Zimbru Chișinău eliminated from Conference League by Astana
Zimbru Chișinău fell to a 0-2 defeat against FC Astana in the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round and has been eliminated from the competition. In the two-legged tie, the "yellow and greens" were beaten with an aggregate score of 1-3.
Zimbru had their first chance in the 13th minute when Denis Kozlovskii shot from outside the box, but the ball went wide. Timofei Șarkovski then had a good opportunity himself; he received a quality pass, burst into the box, and shot, but the opposing goalkeeper made a crucial save, pushing the ball out for a corner. FC Astana struck in the 18th minute. Geoffrey Chinedu reacted to a long ball, made a perfect stop inside the box, and took a superb shot, leaving goalkeeper Nicolae Cebotari with no chance. Just three minutes after the opening goal, the Kazakhstani side doubled their lead. Marin Tomasov broke away on a counter-attack down the right flank, passed to Ousmane Camara in the box, who then dribbled past a defender and scored. The visitors didn't let up, and Nazmi Gripshi had a long-range shot that went wide of Cebotari's goal. Zimbru responded with a chance of their own from Nicky Cleșcenco. Coming in from the left, he received the ball, entered the box, and fired a shot, but the opposing goalkeeper was alert to the danger.
In the second half, the "bisons" only created a chance in the 75th minute. It was a spectacular combination with quick passes, at the end of which Abou Dosso shot from inside the box, and goalkeeper Čondrić saved his team. Victor Stînă was active in the attack. In the 80th minute, he came in from the left flank, entered the box, and shot, with the ball passing very close to the left post of Čondrić's goal. In the 86th minute, Guy Dahan received a pass near the box and shot, but it went straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. Then, Stînă once again entered the box with the ball, unleashed a powerful shot, which the opposing goalkeeper saved, but Guy Dahan was first to the rebound and fired the ball over the bar. In stoppage time, Vladimir Fratea took a long-range shot that flew just wide of the visitors' goal.
FC Astana has qualified for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, where they will face FC Lausanne-Sport (Switzerland).
Translation by Iurie Tataru
