In the first game of the play-off for a place in the round of 16 of the Conference League, Rijeka players defeated Omonia in Nicosia with 1-0 (0-0).
He scored the only goal of the match Daniel Adu-Adjei in the 87th minute.
The people of Rijeka can be very satisfied with the result they achieved in Cyprus considering that the best duel player was a gatekeeper Martin Zlomislić.
Start of the match did not foreshadow an excellent evening for Rijeka’s captain who misjudged a situation in the 9th minute, unnecessarily ran out of his penalty area, missed the ball and opened an opportunity for Semedo. However, Barišić managed to block the home striker’s attempt in time. After the corner that followed, Eiting also had a great opportunity, but he shot very badly with his head from three meters.
Rijeka threatened in the 17th minute over Jurić who shot just wide of the goal from a turn from 10 meters. It took until the 38th minute for the first shot into the goal frame when Barco shot a header, but straight at the goalkeeper Fabian.
At the very end of the first half, he came on stage with two great interventions by Zlomislić. In the 43rd minute, he timely stepped into the shot of Semedo, who rushed into the penalty area and shot from seven to eight meters, and in stoppage time he also stopped Mmaee’s shot from 10 meters after an excellent play by Tanković.
Rijeka had the first chance in the continuation in the 52nd minute when Fruk played past Barišić from the break at the second post, but the latter was too oblique to be able to hit the frame of the goal.
Zlomislić continued with excellent defenses in the 59th minute, when he once again disarmed Semedo, and in the 69th minute, Rijeka also had a lot of luck because Chatzigiovanis, who had just come in, missed the goal from five meters away. Omonia continued to press, but the goal in the end came on the other side.
In the 87th minute, Dantas broke through the right flank, crossed into the box, where Adu-Adjei, who entered the game five minutes earlier, did an excellent job, and passed the ball into the net with his fifth.
In referee compensation Zlomislić confirmed the player of the match status by defending the shot of Masouras.
The return match will be played in a week at Rujevica at 18.45.
The overall winner of the duel between Rijeka and Omonia in the round of 16 will play against Strasbourg or Rakow.
Watch the match summary:
(Hina | Photo: NK Rijeka)
