Uefa [r]

[Sopot26]

Amica is gone, is Wisla or Legia will make it?

[pluspol]

We'll see, though I reckon Legia are gone. I think there is a better chance for Wisla though I wouldn't bet on it...

[pluspol]

Málaga silence spirited Amica

Tuesday 12 November 2002
Málaga CF overcame a one-goal deficit and a determined KS Amica Wronki side to record a 4-2 aggregate success and claim their place in the UEFA Cup third round for the first time in their history. The Spanish side, who brought a 2-1 lead into the match, required goals from Dário Silva and Kiki Musampa to record a return-leg win after Dariusz Gesior provided the hosts with an early lead.

Shock lead
Indeed, the Spanish side had Amica chasing shadows for the opening 15 minutes of the match, but were rocked when the opening goal fell to the Poles with their first attack. Gesior collected possession after Grzegorz Król broke up a Málaga move in midfield, before hitting a right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area past Pedro Contreras.

Málaga equaliser
The goal provided Amica not only with the lead on the night, but also the lead in the tie as their advantage - allied to their away goal in the first leg - gave them potentially an away goals victory. However, their lead would last only four minutes as Dário Silva deservedly equalised for the visitors. Sandro played the ball from the flank to the Uruguyan international, and he glided past an Amica defender before firing a low shot beyond Grzegorz Szamotulski.

Close call
It was no more than Málaga deserved, but they could have been punished five minutes before the break, but Contreras was quickly down to parry the ball behind from Gesior's close-range shot after Marcin Burkhardt's initial effort was inadvertently deflected into his team-mate's path.

Balance swings
Indeed, the match quickly became a tale of two halves on the restart as Amica, sensing their chance, laid seige to the Málaga goal. In a frenetic 15 minute spell, Veselin Djokovic and Burkhardt (twice) had shots charged down by the Spanish defence, while Gesior headed over from five metres. However, the Poles squandered their best chance in the 56th minute when Król shot at Contreras when Jacek Dembinski looked better placed to test the Málaga keeper.

Musampa winner
Málaga, who retreated in the face of Amica's incessant pressure, mounted their first scoring chance in the 68th minute, but Dário Silva's shot was directed straight at Szamotulski. But the home side were soon left to ponder their missed opportunities as Málaga put the tie beyond Amica's reach when Musampa scored in the 72nd minute. Dário Silva combined with Julio Dely Valdes before the former found Musampa inside the area and he slotted in with ease.

[Sopot26]

Legia is out :-(

[Sopot26]

Wisla is in!!!

[pluspol]

Maybe there is some hope now that Wisla could progress even further. Remember that Israeli side last season? If they can do it, it's not out of Wisla's reach...

[Jabo]

Wisla will play Schalke next. Having seen the relative success Legia had against them (home draw, 2 away goals), it's not unconceivable that Wisla can pull off the upset. Of course, as always, the home win is crucial. According to the ranking coefficients coming in, Wisla got the best draw possible in Schalke which was the 16th and lowest seeded team. Wisla's coefficient left them 30th, ahead of only Denzilspor from Turkey and Maccabi Haifa. Surprising that they were ahead of Haifa given Haifa's recent results in Champions league.

[Sopot26]

Third Round - 28 Nov / 12 Dec 2002

Is Wisla first on the road or at home?