Slovenians in the conference league: Žan Celar contributed to Lugano’s miraculous victory, which saw them trailing 0:2 in Turkey with 10 minutes to go

Published on 6. October 2023 6. October 2023

Not just Olimpija, on Thursday in the Conference League, Slovenia’s colours were also defended by a number of our players who earn their living abroad.

Žan Celar was the first to step on the pitch, hosting Lugano Istanbul Beşiktaş started from the first minute. The Slovenian national team player had a great chance already in the 3rd. on 15 minutes, but his shot missed the right post by a hair’s breadth. Before the end of the first half, the Turks took the lead when in 38th minute Vincent Aboubakar’s header was accurate in the first minute and they went into the break with a one-goal advantage.

The Cameroonian was again accurate after just seven minutes of play in the second half, when he came face-to-face with goalkeeper Amir Saipi after a bad reaction from the visiting defence. The showdown finally started to break down in 61. Valentin Rosier, the home defender, is forced to take an early shower after receiving his second yellow card. The Swiss sensed an opportunity to get back into the reckoning with a man advantage. The road to a complete and, to say the least, miraculous turnaround began in 81st Ignacio Aliseda converts a deflected ball into a goal in the first minute. Just five minutes later, the visitors equalised when Shkelqim Vladi headed the ball under the crossbar. The final nail in the coffin was put by the home team themselves, as former Manchester United player Eric Bailly scored an own goal.

Žan Celar played the whole game, but unfortunately did not register in the stats. With this important victory, Lugano is now top of Group D.

Miha Zajc, who returned to the starting 11 after missing the last four games due to injury problems, was in Trnava with the Fenerbahce team, which arrived in Slovakia on the back of 14 consecutive wins in all competitions. Spartak’s colours were defended by Adrian Zeljković, who started the match in the starting line-up, and Miha Kompan Breznik, who was on the substitutes’ bench at the opening whistle. It was Zeljkovic who tried a header in the 12th. in the first minute, but his shot missed the left post. In the first half, the visitors dominated possession and had several chances, but the teams went into the break 0-0.

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After the break, the story of the first half continued and Miha Zajc left the game in 63. one minute, when Fred replaced him. Seven minutes later, Joshua King scored from a difficult position to give the visitors the lead. The Norwegian scored again in the 81st minute. minute, when he was nicely recruited by Fred. Three minutes before the end of regulation time, young Miha Kompan Breznik received a birthday present, coming on for Martin Mikovic and making his debut in European competitions. A minute later, Kelvin Ofori made the home team celebrate by taking advantage of a mistake by the visiting defence to reduce the visitors’ lead. The Turks scored twice more in stoppage time, but both goals were waved off after the video replay, leaving the score at 1:2 and Fenerbahçe’s 15th consecutive victory in all competitions. Istanbul is top of Group H with six points, while Spartak is in last place with no points.

Nino Žugelj came on for 72 minutes in Bodo/Glimta’s 0:1 defeat at home to Club Brugge. A minute earlier, Blaž Kramer came on for the Polish team in AZ Alkmaar – Legia (1:0). Aberdeen and HJK Helsinki drew 1-1, with Ester Sokler coming off the bench to start the 87th. minutes.

This text was automatically translated using AI.