It’s Tatar to the Uefa Champions League for Nomads

Connah’s Quay Nomads 0
FK Sarajevo 2 (Tatar 16, 65)

Two goals from classy striker Benjamin Tatar sent Sarajevo into the second qualifying round of the Uefa Champions League at the expense of Cymru Premier champions Nomads.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier League title winners were given a major test by Andy Morrison’s side, who had two golden chances to score themselves, but at the end of the night the more clinical finishing of the visitors was key at Cardiff City Stadium.

The fact Sarajevo are a few games into their domestic league season, while the Quay have been so starved of action due to Covid-19 was perhaps another factor in the result.

Nomads are still in Europe as they now enter the Europa League, and on tonight’s performance they will be more than capable of getting a victory.

Match highlights

8 min – close to an opener for Connah’s Quay! Craig Curran heads a deep free kick from halfway by Danny Holmes into the six-yard box from the byline and Michael Wilde nods inches wide when perhaps he should have done better.

13 min – first shot for Sarajevo. Ivan Jukic’s 20 yard effort is comfortably saved by Lewis Brass.

16 min – GOAL for Sarajevo. BENJAMIN TATAR appears offside when he latches onto a through ball. Tatar evades the challenge of advancing keeper Brass and slots into an empty net. Nomads 0 Sarajevo 1.

27 min – Callum Morris puts in a firm tackle on Amar Rahmanovic, whose response is somewhat over-dramatic. Nomads manager Andy Morrison is cautioned for making his feelings known.

35 min – Goalscorer Tatar is yellow carded for a foul on Curran.

39 min – fierce strike from Callum Roberts clears the bar

39 min – Hrvoje Milicevic of Sarajevo clatters Wilde off the ball in the box, but Northern Irish referee Jamie Robert Robinson sees no offence. Could easily have been a red card.

Half-time: Nomads 0 Sarajevo 1

46 min: Sameron Singh-Dool replaces Danny Harrison for the Nomads.

52 min: Yellow card for Nomads defender Danny Holmes for foul on Jukic just outside the box.

53 min: Rahmanović free kick deflects off the wall and much to Quay’s relief the ball spins wide

58 min: Quay corner causes panic at the back for visitors, but play is called back for offside

65 min – GOAL for Sarajevo just as the hosts were stoking up the pressure. Confusion between the Quay centre-backs, TATAR pounces, his speed takes him into the box and he slots past Brass. Nomads 0 Sarajevo 2.

70 min – Tatar, whose finishing has been the major difference in the game, is replaced by Velkoski.

81 min – big chance for Nomads! Callum Roberts’ looping cross sets up George Horan who volleys over from point blank range

88 min – Rahmanović cautioned for foul

Connah’s Quay Nomads
1 Lewis Brass
3 Callum Roberts
4 Priestley Farquharson
5 George Horan
6 Danny Harrison (Sameron Singh-Dool 46)
8 Callum Morris
9 Mike Wilde
12 Danny Poole (Jamie Insall 83)
15 Danny Holmes
18 Craig Curran
23 Aeron Edwards (John Disney 78)
Subs: 13 Ollie Byrne, 2 John Disney, 10 Jamie Insall, 18 James Owen, 17 Kris Owens, 20 Sameron Singh-Dool, 22 Danny Davies.

FK Sarajevo
13 Vladan Kovacevic
2 Dusan Hodzic
6 Mirko Oremus
9 Mersudin Ahmetovic (Haris Handzic 81)
10 Amar Rahmanovic
15 Hrvoje Milicevic
20 Dani Salcin (Selmir Pidro 60)
22 Ivan Jukic
24 Andrej Dokanovic
29 Amer Dupovac
32 Benjamin Tatar (Krste Velkoski 70)
Subs: 16 Elvis Dzafic, 3 Selmir Pidro, 5 Hamza Besic, 7 Anel Hebibovic, 11 Krste Velkoski, 28 Haris Handzic, 38 Matthias Fanimo