The Dragons secured their place in the third qualifying round of the UECL with a draw in Andorra. Diogo Pinto broke through Inter’s defense in the first half with a beautiful combination play involving Durdov. The hosts then equalized in the second half with a free-kick goal, but they were still far from advancing. Coach Jorge Simão also spoke about the importance of taking the lead: “The match certainly wasn’t easy. It was very important that we scored the first goal of the match – and we managed to do that. We set this as our key objective and the boys fulfilled it. But until that moment, nothing was simple.”
“Nevertheless, we controlled the game well for most of the time. After the goal, we played more relaxed and confidently. Although the opponent had more shots on goal, I believe the most dangerous chances were on our side. I think the final result is a fair reflection of what was shown on the pitch – it was a tough but well-played match.”
“We didn’t shine in the previous match either, and it was somewhat similar this time. But we have to admit that our opponents were good – especially at home, where they naturally feel very confident. That’s why we knew we were facing a demanding away match. This wasn’t any surprise. As I said, I told the players before the match started how extremely important it would be to score first. And they succeeded.”
The next home match is scheduled for Sunday, August 3rd, at 8:15 PM, against Celje. Pre-sale tickets are available at shop.nkolimpija.si.
