South Moravia hold firm to beat Tuzla

• Miloš Žoček drives in first goal of 2015 UEFA Regions' Cup on ten minutes
• Haris Mehanović comes closest for Tuzla, a low strike hitting the post
• Next games: Eastern Region v South Moravia, Ankara v Tuzla (28 June)

South Moravia took first blood in UEFA Regions' Cup Group A, an early goal and the luck of the woodwork enough to get the better of Tuzla.

South Moravia coach Stanislav Schwarz was concerned ahead of the finals that his side might not have many goals in it, and had reason to despair when Petr Svoboda side-footed a gilt-edged chance wide, but the Czechs soon made up for that miss. On ten minutes, Miloš Žoček spotted Tuzla goalkeeper Ibrahim Kukuruzović slightly out of position and beat him with a sweetly-struck shot from out on the right – the first goal of the 2015 UEFA Regions' Cup finals.

Impressively organised, and with blond arrow Radim Záruba menacing in midfield, South Moravia looked comfortable, but Tuzla – powered by marauding right-back Meris Mešanović – retooled at half-time. David Juran saved Edin Kitić's well-struck volley soon afterwards, before Haris Mehanović rattled the foot of the post from the edge of the box. However, the scent of goal dissipated as the Czechs recovered their composure.

Tuzla kept pressing, but South Moravia counterattacked with increasing force; Záruba had a great chance to put the game to bed, but missed, while Kitić swung a shot on to the roof of the net in added time. Close, but never quite close enough.

South Moravia's Radim Záruba tussles with Tuzla's Eldin Musić©Sportsfile

Tuzla's Merim Zoletić tends to South Moravia's Ondřej Ullmann©Sportsfile