NK Celje 3-4 Vitória SC
Vitória were the first Portuguese team to begin their European campaign in 2023/24, and took an important step towards the next qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.
Moreno’s men overcame a shockingly bad start to beat Slovenian outfit NK Celje 4-3 away from home in the first leg of the tie.
The White Angels will attempt to finish the job in the home leg in Guimarães next Thursday.
Less than twenty seconds into the new season, and Vitória had conceded a goal, Luka Bobicanec producing a tremendous first-time volleyed finish from a long looping cross.
The Portuguese team did not panic however, and had turned the match around by half time thanks to strikes from Jota Silva and André Silva, the latter a classy goal after the two Silva’s had combined beautifully in the build-up.
Um ?????̧???! ?
— Vitória Sport Clube (@VitoriaSC1922) July 27, 2023
Combinação entre os Silva’s só parou no fundo das redes ?#PaixãoePropósito #UECL pic.twitter.com/8k1LEu3o0g
Aljosa Matko equalised for the hosts on the hour mark, but goals from André Amaro and substitute Gonçalo Nogueira gave Vitória a two-goal lead, only for Edmilson Santos to pull one back deep into stoppage time.
Vitória coach, Moreno:
“It was tough going behind in the first minute of the first competitive match of the season, but I’m pleased with how we reacted. We did not waver in terms of our mentality or tactics. We played an extremely positive first half, with a lot of attacking play. We scored two goals and we could have scored two or three more.
“In the second half they equalised but again it did not knock us out of our stride. We built a two-goal advantage, but we can’t concede the last goal like we did.
“I saw good things, but there are things to be corrected. We don’t leave here totally satisified, but we leave with a victory, against a competitive team that has quality. We have to cut out the mistakes because it’s going to be a demanding season.
“The tie is at half time. We’re in front, but we can’t relax. We’re going to need a good atmosphere at the Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques, we have to maintain the quality we showed when we had the ball, and we have to defend better.”
by Tom Kundert
