OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME | 2021/22 | VICTORIA STADIUM, GIBRALTAR
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG THURSDAY AUGUST 5TH 2021 | KICK-OFF 6.00PM
V SK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA
PROUD SPONSOR OF LINCOLN RED IMPS FC
WISHING THE TEAM EVERY SUCCESS THROUGHOUT 2021/22 WE’LL BE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY…
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WELCOME
THEPRESIDENT DEAR SUPPORTERS, I WOULD ONCE AGAIN LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO VICTORIA STADIUM FOR THIS UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG TIE AGAINST SK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA.
Our opponents need little introduction as they have been playing in European competition for a long time and are a club with a proud tradition and history. A warm welcome is extended to them and we hope that they enjoy their stay in Gibraltar. I would personally like to thank the players, staff and their families for their continued work and support during what has been a long, hard summer. The two games against CFR 1907 Cluj showed once more that we are able to compete against big sides in Europe. There were some very pleasing aspects of our play and whilst we were disappointed not to progress in the competition, we will take the positives and look to build on them.
A big thank you also goes out to our various sponsors, your continued backing is so important to us, as is the work of the medical staff, caterers, the Gibraltar Football Association and those who help behind-the-scenes.
Your work is fundamental for us to be able to host games of this magnitude. Finally, I would like to mention Michael Ruiz. Without his hard work and input, virtually single-handedly, none of this would be possible. Also a word for Bjarne from Trusted Novus Bank for his continued support in helping us through this exciting but financially difficult stage of the season. Thank you for your valued support this evening. Enjoy the game… DYLAN VIAGAS
Head Coach: Michael McElwee Team Delegate: Christian Fortuna Fitness Coaches: Liam Mesilio & Sergio Garcia Physios: Keith Ramirez & Adam Oria Goalkeeper Coach: Miguel Angel Bazan Kitman: Jose Manuel Corrales Team Doctor: Francisco Moya CLUB HONOURS Gibraltar Football League: 25 wins 1984–85, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990– 91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004– 05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011– 12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017-18, 2018-19,2020-21 Rock Cup: 19 wins 1985–86, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992– 93, 1993–94, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007– 08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2020-21 Gibraltar League Senior Cup: 18 wins 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989– 90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003– 04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14 MATCH PROGRAMME Today’s special souvenir Matchday Programme has been produced on behalf of Lincoln Red Imps FC by our Official Match Programme and Website Partner:
Gibraltar’s Match Programme Specialists Twitter: @APEPublications |Web: apepublications.wixsite.com/home Email: apepublications@aol.co.uk All images courtesy of:
MARK RODRIGUEZ
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THE MANAGER
MICKMcELWEE
WELCOME BACK TO VICTORIA STADIUM AS WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE WITH THIS THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG CLASH WITH SK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA.
Looking back at our exit from the UEFA Champions League, the players gave me everything in Romania against a very good CFR 1907 Cluj outfit and in the end we were unlucky to lose. This evening we face another strong opponent with a rich history and tradition in the game. We will be looking to make home advantage count and to be able to do that, we need our supporters right behind us from the very first whistle. By working together we can make things interesting as we attempt to reach the high standards that I know we are capable of. The players are looking forward to the challenge that stands before them and taking
their next steps on our European adventure. There were plenty of positives to take from our two games against CFR 1907 Cluj and we will be looking to build upon these as well as working on the areas of our game that need attention. It’s an opportunity to create a special atmosphere today and put on another performance to make us all proud by giving everything that we’ve got. May I welcome everyone associated with SK Slovan Bratislava before wishing them a safe journey home afterwards.
Thank you for your valued support. Enjoy the game… MICK
. . . We will be looking to make home advantage count and to be able to do that, we need our supporters right behind us from the very first whistle…
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INTERVIEW
MARCO ROSA BLANCO
A SENSE OF PRIDE
MARCO Rosa Blanco has looked back upon our UEFA Champions League campaign with a sense of pride as we now turn our attentions to progressing in the UEFA Europa League. A convincing 7-2 aggregate victory over CS Fola Esch saw us brush aside the Luxembourg champions before we gave CFR 1907 Cluj a real scare in the next round, taking the lead in the first leg and causing problems in the return game in Romania before going down 4-1 on aggregate. “We are very proud of our performances in the UEFA Champions League,” he said without hesitation. “We beat CS Fola Esch through a combination of sheer grit and determination before putting up a good fight against CFR 1907 Cluj. “I think that the final aggregate score on that occasion did not reflect how difficult we made life for them over the two legs.
