Beqiraj for the victory and big advantage

Tiraspol, Moldova, 1.8.2012.

UEFA Champions league 3. qualifying round, 1. leg

FC Sheriff - GNK Dinamo 0:1 (0:1)

Referees: Lee Probert, Stuart Burt, Charles Breakspear, John Moss (all England)

Spectators: 9.000

Sheriff: Stoyanov - Metoua, Samardžić, Pereira, Apatić - Marjanović, Onica (80. Cheptine) - Georgijev (58. Balima), Stanojević, Dedov (70. Ivanov) - Pešić

Dinamo: Kelava - Vida, Tonel, Šimunić, Pivarić - Pokrivač, Leko - Badelj, Sammir (69. Calello), Rukavina (83. Alispahić) - Beqiraj (61. Čop)

Yellow cards: Marjanović (39.) / Vida (39.), Čop (66.), Pokrivač (80.)

Goals: 0:1 Beqiraj (14.)

Dinamo and Sheriff played a very interesting and a game full of chances but the only one who managed to score was Fatos Beqiraj. Dinamo striker converted on a brilliant Milan Badelj's pass after only 14 minutes of play and gave Modri a big advantage ahead of the return match in Zagreb.

Dinamo won the game in Moldova like the big teams do - Modri scored from their first chance to silence the home team and got the away goal advantage. Sheriff had slight dominance in the beginning of the match but Modri made the best possible entry to the game by scoring. Captain Badelj made a nice run through the midfield and his spectacular pass found Beqiraj behind the home defensive line. The striker stopped his pass and calmly placed it behind Stoyanov; it was in the 14th minute of the game.

Of course, having conceded the home team had to push forward and search for the equaliser so they left space for counter attacks. Dinamo had numerous occasions to score from such situations but something always went wrong. Apart from that, Rukavina had a nice chance but his header wasn't on target. On the other side, home team threatened several times but their shots were off target. The best one was after 26 minutes when Pešić found Apatić but his shot ended beside the net.

In the second half things looked pretty much similar: Sheriff had more possession and shot from every possible position but it was Dinamo who actually had more chances to extend the lead. Stanojević was the creator of chances for Sheriff and playmaker himself made a nice shot in the 63rd minute but it also went beside the goal. As for Dinamo chances, Rukavina, Badelj and Čop all made their attempts but Dinamo lacked the last touch.

Sheriff pushed hard in the last 15 minutes of the game and it looked like one team will score but that didn't happen so the game ended with the 1:0 Dinamo victory. Of course, an away victory is a big advantage for Dinamo ahead of the second leg but Modri will have to play a good game in Zagreb to secure going to the next round. First step towards the group stage participants list was made in Moldova.