Mako’s exhibition goal, more than twenty thousand spectators at Tehelno poli. Slovan approached the group stage of the Champions League – Sport – Football – European Cups

The footballers of SK Slovan Bratislava won the opening match of the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League over APOEL Nicosia 2:0 thanks to an own goal by Serbian stopper Radosav Petrovič in the 74th minute and a precise strike by substitute Róbert Mak in added time. The reigning Slovak champion thus created a good position before the rematch, which will be played in Cyprus on Tuesday, August 13 at 19:00 CET.

Tigran Barsejjan (left) was the mastermind of Slovan’s only goal.

In case of promotion, Slovan will play in the LM playoff against the better of the pair FC Midtjylland – Ferencváros Budapest (first match 2:0). If he is eliminated, he will face the winner of the UE Santa Coloma – FC RFS double-header in the Europa League playoffs.

In front of a crowd of more than 20,000, Slovan defeated the Cypriot champion in a 4–3–3 formation with Barsegghan, Strelac and Weiss in attack.

He started fearlessly and tried to check the APOEL defense in flashes of offensive maneuvers, but it did not let the home team have a clear chance.

The visitors were the first to strike, in the 11th minute Dražič pushed his way through Kašia and narrowly missed the left post with an unpleasant shot.

The APOEL players showed high technical maturity when they did not let Slovan into continuous pressure by holding the ball for a long time.

The game unfolded between the 16 and it was felt that neither team wanted to make a mistake. In the 25th minute, the “Whites” made a quick attack into the open defense, but after Tolic’s cross, Strelec, in a good position, headed only into the hands of Belec.

Two minutes later, the active Tolič prepared a shooting platform for Weiss, the attempt of captain Slovan was blocked by the guests for a corner.

As the minutes ticked by, the hosts were more dangerous in attack, but Kuck’s attempt from a sharp angle in the 37th minute, which Belec reflexively saved, was not taken.

Slovan continued to play actively even after the break, but only managed to get hints of chances.

In the 56th minute, Strelec got rid of Petrovič and advanced forward, but only sent a promotional shot at Belec. APOEL was harmless in attack, Takač was practically out of work.

Dražič beat him in the 58th minute, but the goal was disallowed due to Ndongala’s offside. On the opposite side, Barsegghan, in a good position, chose a pass instead of a shot and buried the chance to open the scoring.

The players of APOEL gradually joined in, they made a few dangerous forays into the opponent’s penalty area, but even they did not change the goalless course.

It was only possible in the 74th minute of Slovan. Barseghjan took over the ball on the offside line and his return pass was knocked into his own net by Petrovič, who was not allowed to breathe by Tolič – 1:0.

VAR checked the situation for about two minutes, but finally recognized the goal of the “Whites”.

Petrovič’s header did not equalise, on the contrary, in stoppage time substitute Mak overcame Belec and Tehelné Pole went into a trance – 2:0.

The home team came close to advancing to the playoffs after a tactical performance.