BRATISLAVA, September 19 (Xinhua) - Slovan Bratislava football club started their Europa League Group K journey with a surprising 4-2 triumph over Besiktas Istanbul on Thursday.
The club from Slovakia's capital city was not allowed to have their frequently problematic fans inside the stadium as a result of a disciplinary sanction by UEFA but exercised an exemption that enables children to be allowed into the stands instead.
Thus approximately 5,000 kids cheered Bratislava relentlessly on against a tough Group K opponent from Turkey. And they were rewarded with a great performance of the home team with an unexpected end.
Just as it started to look like Andraz Sporar will become something of a hero of the game, scoring twice for Bratislava and tying the game at 2-2 in the second half, two more goals in extra-time shocked the favorites of the match from Istanbul.
The Croatian-born Marin Ljubicic nudged in a corner kick lengthened by Sporar's header in the 93rd minute and the Moroccan-born Moha finished off the stunned Turks with a nice shot from inside the box in the 94th minute to seal Bratislava's 4-2 triumph.
In the other Group K game of the night, Wolverhampton Wanderers lost to Sporting Braga 1-0.
