Krasnodar reached the play-off stage of the UEFA Europa League after defeating Birkirkara 3-1 in the second leg of the third qualifying round at the Kuban Stadium in Krasnodar for a 6-1 aggregate score.
Following a 3-0 win in the first leg at the Hibs Stadium, Krasnodar were all but sure of qualification. To make matters easier, Kouassi Eboue put them ahead on the 15th minute; Joaozinho doubled the score on the 37th and a minute later, Ricardo Laborde made it 3-0. Substitute Predrag Jovic pulled one back for Birkirkara just past the hour and on the 90th minute, Bubalovic floored Bystrov inside the penalty area and the referee ordered a penalty. However Wanderson’s effort hit the upright.
KRASNODAR Andrei Sinitsin, Stefan Strandberg, Aleksandr Martynovich, Dmitri Torbinski (79′ Mauricio Pereyra), Wanderson, Vladimir Bystrov, Ricardo Laborde (40′ Ari), Joaozinho, Kouassi Eboue, Charles Kabore (69′ Yuri Gazinski), Sergei Petrov.
B’KARA Miroslav Kopric, Edward Herrera, Christian Bubalovic, Gareth Sciberras, Marcelina Emerson (46′ Frank Temile), Srdjan Dimitrov (77′ Dejan Djordjevic), Vito Plut, Shaun Bajada (46′ Predrag Jovic), Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard, Mislav Andjelkovic.
Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (AZE)
Assistant Referees: Zeynal Zeynalov, Rza Mammadov (AZE)
Fourth Official: Rauf Jabarov (AZE)
Xorta Kburin bikom Stripes…grazzi ta’ din l-avventura memorabbli fl-ewropa