“After the chaos of the disallowed goal, Simic put Sabah in front with a goal right on the stroke of half-time — the perfect moment to strike and carry a lead into the break. Assisted by the same Rakhmonaliev whose foul had cost the first goal, the move had a redemptive quality as Sabah finally got what their dominant first-half performance merited.”
Pivotal“Within two minutes of the restart, KuPS midfielder Tommi Jyry was booked for a foul, followed almost immediately by Kaheem Parris also picking up a yellow card in the 49th minute. The pair of bookings underlined the tension that had spilled over from a fiery first-half finish, and left KuPS walking a disciplinary tightrope in the second half.”
Sabah
KuPS
Sabah controlled this Champions League first-leg tie from the opening whistle, finishing the match with 64% possession, 24 shots to KuPS's six, and an extraordinary 114 dangerous attacks compared to the Finnish side's 64. The result, however, was nearly more complicated than it needed to be. A goal in the 32nd minute was overturned by VAR after Umarali Rakhmonaliev was adjudged to have fouled in the build-up — a decision that sparked a frenetic few minutes around the interval. Rakhmonaliev was then booked moments later, before Simic made amends for his role in the disallowed opener by planting the ball home himself in first-half stoppage time to give Sabah the lead they deserved. The second half was almost entirely uneventful by contrast, with KuPS — who required ten saves from their goalkeeper — showing little ambition to get back into the tie and Sabah content to manage possession and see the game out. For KuPS, the deficit is not insurmountable, but the manner of their performance — zero corners, no shots on target after the 45th minute according to the shape of the contest — suggests Sabah hold a significant advantage heading into the return leg.
How entertaining was this match?
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Niilo Kujasalo is substituted off for Valentin Gasc.
Jaime MorenoYellow CardJaime Moreno receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Taneli Hamalainen is substituted on for Clinton Antwi.
Substitution: Orphe Mbina comes on for Aleksey Isaev.
Xander Severina comes on for Kaheem Parris.
On Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba, off Bob Nii Armah.
Jaime Moreno is substituted for Piotr Parzyszek.
Kaheem ParrisYellow CardKaheem Parris receives a yellow card.
Tommi JyryYellow CardTommi Jyry receives a yellow card.
Saikou Touray comes on for Gustav Engvall.
First half ends with the score at 1-0.
assist: Ivan Lepinjica
Goal! Veljko Simic scores to make it 1-0.
Corner awarded.
Goal! Umarali Rakhmonaliev scores to make it 1-0, assisted by Veljko Simic.
VAR decision: Goal disallowed due to a foul by Umarali Rakhmonaliev.
Goal! The score is now 1-0.
Kick-off! The referee is Lukasz Kuzma.
Azerbaijani champions Sabah welcome high-flying KuPS to Bank Respublika Arena in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round clash on July 21. This historic first-ever meeting between the two sides promises an intriguing contest as free-scoring Finnish title leaders take on a Sabah side desperate to defend home turf after recent struggles there.
