Hadaščok hands Liberec edge over Shakhter

FC Slovan Liberec will take a slender one-goal UEFA Champions League second qualifying round lead to Kazakhstan next Tuesday after Vojtěch Hadaščok's goal secured a 1-0 win at home against FC Shakhter Karagandy.

It was a tough, physical match that neither side really deserved to lose – and the heroics from both goalkeepers almost produced such an outcome. As it was, Vojtěch Hadaščok's excellent finish on 23 minutes was enough to snatch a win for the hosts.

The visitors started with attacking intent, but a quick, one-touch passing move caught them out as Liberec grabbed the lead. Jiří Štajner fed Miloš Bosančič who picked out Vojtěch Hadaščok in the box and with a quick spin and shot, Hadaščok found the bottom right corner. Slovan almost doubled their lead just before the break, but Aleksandr Mokin kept out Bosančič's rising drive.

Shakhter had their keeper to thank again on the 61st minute, as substitute Josef Šural's shot from the edge of the area was met by the flying fist of Mokin. From then on it was all Shakhter. Yevgeni Tarasov shot wide of the left upright from a promising position, before Liberec custodian David Bičík produced the save of the day in the 90th minute, somehow palming away substitute Roger Cañas' goalbound header to preserve the one goal advantage for the second leg.

"We are at the beginning of the season which was sometimes evident in our play. To increase our chances, we needed a second goal," said Liberec coach Jaroslav Šilhavý.