asteras beat partizan to top group c published: thursday 2 october 2014, 23.35cet asteras tripolis fc 2-0 fk partizan fernando usero and facundo parra both found the net as the greek contenders moved to the top of group c.
• fernando usero scores opening goal on 22 minutes • facundo parra follows up matchday one goal with second on 52 minutes • partizan lose first uefa encounter in eight this season • asteras now unbeaten in six uefa home games • next games: tottenham v asteras, partizan v beşiktaş (23 october)
fernando usero and facundo parra scored either side of the break to give asteras tripolis fc a deserved 2-0 victory against fk partizan in uefa europa league group c.
the greek side scored on 22 minutes with the first real opening of the match. a slick passing move came to a climax as pablo mazza flicked the ball into the path of usero, whose first effort from the edge of the box was spilled by partizan goalkeeper milan lukač, before the spaniard pounced to score at the second attempt.
with the visitors rattled, lukač saved brilliantly with his legs three minutes later to deny usero a second with the forward clean through. however, despite completing twice as many passes as the home side in the first period, partizan's possession had failed to produce a shot on target. coach marko nikolić brought on ısmaël fofana as a second striker at half-time but it failed to produce the desired effect.
asteras scored their second seven minutes after the restart as parra followed up his goal against beşiktaş jk on matchday one by tapping in braian lluy's volleyed cross at the back post just after mazza had got the faintest touch in his own attempt to poach the goal. partizan did provide a moment of concern with an angled shot from miroslav vulićević but tomás kosický saved and was not given much else to do thereafter.
