The UEFA Conference League tournament concluded for Estonian forward Alex Matthias Tamm and Lithuanian defender Justas Lasickas of NK Olimpija Ljubljana after they were unable to secure a win at home against Bosnian side FK Borac Banja Luka.
Last week, in Bosnia, NK Olimpija Ljubljana lost the first leg of the tie in dramatic fashion, conceding a goal in the 91st minute after Slovenian Sandi Ogrinec scored.
Today, both Baltic players started the match, and the initial outlook seemed promising for Olimpija.
— NK Olimpija Ljubljana (@nkolimpija) February 20, 2025
Zasedba Zmajev! #OliBor pic.twitter.com/AI1LIJo0LZ
In the fifth minute, Alex Tamm was struck in the back of the head during a corner kick by a clumsy Borac Banja Luka defender, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Spanish forward Alex Blanco stepped up to take the kick, but his attempt was saved by Filip Manojlovic, who guessed correctly and had his defenders clear the rebound.
Blanco had another opportunity to score as the first half progressed, but his shot hit the crossbar. Olimpija dominated possession and chances, yet they could not find the net, and the half ended in a goalless draw.
At the start of the second half, the Olimpija manager made some tactical changes, including substituting Justas Lasickas, who had played the first 45 minutes. In the second half, Borac increasingly pushed for a goal, even though they were not in need of it.
A notable aspect of the match was the fan involvement. In the 71st minute, there was a lengthy stoppage as Olimpija supporters began throwing objects at Borac players, leading to intervention by the referee. However, the most significant incident occurred in the 86th minute when the match was halted due to a confrontation between the fans of both teams, resulting in a scuffle in the stands.
Security was able to restore order, and the fourth official subsequently added 13 minutes of stoppage time which lasted a total of 18 minutes. Despite the extended period, Olimpija and Alex Tamm could not capitalize on the opportunity to score the goal necessary to force extra time. The match concluded with a goalless draw, allowing Borac Banja Luka to progress to the round of 16.
Konec.
— NK Olimpija Ljubljana (@nkolimpija) February 20, 2025
Olimpija 0-0 Borac#UefaEuropaConferenceLeague | #ZelenoSrcepic.twitter.com/g7aKlESFWt
In total, Alex Tamm did not score in either of his two Conference League appearances for Olimpija, while Justas Lasickas made ten appearances during the campaign, contributing one assist.
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