New boys Sutjeska put Sheriff on back foot

UEFA Champions League debutants FK Sutjeska hit the ground running in the competition as Andrija Pejović's equalising goal earned them a 1-1 draw away to Moldovan titleholders FC Sheriff.

Sheriff took the lead on the stroke of half-time when their Brazilian forward, Luvannor Henrique, broke through on to compatriot Cadu's pass and found the far corner.

Sheriff's dominance should have earned them victory but with Ricardinho heading against the crossbar in the first half and Ivan Janjušević keeping out Marko Markovski's header in the second, Veaceslav Rusnac’s men failed to muster any further goals and Sutjeska made them pay.

Dragan Radojičić's Montenegrin champions had already showed their threat on the counter when Darko Isidorović broke clear after 49 minutes. Although he failed to capitalise, his colleague Pejović made no mistake in the 54th minute, scoring from close range after home goalkeeper Dmitri Stajila had failed to deal with a Vladimir Jovović corner from the left.

That Pejović strike means Sheriff have work to do in the return leg of this second qualifying round tie in Niksic next Tuesday if they are to avoid becoming Sutjeska's first victims in the competition.