aaron Xuereb, Jonathan Caruana, Adrian Pulis, Edafe Uzeh, Jonathan Pearson (55' Mauro Bonnici), Clayton Failla (89' Adrian Mifsud), Jonathan Xerri (79' Triston Caruana), Andrew Cohen, Terence Scerri.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Ndubisi Chukunyere, Ryan Mintoff, Kurt Formosa.
Coach: Robert Gatt

GORICA

Vasja Simcic, Aris Zarifovic, Sebastjan Komel, Simon Zivec, Admir Krsic (73' Dario Smitran), Bojan Djkuic, Nebojsa Kovacevic, Goran Cvijanovic, Enes Demirovic, Milan Osterc (62' Mladen Kovacevic), Etien Velikonja (66' Goran Galesic).
Subs not used: Jan Zibelnik, Dragoljub Nikolic, Gregor Balazic.
Coach: Primoz Gliha

Referee

Ovidiu Alin Hategan (ROM)

Assistant Referees

Miklos Istvan Nagy, Corneliu Fecioru (ROM)

Fourth Official

Philip Agius

Yellow Cards

Failla, Uzeh

Scorers

35' Etien Velikonja
56' Goran Cvijanovic
59' Etien Velikonja

ND Gorica virtually secured a place in the second round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup following a comfortable 3-0 win over Hibernians in the first leg from the first round of the competition.

The team from Slovenia was clearly a better side but three rather soft goals made the whole difference.

The Paolites could not field their best formation due to the absence of influential midfielder Pablo Doffo who was serving a one-match ban after being sent off in the game against Vojvodina last season.

The visitors had the first attempt at goal with a fine freekick by captain Enes Demirovic from the left ending just wide on the 6th minute. Another freekick by Demirovic ended slightly high six minutes later.

Hibs replied with a cross shot from the right by Jonathan Xerri which was turned into a corner by goalkeeper Vasja Simcic on 22 minutes.

On 34 minutes, Mario Muscat came to the rescue with a great save at point blank on Etien Velikonja but a minute later, the visitors managed to take the lead thanks to a goal by the same player who saw his first attempt hit the crossbar and his second attempt being deflected by Aaron Xuereb before ending at the back of the net.

Three minutes from half-time, Hibs went close with a fine try by Clayton Failla from outside the area following a good move by Andrew Cohen who served him from the right.

The second half opened with a long-distance shot by Admir Krsic from the left which was neutralised by the Hibs custodian on 49 minutes.

Gorica went close with a header by Milan Osterc following a cross by Nebojsa Kovacevic ten minutes in the second half but his attempt was deflected into a corner. However a minute later, they doubled the score when off a cross by Admir Krsic, Goran Cvijanovic beat Mario Muscat from close range.

Etien Velikonja left no doubts which way victory was going as he scored the third goal on 59 minutes, slotting the ball past Muscat from outside the area after receiving a through pass by Krsic.

The Paolites' reaction consisted of a cross by Andrew Cohen from the right but Terence Scerri hit incredibly wide with the open goal at his mercy on 72 minutes. Nine minutes later, Andrew Cohen tested Simcic with a shot from outside the area.