Champions League 2018/19: Tournament gets underway
The Champions League officially restarted in tiny Gibraltar, as Andorran champions FC Santa Coloma locked horns with Kosovar debutants Drita.
The action continued later in the evening – Lincoln Red Imps faced La Fiorita of San Marino.
We are still months away from the final tournament, or even the group stage draw, however it all got started yesterday and it whets the appetite for what is hopefully another magnificent tournament.
The World Cup hasn’t even finished yet, and already the European games are beginning to creep back in. I think the majority would have opted for the World Cup on Tuesday night…
Even so, the countdown is on for the beginning of European football, and who knows whether one of these minnows will complete the impossible and reach the group stages. Highly unlikely.
Here is the best of the action from the two first Champions League games of this season.
UEFA Champions League Preliminary Semi-Finals – Tuesday 26th June 2018
- FC Santa Coloma 0-2 KF Drita (AET)
- La Fiorita 0-2 Lincoln Red Imps
La Fiorita 0-2 Lincoln Red Imps
Gibraltarian side Lincoln Red Imps went into the match favourites, and justified that as early as the second minute.
Anthony Hernandez latched onto a rebound quickest, deftly rolled the ball round the goalkeeper and slotted it into the empty net under 90 seconds in.
Six minutes after the half time interval Lincoln doubled their advantage. Centre midfielder Alex Moreno latched onto a long throw, scorched down the line and lifted a fine strike into the roof of the net.
La Fiorita’s record of failing to advance past the first qualifying round of any tournament continues, and still they have just one goal in European competition.
They will drop into the Europa League qualifiers, where their luck doesn’t look as if it will get much better.
FC Santa Coloma 0-2 Drita (AET)
Andorran underdogs Santa Coloma did well to hold favourites Drita – who played their first ever European game – for 90 minutes.
Their resilience was finally breached in extra time, however. A magnificent long range strike from Xhevdet Shabani curled into the top corner.
Centre half Fidan Gerbeshi made sure of the victory shortly before half time in extra time, sliding a penalty home.
Santa Coloma never recovered, and they too will continue their European journey in the Europa League.
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For Drita, they have the opportunity to reach the Champions League first qualifying round for the first time in their history. They take on Lincoln Red Imps on Friday evening to contest that spot.