Kalinic brace seals points

Posted Friday, November 07, 2014 by PA

Nikola Kalinic scored twice as Dnipro claimed their first win of the Europa League campaign away at FK Qarabag.

The striker had the visitors ahead but Leroy George grabbed an equaliser before Kalinic netted his second to hand his side a 2-1 win and reignite their Group F hopes.

Dnipro, who lost at home to the same opposition last time out in this competition, are now level on four points with their Azeri rivals.

Kalinic had the first effort of the evening as his header was impressively saved by Ibrahim Sehic before Yevhen Konoplyanka missed the target when he should have done better for the visitors.

Dnipro had started the better and they had the lead in the 15th minute through Kalinic after some impressive build-up play. Ruslan Rotan backheeled to Artem Fedetskiy who then produced another to find Roman Zozulya and his cross was headed home by the former Blackburn man.

The Ukrainians continued to have the better of it and Rotan had a shot blocked before Konoplyanka dragged another good opportunity wide.

The game was beginning to open up and Muarem Muarem was thwarted twice for the home side while Kalinic and Konoplyanka both saw headers saved by Sehic.

A goal had been on the cards due to the end-to-end nature of the contest and it came in the 36th minute as George equalised for Qarabag. Ivan Strinic brought down Silva Reynaldo and George curled home the free-kick from around 25 yards.

Kalinic brought a further save from Sehic just before the interval but the sides went in level at the break.

The early stages of the second half seemed to lack the intensity of the first but Richard Almeida forced a save from Denys Boyko before Kalinic and Reynaldo exchanged chances.

Zozulya then headed wide when he should have done better but the visitors went ahead with 17 minutes to play as Kalinic netted his second. The Croatia international latched onto a ball from Fedetskiy and managed to hook home when he appeared to be off-balance.

Muarem, Vuqar Nadirov and Almeida all had half chances as the home side applied the pressure in the closing stages but Dnipro held on.