Spot-on Sant Julià seal Levski date
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
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Sant Julià 1-1 Tre Fiori (agg: 2-2, Sant Julià win 5-4 on pens)
The ten-man visitors came from behind to take the tie to sudden-death spot-kicks but is their Andorran hosts who progress.
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US Sant Julià withstood a valiant effort from SP Tre Fiori as the visitors came from behind despite being down to ten men but ultimately faltered on penalties. The Andorran hosts go through to face Bulgarian side PFC Levski Sofia in the second qualifying round.
Tight affair
Sant Julià had appeared almost home and dry after an hour at the Estadi Comunal. Victor Moreira had given them the advantage six minutes before half-time and Tre Fiori's ambitions of restoring parity took a heavy blow when Michael Simoncini was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. The visitors had profited from a Sant Julià dismissal in last week's 1-1 draw and somehow managed to turn this situation in their favour too as Nicola Canarezza equalised eight minutes from time. The tie therefore went to extra time and then penalties where each side missed one kick apiece and the tightest of contests went to sudden-death. Walter Wagner converted for the home side meaning that, with Martin Rodriguez's subsequent failure, Sant Julià progressed. Patricio González Fernández's team meet Levski for the first leg of their tie in Sofia next week.