Match Report: First leg draw against Ararat Yerevan

The first leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League was played on Thursday evening, at 20.00 against Armenian Ararat Yerevan at the MOL Arena Sósto. A crowd of 3000 spectators gathered for the kick-off, and the match started in a good atmosphere and in huge heat, to the whistle of Moldovan referee Ion Orlic.

In the 5th minute, first Muradyan's shot went well wide of the target, then Kovács' shot was blocked at the other end. 10 minutes later, Kovácsik's first good save came after Kone ran on to the ball and after a feint, shot at goal from the corner of the box but our goalkeeper made a great save with his foot. In the 25th minute, Vidi had their first big chance: Following a corner from Houri, Lüftner headed powerfully towards goal, but the Armenian goalkeeper managed to push the ball onto the crossbar. Four minutes later, Stopira gave Petryak a lovely ball, who placed it nicely in front of him and fired from 13 metres out, but Ermakov again made a great save.

In the 32nd minute, Petryak's cross was headed just over by Zivzivadze from 7 metres, and a minute later Pobulic fired a free kick from 23 metres over. Another minute later, Kone's 20-metre shot hit the crossbar. Just before the end of the half, Houri's free-kick was headed goalwards by Stopira from a few metres out, but the ball went wide. There were chances in the first 45 minutes, but no goals.

Neither team made a substitution at the break. In the second half, the Armenians had the first chance, Manoyan shot from 6 meters low towards goal, with Kovácsik making a diving save, and soon after, Petryak replied with a 25-meter shot that missed the target.

Imre Szabics made three substitutions in the 60th minute, with Nego, Nikolics and Levente Szabó replacing Dárdai, Zivzivadze and Kovács. The match livened up and in the 62nd minute Funsho got into a great position, but his close range shot was saved by the visitors' goalkeeper. In the 65th minute, Heister's cross was just inches wide of Szabó inside the five-yard box. Halfway through the second half, the most dangerous Ararat player, Kone's 18-metre shot towards the bottom right corner, was saved by Ádám Kovácsik. Two minutes later, the Ivorian striker headed into our goal, but fortunately the goal was disallowed. In the 75th minute, Alef shot from 12 metres towards the bottom left, but Ermakov saved again. The pressure was mounting on the Armenians who were trying to preserve the draw. They managed to do so until the 84th minute, when Houri's cross was collected by Heister, who fired a 21-metre left-footed shot into the top left corner (1-0)!

The referee added 5 minutes of injury time, and just as everyone was celebrating the one-goal win for Vidi, Pobulic came on and fired a 20-metre shot right into the top right corner, effectively mirroring Heister's strike. Ararat rescued the game at 1-1, and the return leg will be in a week's time, as UEFA have abolished the away goals rule for this season.