Match Report: Rodrigo Moreno double gives VCF the lead in the tie (2-1)

Valencia CF played versus FC Krasnodar at Mestalla at 9 pm kick-off time in the first leg of the last 16 in the UEFA Europa League. Valencia CF and FC Krasnodar had never played each other in UEFA competitions before.

Valencia CF had a good start to the game with Carlos Soler collecting the ball and having the first shot on target for Valencia CF in the first minute with Valencia CF firmly in possession around the Krasnodar area and switching the ball sideways.

Rodrigo Moreno gave Valencia CF the lead after a quick counter-attack and Parejo threaded it into Rodrigo Moreno with a stepover, cutting inside and curling it round the keeper, a brilliant finish over the ten-minute mark.

Rodrigo Moreno grabbed a brace to double the lead for Valencia CF with a tidy finish from inside the box after a low cross from Toni Lato who rolled it across the face of goal from the left wing with a perfectly weighted ball for Rodrigo to finish off.

Fellow striker, Kevin Gameiro came close to adding his name on the scoresheet but he aimed his shot at the keeper. The first half between Valencia CF and FC Krasnodar finished 2-0 for Valencia CF at half-time.

Valencia CF had a quiet start to the second half with the away side in possession and looking to get an away side. Claesson pulled one back over the hour mark to give FC side the away goal in the tie.

A lapse of concentration from Krasnodar goalkeeper Safonov almost gifted Valencia back their two-goal cushion. He rushed out to meet a stray pass bouncing just outside the penalty area but miscontrolled it.

Valencia CF kept on looking to score the third with two chances from Santi Mina who went for the acrobatics and then heading it over the bar. The match finished 2-1 much to Valencia CF’s dismay Valencia CF keep their good home form in the UEL with two excellent strikes from Rodrigo Moreno as Claesson gives FC Krasnodar an away goal in the tie. Valencia CF will visit FC Girona on Sunday at 4.15 pm on matchday 27 of LaLiga Santander.

Match Details:

2. Valencia CF: Neto, Piccini, Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Lato, Parejo, Coquelin, Guedes (Cheryshev, m.70), Carlos Soler, Rodrigo (Santi Mina, m.62) and Gameiro (Rubén Sobrino, m.78) ).

1. FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Petrov, Martynovich, Spajic, Ramirez, Gazinski (Golubev, 88), Kaboré, Olsson, Stotski, Claesson and Wanderson (Suleymanov, m.80).

Goals: 1-0. M. 12: Rodrigo. 2-0. M. 24: Rodrigo. 2-1. M. 63: Claesson.

Referee: Orel Grinfeld (Israel). He booked Parejo and Coquelin for Valencia CF, and to Kaboré, Claesson, Martynovich and Olsson for FC Krasnodar.

Observations: First leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16, played on Thursday at 9 pm Mestalla before 36,274 spectators. In the box was Peter Lim, the majority shareholder