Sketchy Malmö make the grade against HB
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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HB Tórshavn 1-1 Malmö FF (agg: 1-3)
Though Fródi Benjaminsen brought the tie to life with 20 minutes left, Wílton Figueiredo's strike ensured progress for the Swedish champions.
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Malmö FF are through to a third qualifying round encounter with Rangers FC after a 3-1 aggregate victory against HB Tórshavn, but the Swedish champions were made to work hard for their 1-1 draw in the Faroe Islands.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg, the visitors looked to be coasting towards a trip to Glasgow next week until Fródi Benjaminsen headed in with 20 minutes remaining, thereby halving the overall deficit and bringing the tie to life. The hosts needed one more to force extra time but were hit by a sucker punch in the 91st minute when Wílton Figueiredo ended the agony for Rikard Norling's side.
Wílton might have made Malmö's passage into the next round a good deal smoother had his second-minute shot from ten metres not been kept out by the impressive Teitur Gestson. The 18-year-old was equally alert on 29 minutes when he repelled a shot by Daniel Larsson, while Jimmy Durmaz drove wide soon after.
HB were still level on the night and they served notice of what was to come when Andrew Fløtum sent an effort narrowly wide on the stroke of half-time. They might have been behind had Agon Mehmeti not finished poorly after a fine team move involving Dardan Rexhepi and Larsson and the side from Scandinavia were punished for their profligacy when Benjaminsen connected with Fløtum's floated free-kick.
Now HB just needed another chance to force an additional 30 minutes but as Sigfríður Clementsen's charges pushed for the equaliser they came unstuck at the other end as Wílton turned in the area and beat Gestson.