Balkan Boyz - Matchday 19 (Sz.5 - lvl5)
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HEADLINE: Galatasaray AŞ surprised Balkan Boyz in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
CL: Balkan Boyz (Q50,5) Formation: 4-2N-2W-2/3W-3N-2W-2 >> 4 - 2 << Galatasaray AŞ (Q35,1) Formation: 4-4.2
SCORERS: I.Olić (40min), E.Džeko (44min.ass:S.Jovetić), M.Salem (56min.ass:B.Yilmaz), H.Salihamidžić (58min.ass:S.Jovetić), L.Modrić (83min) and C.Castro (86min.ass:M.Salem).
SUBS: H.Salihamidžić < > L.Modrić S.Kolašinac < > S.Sušić
MOTM: NONE
Balkan Boyz was left surprised tonight in their Champions League quarter-final game against "Galatasaray AŞ", as they managed to collect a hard earned 4 - 2 win at "Balkan Boyz Stadium" in front of 19,000 cheering spectators. The Turkish opposition started the game with a very offensive-minded system and had 3 goal scoring opportunities the first 35 minutes, but GK Asmir Begović cleared the ball away. And just as Galatasaray AŞ seemed to take the lead, Ivica Olić made a breakthrough and scored 1 - 0 for the hometeam. 4 minutes later, a Jovetić corner found the head of Edin Džeko as he extended the lead to 2 - 0 just before the end of the first half. Galatasaray AŞ made a couple of substitutions in the beginning of the second half and managed to reduce the score to 2 - 1 through Mohammed Salem, assisted by Burak Yilmaz. But once again, Balkan Boyz responded well and Hasan Salihamidžić's shoot in the 58minute got Balkan Boyz a 3 - 1 lead. Galatasaray AŞ tried to put some pressure on the hometeam the last quarter by making another offensive substitution, but it was Luka Modrić's long shot who got the Balkan Boyz a 4 - 1 goal just before Christian Arturo Castro scored Galatasaray AŞ second goal to 4 - 2.
Manager -Ljepoje- admitted that he was surprised to see his side concede 2 goals in their quarter-final game against Galatasaray AŞ in the 1th leg at "Balkan Boyz Stadium". "Galatasaray AŞ surprised us tonight, they were far better than we had expected and outplayed us in the first 35 minutes. Perhaps we underestimate them. I believe that we need to have a look at how we approached this game because our tactics and set –up did not work today. We need to regroup and try to salvage our campaign to reach the semi-finals. This result was just not acceptable".
In other news, Balkan Boyz managed to beat the Turkish team "Vanspor FC" with 1 - 4 after goals by Ivica Olić (x2), Stevan Jovetić (x1) and Mateo Kovačić (x1). A game in which Ivica Olić was declared as MoM (rate:9). The win means that Balkan Boyz holds onto first place with 45 points and are 2points clear in front of the Israeli team "Iztik Yan" (43points) with FC Kula at a 3rd place (42points) and Colchoneros CF at a 4th place on 26points. Balkan Boyz will play the Israeli team "FC Niro" tomorrow at home. The kickoff is set at 14:43CET. Later on that evening, Balkan Boyz will play two friendlies against Balkanceros and OFK Omladinac.
Over&Out! :cool: