FH frustrate Ekranas with smash and grab

FH Hafnarfjördur rode their luck to earn a 1-0 victory at FK Ekranas in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie. Pétur Vidarsson scored the only goal on the half-hour though most of the action was at the other end where three times a frustrated Ekranas side saw efforts fly to safety off the woodwork.

Róbert Óskarsson set the tone for the Icelandic visitors by keeping out Dovydas Norvilas's shot after 23 minutes and soon after Vidarsson got the decisive goal, heading in from Ólafur Snorrason's free-kick. Although Atli Gudnason threatened a second goal from close range, Arvydas Skrupskis's Ekranas had a taste of things to come when Vaidas Slavickas's free-kick came off the post two minutes before the break.

Just after the hour-mark, Róbert Óskarsson saved superbly to keep out an Arsenij Buinickij shot bound for the top corner, and the Lithuanian champions went even closer with two other efforts from distance. After 73 minutes Giedrius Tomkevičius struck the crossbar and then, four minutes from the end, Igors Kozlovs volleyed against the goalframe.

FH have never been beyond the second qualifying round of a UEFA competition before but if Heimir Gudjónsson’s side can hold their nerve in next Tuesday's return, that could well change.