. . . The aim now is to maintain this level of performance throughout the rest of the season, not just in European competition. If we can do that, we will cause teams plenty of problems…
“The aim now is to maintain this level of performance throughout the rest of the season, not just in European competition. If we can do that, we will cause teams plenty of problems. “In terms of the task ahead now in the UEFA Europa League, we are focussed on what we have to do against strong opponents in SK Slovan Bratislava. Our desire is to qualify for the next round with the hope that we can get into the group stages. “This is what really motivates us; it is the chance to do something special. We know that the team which makes the fewest errors will come out on top. “It will be a close battle but I know that we have what it takes to be successful and achieve our objectives. “Today we will look to give ourselves every chance of doing that and we need our supporters to help give us an advantage, which I am sure they will.”
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EMMANUELOCRAN
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UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
UEFAEUROPA LEAGUE
THE UEFA Europa League competition has undergone major changes in its 51st season, the 13th since it was rebranded from the UEFA Cup to UEFA Europa League. It is scheduled to run from today until 18 May 2022. As previously, the eventual winners will earn an automatic place in the following season's UEFA Champions League group stage.
GER: Eintracht Frankfurt, Leverkusen ITA: Napoli, Lazio FRA: Lyon, Marseille POR: Braga RUS: Lokomotiv Moskva
So, what are the big changes? The introduction of the UEFA Europa Conference League means several significant alterations for the UEFA Europa League.
How does qualifying work? Qualifying is much-changed, featuring 27 teams across two rounds: the third qualifying round and play-offs.
The group stage will be reduced from 48 to 32 teams – eight groups of four. The eight group winners progress automatically to the round of 16. There are additional knockout round play-offs prior to the round of 16; these will be between the eight UEFA Europa League group runners-up and the eight third-ranked teams of the UEFA Champions League groups. Matches will continue to be played on Thursday (other than the final), now alongside UEFA Europa Conference League games. Who will be in the group stage? 12 automatic qualifiers 10 UEFA Europa League play-off winners 10 sides transferring from the UEFA Champions League play-offs and third qualifying round ESP: Real Sociedad, Real Betis ENG: Leicester, West Ham
The majority of teams involved in qualifying will have transferred from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa Conference League though some teams (in principle cup winners) from top 15-ranked associations begin directly in UEFA Europa League qualifying. When will matches take place? Qualifying 5 & 12 August 2021: Third qualifying round 19 & 26 August 2021: Play-offs Group stage 16 September 2021: Matchday 1 30 September 2021: Matchday 2 21 October 2021: Matchday 3 4 November 2021: Matchday 4 25 November 2021: Matchday 5 9 December 2021: Matchday 6 Knockout stages 17 & 24 February 2022: Knockout round play-offs 10 & 17 March 2022: Round of 16
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7 & 14 April 2022: Quarter-finals 28 April & 5 May 2022: Semi-finals 18 May 2022: Final
Where will the final take place? The final will take place at Sevilla's Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. It was originally scheduled to be played at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest but, due to the postponement and relocation of the 2020 final, appointed final hosts were shifted back a year. Home to six-time UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup winners Sevilla, the venue opened in 1958 and hosted the 1986 European Cup final, when Steaua stunned Barcelona. The Spanish national team have never lost at the stadium. THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND DRAW Champions path Omonoia (CYP) vs Flora Tallinn (EST) Mura (SVN) vs Žalgiris Vilnius (LTU) Kairat Almaty (KAZ) vs Alashkert (ARM) Lincoln Red Imps (GIB) vs Slovan Bratislava (SVK) Neftçi (AZE) vs HJK Helsinki (FIN) Main path Jablonec (CZE) vs Celtic (SCO) Rapid Wien (AUT) vs Anorthosis Famagusta (CYP) Galatasaray (TUR) vs St Johnstone (SCO)
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MATCH REPORT
NOTTO BE
CFR 1907 CLUJ 2 LINCOLN RED IMPS 0 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND SECOND LEG – LOST 4-1 ON AGGREGATE | 28.07.2021
We headed to Romania trailing 2-1 from the first leg and despite a spirited display, we saw our UEFA Champions League journey home to an end with a 2-0 reverse on the night.
