MSK Zilina advance, Trnava eliminated at Europa Conference League qualifiers

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BRATISLAVA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Slovka club MSK Zilina made it through to the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs while FC Spartak Trnava failed to continue its journey at the third-tier European competition.

Zilina whitewashed FC Tobol Kostanay 5-0 in the second leg of the third qualifying round after they clinched a 1-0 win in the first-leg encounter in Kazakhstan.

In the 14th minute, David Duris struck from outside the penalty area to open the scoring.

Four minutes before the end of the first half, Matus Rusnak took the ball deep on the right-wing, deked out a defender, and stretched the lead to 2-0 with a cross-shot.

Zilina continued the dominant performance throughout the second half and edged ever closer to advancing to the playoff stage, with its goalkeeper Samuel Petras having almost nothing to do.

The home team's Armenian forward Vahan Bichakhchyan confirmed his offensive skills once again and managed to get on the scoreboard twice, setting the final score to 5-0 in extra time after the 19-year old substitute midfielder Tibor Slebodnik expanded the lead to 4-0 with a beautiful long-range shot.

Trnava failed to score in both legs of its duel against Maccabi Tel Aviv after losing 1-0 in Israel on Thursday.

After a 0-0 draw in their first encounter in Slovakia, Maccabi scored on a corner kick in the 13th minute when the home team's captain Shiran Yeini sent an unsavable header into Trnava's goal. It was enough to decide the outcome as the home team failed to put one in for the remainder of the match.

Trnava tried to open the game and even send long balls forward after the conceded goal, but nothing seemed to work as Maccabi's defense neutralized most of the efforts.

"We are disappointed to have been relegated after a set-piece. I think my guys deserve praise, we came well prepared and put in the work. Maccabi was running out of breath towards the end, we should have scored and gotten the upper hand," said Trnava coach Michal Gasparik. Enditem

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