NK Maribor and Spartak Moscow play to draw in Group E opener

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:41 am

Maribor and Spartak Moscow played out a 1-1 draw in their Champions League Group E opener as a referee narrowly escaped being hit by a flare.

The nautical-style flare was fired from a sector packed with Spartak fans after around 15 minutes, landing in the centre of the pitch near German referee Deniz Aytekin, who briefly stopped play.

AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

The opening goal came when home goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic failed to hold an effort from outside the box by Fernando, and Aleksandr Samedov pounced to fire into the roof of the net.

But Maribor found a leveller five minutes from time as Martin Kramaric burst forward to feed Damjan Bohar, who cut inside and curled a fine effort into the opposite corner.