when Sigurjonsson found the net from a free-kick after Cestor was fouled. The goal gave us a mountain to climb but we refused to let our heads drop as we looked for a way back into proceedings. Kike was a constant threat to the home side as we went forward and he went close before Graeme Torrilla also brought a save out of the ‘keeper.
We came out of the blocks with purpose and early on Kike had a free-kick that was saved. The home side went close on four minutes when Soler had to be alert to deny Cestor, whilst Susic fired wide in the home side’s next raid. The opening goal arrived on 18 minutes when Sigurjonsson did well to carve out an opening for Cestor who was able to beat Soler. As we looked for an immediate response, Kike did well before seeing the ‘keeper save his effort, whilst Rosa also had an effort that was kept out by Arlauskis. With the half-time interval approaching, Soler did well to thwart Camora and
then both Chipciu and Hoban were denied in quick succession by resolute defending. The home side ended the opening period strongly and they began the second half in a similar fashion as Sigurjonsson went close early on. They were able to double their advantage just before the hour-mark
In the closing stages, Liam Walker fired wide and then Mustapha Yahaya tried his luck as the ‘keeper did well to make the save as we went down to a 2-0 defeat to see our UEFA Champions League interest come to an end for another season. LINCOLN RED IMPS Soler, Toscano, Lopes, R. Chipolina (Sergeant 90+3), Wiseman, Carralero (Ocran 68), Rosa (Gomez 68), Yahaya, Britto (Torrillia 46), Kike (L. Casciaro 79), Walker. Subs not used: Goldwin, Ronan, Kovalonoks, Valarino, Moore. Booking(s): Britto, Toscano IMAGES: Mark Rodriguez
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FIRST LEG
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POSTCARD FROM ROMANIA: ON OUR TRAVELS
POSTCARDFROM ROMANIA PART of the excitement of being involved in European competition is the opportunity to visit many new and beautiful places.
Here we see the players travelling from Gib to Romania, where they were able to take in the sights of Cluj-Napoca, a stunning city
that was baking in temperatures of over 30 degrees ahead of our UEFA Champions League game against CFR 1907 Cluj.
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SNAP SHOT
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OUR VISITORS
THEOPPOSITION
THE CLUB is one of the most well-known is Slovak football.
HONOURS Czechoslovak First League (1944–93) Winners (8): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1991– 92 Runners-up (10): 1952, 1956, 195960, 1963-64, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1971-72, 1975-76, 1990-91 Czechoslovak Cup (1961–93) Winners (5): 1961–62, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1981–82 Zväzové Majstrovstvá Slovenska (1925–1933) Winners (5): 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, 1932
They were established shortly after World War I following the emergence of Czechoslovakia. Originally formed as First Czechoslovak Sports Club Bratislava, they dominated domestically in their early years and this continued as they changed their name to SK Bratislava, proving to be easily the best team in Slovakia. After World War II and the reestablishment of Czechoslovakia, SK Bratislava began to attack the dominance of the Czech clubs from Prague; Sparta and Slavia. Changing their name to Sokol NV Bratislava for a time, they finally became Slovan Bratislava but went 13 years without a League title, something previously unheard of for the club. A special day in the history of the club came on May 21st 1969 when they defeated FC Barcelona to lift the 1969 European Cup Winners’ Cup having beaten FK Bor, FC Porto, AC Torino and Dunfermline Athletic along the way. This stimulated more success in domestic competition in the early 1970s as they were crowned national champions in 1969/70, 1973/74 and
1974/75. However, relegation into the second-tier came in 1984/85 as the club suffered some difficult years before rising to become Champions again in the early 1990s. On January 1st 1993, an independent Slovak Republic was formed and Slovan played the national Slovak League winning three national titles in a row and clearly dominated the Slovak competition in those early days. They were relegated back into the second-tier in 2004 as the club struggled financially, but through sheer hard work and determination they returned to the top-flight and then were crowned Champions in 2009. Moving to a new stadium at this time, they won a League and Cup double in 2010/11 and 2012/13 and also reached the group stages of the UEFA Europa League in 2011/12. League titles have also been secured in 2013/14, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 as the club proves its credentials as one of the best in the Slovak League. We welcome everyone connected to the club to Gibraltar before wishing them a safe journey home afterwards.
