EB/Streymur strike back to earn Lusitans draw
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
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FC Lusitans 2-2 EB/Streymur
The Faroese champions overcame Cristian Martínez's first-half double and Gert Åge Hansen's red card to secure a first-leg draw.
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The first day of the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League concluded in dramatic fashion, as ten-man EB/Streymur came from two goals down to secure a first qualifying round first-leg draw against FC Lusitans in Andorra.
As if Cristian Martínez's first half-double was not a big enough obstacle to surmount, Gert Åge Hansen's red card in giving away a penalty on 62 minutes made the visitors' task mountainous. However, Bruninho failed to make it three from the spot and was licking his wounds when Arnbjørn Hansen and then Levi Hanssen struck twice in as many minutes to hand EB/Streymur the momentum for the 9 July return in Torshavn.
It was the hosts, in search of a first win in this competition, who came out with intent, and visiting keeper András Gángó was forced into a string of early saves. He could not prevent Martínez scoring from the spot, however, after Hansen upended Bruninho on 24 minutes.
Martínez doubled his side's lead five minutes later, turning in Leonel Maciel's cross to put Carlos Sanchez's team in control. Victory then seemed certain when the EB/Streymur No4 was dismissed after conceding a second penalty. Bruninho conspired to miss, though, and within seven minutes it was all square.
Arnbjørn Hansen powered in a header, before earning a penalty, which near-namesake Hanssen converted to give Rúni Nolsøe's side two precious away goals to take into next week's second leg.