ten-man maribor pick up first points published: thursday 24 october 2013, 23.10cet
sv zulte waregem 1-3 nk maribor
the ten-man visitors rekindled their qualification hopes after coming from behind to claim their first points in uefa europa league group d.
nk maribor came from a goal behind and held to record their first win in uefa europa league group d despite having martin milec sent off in the second half in bruges.
davy de fauw gave sv zulte waregem the lead but maribor drew level just nine minutes later through matic Črnic and aleš mertelj's superb volley put the slovenian club ahead before the break. dejan mezga made it 3-1 to start the second half before the visitors were reduced to ten men when milec received a second booking, but the hosts could not take advantage.
maribor had the leakiest defence in the group stage going into the game and were behind after 12 minutes. thorgan hazard fired a swerving free-kick at goal which jasmin handanovič fumbled into the path of captain de fauw who poked home the belgian club's first goal of the group stage. maribor were gifted a goal soon after, however, when steve colpaert surrendered possession to Črnic on the edge of the penalty box and the 21-year-old curled a fine first-time shot past sammy bossut. an even better finish gave maribor the lead before the break when mertelj's first-time volley from outside the area flew into the top corner.
they extended their lead four minutes after the interval when mezga slotted home tavares' low cross but they suffered a huge setback when milec saw red after 57 minutes. de fauw fired over from close range in the 74th minute at the back post and the hosts continued to press with idrissa sylla and habib habibou both going close. raphaël cacérès hit the post in the final minute but maribor survived to move off the bottom of group d.
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