MADRID, September 24 (Xinhua) – Granada are a victory away from the group stage of the Europa League after a 2-0 victory at home against the Georgian side Locomotive Tbilisi in the third qualifier on Thursday night.
The win came thanks to goals from winger Darwin Machis and veteran Jorge Molina, and means that Granada have won all four of their opening matches this season, with two victories in La Liga and two in their first ever appearance in European competition.
In the first half, Granada saw complete control of the game, although the visitors defended strongly. When the home team sniffed the goal, it was held in check by the young goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The game changed three minutes into the second half when Machis took the ball at the edge of the locomotive area and fired a dip shot into the back of the net.
Ten minutes later, Giorgi Gabadze was sent off for a second yellow card. Granada, however, did not guarantee their win until the injuries, when Molina scored after a post from Antonio Puertas.
The Spanish side, which has Chinese owners, is now traveling to Sweden to play Malmö for a place in the group stage of the tournament.
Quelle: sn.dk
