Thill and Krotov hand Ufa win over Swiss third-tier side

FC Ufa beat FC Rapperswil-Jona of Switzerland’s third-tier Promotion League 2-1 thanks to goals from Vyacheslav Krotov and Olivier Thill. Sandwiched between them was Rapperwil’s reply.

Before Krotov had had time to thump a sixth-minute volley in from 25 yards, Ufa had already threatened with intense early pressure. Centre-back Jemal Tabidze struck a first-time effort from even further out that forced the keeper to punch clear.

A four-on-two breakaway after 20 minutes was finished by Ilir Zenuni. The Serbian directed the counter attack through the middle but went himself from the edge of the box with a simple but accurate bottom-corner finish past Aleksandr Belenov.

A ball over the top gave Lovro Bizjak a clear run at goal but the Slovenian forward couldn’t beat the keeper. He turned provider with just over 10 minutes to go until half time after chasing a ball into the left channel. He managed to pick out Thill charging into the box to crash home the winner.

Both sides had chances before the break - an agonisingly cross into the six-yard box for FC Ufa and a clever turn and shot from Eusebio Bancessi for Rapperswil - but the tempo dropped significantly in the second half.

FC Ufa will face fellow Russian Premier Liga side CSKA Moscow on Saturday 22 February next.

FC Ufa 2-1 FC Rapperswil-Jona
18 February, Benidrom, Spain
Goals: Krotov (6’), Thill (34’); Zenuni (20’)

FC Ufa starting XI: Belenov, Sukhov, Tabidze, Putsko, Nedelcearu, Jokic, Fomin, Carp, Thill, Bizyak, Krotov