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1.SNL (1st Slovak National football league) (1969–1993) Winners: 1987–88 Slovak League / Slovak Super Liga (1939–44, 1993–present) Winners (15): 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1943–44, 1993–94, 1994– 95, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2018– 19, 2019–20, 2020–21 Runners-up (5): 2000–01, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 Slovak Cup (1961–present) Winners (17): 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1981–82, 1982– 83, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012– 13, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21 Runners-up (5): 1971, 1978, 2003, 2014, 2016 Slovak Super Cup (Pribina Cup) (1993–2016) Winners: 1994, 1996, 2009, 2014 European UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Winners: 1968–69 Mitropa Cup Runners-up: 1964
OUR VISITORS
SK SLOVANBRATISLAVA THE STARTING line-up for their UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round second leg tie against Young Boys of Switzerland at the end of last month, which they lost 3-2 to slip out of the competition by the same scoreline on aggregate…
CHOVAN
MEDVEDEV
KASHIA
BOZHIKOV
DE KAMPS
KANKAVA
PAUSCHEK
DE MARCO
WEISS
RAFAEL RATAO
HENTY
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WE WISH LINCOLN RED IMPS FC EVERY SUCCESS... 22 OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF THE LINCOLN RED IMPS
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THE JOURNEY AHEAD
FIXTURES ANNOUNCED
OCTOBER Sun 17 Sat 23 Thurs 28
1830 1830 2045
Home Away Home
EUROPA FC Lynx LIONS GIBRALTAR
League League League
NOVEMBER Sun 21 1830 Fri 26 2045
Away Home
Glacis United MONS CALPE
League League
DECEMBER Sun 5 1830 Sun 19 1830
Away Home
St. Joseph's League FC BRUNO'S MAGPIES League
JANUARY Fri 7 Sun 16 Sat 22
Away Home Away
Manchester 62 COLLEGE 1975 Europa Point
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Fixtures subject to change…
League League League
LINCOLN RED IMPS HEAD COACH: MICK MCELWEE
MANUEL SOLER
SK SLOVAN BRATISLAVA
HEAD COACH: VLADIMIR WEISS
PLD SUB
ADRIAN CHOVAN
KYLE GOLDWIN
MICHAL SULLA
FRANCISCO PAULINO
MARTIN TRNOVSKY
ROY CHIPOLINA
VASIL BOZHIKOV
ETHAN BRITTO
RICHARD KRIZAN
JACK SERGEANT
LUKAS PAUSCHEK
SCOTT WISEMAN
MYENTY ABENA
BERNARDO LOPES
GURAM KASHIA
JESUS TOSCANO
YURI MEDVEDEV
GRAEME TORRILLA
VERNON DE MARCO MORLACCHI
BRIAN GOMEZ
JOERI DE KAMPS
MUSTAPHA YAHAYA
DEJAN DRAZIC
JULIAN VALARINO
ALEN MUSTAFIC
KIAN RONAN
DAVID HRNCAR
GEORGE CABRERA
VLADIMIR WEISS JR
KIKE GOMEZ
ALEXANDER CAVRIC
MARCOS ROSA
IBRAHIM RABIU
LIAM WALKER
FILIP LICHY
ALAN ARAIZA ALCAZAR
JAROMIR ZMRHAL
NIKITA KOVALONOKS
EZEKIEL HENTY
LEE CASCIARO
RAFAEL RATAO
FERNANDO CARRALERO
DAVID STRELEC
MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE:
IOANNIS PAPADOPOULOS (GRE) ASSISTANT REFEREES:
KONSTANTINOS NIKOLAIDIS (GRE) VASILEIOS NIKOLAKAKIS (GRE)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: VASSILIS FOTIAS (GRE)
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PLD SUB