Setubal stunned by late Heerenveen strike

Setubal 1-1 Heerenveen

A cruel equaliser in stoppage denied Setubal what would have been a deserved victory against Dutch team Heerenveen last night.

Leandro Carrijo put the hosts ahead halfway through the first half with a powerful header, but a late reply from Elyounoussi gives the team from Holland the edge going into the 2nd leg.

These two sides met at the same stage of the competition two seasons ago, with Heerenveen inflicting a 3-0 defeat on the Sadinos in Portugal, but from the off it was clear to see there would be no repeat of that fiasco.

After Setubal had survived an early scare when Pranjic almost took advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Bruno Vale, Duato Faquira’s team took control of the match, with Leandro Lima especially influential in midfield.

Ricardo Chaves should have put Setubal ahead on 13 minutes but missed a free header from point-blank range, then on 28 minutes Lima sent a rocket of a shot crashing against the bar.

The home fans who made the trip to the Alvalade stadium (Setubal’s stadium does not meet Uefa conditions) had to wait until the hour mark for the next chance as Laionel forced Vandenbussche into a sharp save.

Faquira decided to boost his attack by introducing Bruno Gama for Ricardo Chaves and the substitution paid immediate dividends as Gama played in Janicio, whose cross was met with a powerful header by Carrijo to give the Sadinos the lead.

Heerenveen reacted to the setback by applying more pressure, but Setubal seemed to have matters under control until some excellent wing play by Pranjic set up Elyounoussi’s late strike.

Setubal:
Bruno Vale, Janicio, Robson, Auri, Cissokho, Sandro, Elias, Ricardo Chaves (Bruno Gama, 64), Leandro Lima (Mateus, 78), Carrijo (Danilo, 81), Laionel

Heerenveen:
Vandenbussche, Vayrynen, Breuer, Svec, Jong-A-Pin, Grindheim, Dingsdag, Pranjic, Beerens (Elyounoussi, 74), Sibon (Smarason, 90), Fellinga (Paulo Henrique, 74)

Goals:
[1-0] Carrijo, 67
[1-1] Elyounoussi, 91