After Zimbru, Veris and FC Tiraspol also played the first-leg matches of the first qualifying round of Europa League. The Moldovan teams didn’t yet manage to score victories, IPN reports.
In Orhei, Veris met Litex Loveci of Bulgaria, which is trained by Krasimir Balakov. The guests had many occasions for scoring, but didn’t manage to beat goalkeeper Artiom Gaiduchevici. Captain Petru Racu and the newly signed Vadim Cemirtan were close to scoring for Veris.
“We came after victory, but we are satisfied with this draw too. I don’t think we will encounter problems in qualifying for the next round,” Litex coach Krasimir Balakov said in a news conference after the match.
“I continue to believe that we will qualify. We will draw conclusions from this draw and will make effort to play better in the return match in Bulgaria,” said Veris coach Lilian Popescu.
Elsewhere, FC Tiraspol surprisingly lost to Inter Baku 2-3. The Azeri team led by 3-0 after the goals scored by Thadadze (8th minute from a penalty kick), Mammadov (10th), Novicov (71st, self-goal). The same Novicov scored in the 78th minute, while Bulgaria’s Karaneychev set the final score at 2-3 in the 88th minute.
“Inter is now the favorite, but we do not give up. We had too much bad luck in Tiraspol,” said the coach of FC Tiraspol Vlad Goian. The return games will be played on July 10.
