Tobol too hot for OFI to handle

FC Tobol Kostanay completed a notable aggregate win to seal a place in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round with another single-goal win against OFI Crete FC.

Deflected winner
The only goal of the Heraklion encounter came against the run of play five minutes from time when a long-range effort by substitute Andrei Kharabara deflected off defender Cosmin Barcauan and flew past goalkeeper Tristan Peersman. OFI controlled most of the encounter, but were made to pay for their shortage of attacking options with strikers Zdravko Popović and Goran Drulić out injured. The Greek side started strongly but failed to score early on when Joseph Nwafor and Alexandros Kounenakis both missed chances from close range.

Double save
Tobol, who began in the first round, nearly took the lead on the stroke of half-time but Ulugbek Bakaev's header went just wide. The home side missed their best chance in the 56th minute, when Pierre Issa's header hit the post and Dimitrios Pliagas failed to convert the rebound as the side from Kazakhstan rode their luck. OFI went even closer when Tobol's goalkeeper Alexander Petukhov made an outstanding a double save, keeping out a close-range shot by Nwafor and then a header by Issa, and that proved crucial as Kharabara went on to settle the contest.