kramarić on target as rijeka eliminate standard published: thursday 27 november 2014, 20.45cet hnk rijeka 2-0 r. standard de liège andrej kramarić was again the hero for the hosts in europe as the visitors' group g qualification hopes were ended with this defeat in croatia.
• moisés grabs opener, andrej kramarić notches fifth in as many games this campaign • standard eliminated following defeat in croatia • rijeka remain unbeaten in 12 european home matches • visitors suffer fourth consecutive away loss in europe • next games: standard v feyenoord, sevilla v rijeka (11 december)
first-half strikes from moisés and andrej kramarić secured hnk rijeka a 2-0 group g home success and eliminated r. standard de liège from the uefa europa league in croatia.
the hosts overwhelmed the belgian side in the first half as moisés nodded rijeka in front with a fine 26th-minute header from a corner and kramarić slotted his fifth goal in the group stage from the spot eight minutes later. the visitors' hopes suffered a further blow with the dismissal of dino arslanagic after the defender conceded the penalty.
the croatian team, unbeaten in 11 european home games before kick-off, started the tie brightly. moisés was found in space by kramarić but jelle van damme denied the opposition a sixth-minute opener with a last-ditch headed clearance on the line. three minutes later, standard responded by testing home custodian ıvan vargić as ıgor de camargo met paul-josé mpoku's right-wing cross.
a desperate block by arslanagic repelled brazilian playmaker moisés as the riječki bijeli continued to press their guests from liege. kramarić almost found a way through but hit the woodwork with a 21st-minute strike. five minutes later, matjaž kek's men finally broke the deadlock via moisés who nodded mato jajalo's cross past yohann thuram-ulien at the near post.
rijeka's impressive first-half display was further rewarded with a second goal, and the numerical advantage, as star forward kramarić won and converted a 34th-minute spot kick – arslanagic sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
ıvan vukomanović's ten men began the second period firmly on the front foot. laurent ciman headed over from a corner following the restart, vargić tipped over mpoku's free-kick and frustrated tony watt from the subsequent corner as les rouches went close to reducing the deficit. however, rijeka – third in the group – held on to remain in contention and end standard's hopes of reaching the round of 32.
