Europa League: Fehérvár fall to experienced Belgian club

UEFA Europa League qualifying play-off round:

Standard Liege (BEL) 3-1 MOL Fehérvár FC (HT: 0-1)
Goalscorers: LIE: Gavory (51), Amallah (77, 85, both pens) FEH: Nikolic (10)

Standard Liege: Bodart - Fai, Vanheusden, Laifisz (Dussenne, 59), Gavory - Bokadi (Balikwisha, 46) - Raskin, Amallah, Cimirot - Carcela (Shamir, 82), Muleka.

MOL Fehérvár FC: Kovácsik - Bolla, Musliu, Stopira, Fiola - Nego, Houri (Hodzic, 88), Nikolov, Ant - Nikolic (Zivzivadve, 65), Petrjak (Bamgboye, 63).

Fehérvár, who weren't considered the favourites, belied that position as they started the match in the ascendancy and took a 10th-minute lead through their first quick counter-attack, Nikolic finishing low into the far-right corner of the net. Standard could have equalised quickly, but they failed to convert the chance and that was the catalyst for various openings for each side. At the end of one such move, Petrjak could have doubled Fehérvár's advantage, but a recovering defender was able to block his shot. The fact that the hosts only had one shot on target in the first half reveals everything about the visiting defence's stability.

After the break though, the home team slipped into a higher gear, and soon found the equaliser they'd been craving with a shot from distance, Fehérvár conceding a goal for the first time in 358 minutes in this competition. Standard were enjoying more possession of the ball but couldn't find another goal at that point. Fehérvár head coach Gábor Márton tried to refresh his team with two substitutions midway through the half but they couldn't gain much more of the ball, albeit they still kept things tight in defence. However, that was about to change and two penalties for Standard in the last ten minutes decisively swung the tie in Standard's favour, the Belgian club eventually securing their place in the 48-team group stages.