Europa Conference League 1st Qualifying Round, 2nd legs
Teams in CAPITALS (except DAC and HB) through to ECLQ2
* = seeded team

July 18

BALZAN FC (MLT) v NK Domžale (SLO)* 1-3 aet (0-1, 0-3), 5-4 on aggregate
(André Fausto 94'; Nwankwo 44', Pišek 63', Kovačević 73';
Red Card: André Fausto (Bal) 98')

Young Nigerian defender Abraham Nwankwo headed in Danijel Šturm's cross, Jošt
Pišek's free-kick went past everyone on its way into the net:
https://giphy.com/media/iFSwHtu6o1kdCepSty/giphy.gif
and Franko Kovačević ran onto Mario Krstovski's through ball and side-stepped
Balzan's Serbian keeper Golović to completely make up the first-leg deficit:
https://giphy.com/media/eASw79ShaEmseUuKUP/giphy.gif
But out of nowhere the Maltese took the lead again in extra time when Nikola
Žerjal's deflected cross fell right at the feet of André Fausto:
https://giphy.com/media/qLWsmF6DIBOZqXtrwN/giphy.gif and despite the Brazilian in
the Mediterranean receiving a second yellow shortly afterwards (the first had been
for taking his jersey off for the goal celebrations), Balzan held on to the result
until the final whistle.

To be eliminated this way, chasing in vain a single goal against ten Maltese, is
probably the worst possible outcome the Slovenians could have envisioned following
their heavy home defeat.

July 20

Birkirkara FC (MLT) v NK MARIBOR (SLO)* 1-2 (1-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Yankam 19' (pen); Jakupović 80', Skuka 88')

Malta vs Slovenia Part Deux had a happier end for our southern neighbours, but
Maribor were made to suffer as well as Birkirkara were awarded an early handball
penalty that was despatched by Yannick Yankam. It wasn't until ten minutes from
time that Austria's former big striker hope Arnel Jakupović headed in Ivan Brnić's
cross to level the aggregate score, and another substitute, Metz loanee and
Albanian international Xhuliano Skuka, got the winner following an irresistible
solo run: https://giphy.com/media/WnGkKIGQ5I7iY48KFu/giphy.gif

Europa FC (GIB)* v KF DUKAGJINI (KOS) 2-3 (1-1), 3-5 on aggregate
(Quintana 38' (pen), Vera 87'; Zylfiu 23' (pen), 79', Shala 47';
Red Cards: Pozo (Eur) 29', Shabani (Duk) 29', Heredia (Eur) 88')

Now that's the kind of hard-fought European struggle we're here for (or at least I
am). Goals, penalties, red cards flying!

FC SANTA COLOMA (AND)* v Penybont FC (WAL) 2-0 aet (0-0, 0-0), 3-1 on aggregate
(Garrido 105'+1, Novoa 119'; Red Card: Venables (Pen) 114')

The disaster started for the team from Bridgend when substitute left-back Jonathan
Brown made the ill-fated decision to shepherd a long ball out of play:
https://giphy.com/media/vnLkNUEFUWeSB3jn3j/giphy.gif
Against ten Welsh, FCSC's Venezuelan striker Cristian Novoa volleyed in another
on the break.
Considering that the next opponent will be Sutjeska, who struggled against Cosmos
from San Marino, a big opportunity lost for the Welsh debutants.

JK Narva Trans (EST) v FC PYUNIK (ARM)* 0-3 (0-2), 0-5 on aggregate
(Dashyan 8', Juninho 14', Juričić 66')

Trans really are one of the most hopeless teams in Europe, the only time in now 20
attempts that they didn't lose a match was back in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup when their
opponents Elfsborg fielded a suspended player, and despite being awarded the 3-0
win they managed to lose the return leg 0-5.

FK RFS (LAT)* v FK Makedonija Ǵorče Petrov (MKD) 4-1 (1-0), 5-1 on aggregate
(Kouadio 43', 58', Panić 68', Ilić 86'; Stojkovski 50')

Makedonija also remain winless in their tenth European encounter, but at least
they've had two draws.

Paide Linnameeskond (EST) v B36 (FAR)* 0-2 aet (0-0, 0-0), 0-2 on aggregate
(E. Nielsen 92', Przybylski 95')

After 180 goalless minutes two goals in quick succession decided the tie, and both
came from poorly defended corner kicks.

FC Milsami Orhei (MDA)* v FK PANEVEŻYS (LTU) 0-1 (0-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Keita 56')

Milsami eliminated Panevėžys last year at the same stage, but this time the shoe
was on the other foot, as Senegalese defender Seydina Keita got the decisive goal
by heading in a free-kick by Frenchman Chafik Tigroudja:
https://giphy.com/media/d5PUKMn4nsSWA3C3vE/giphy.gif

FC Honka (FIN) v FC TOBOL (KAZ)* 0-0 (0-0), 1-2 on aggregate

Not a single shot on goal for the team from Espoo.

FCI Levadia (EST)* v MŠK ŽILINA (SLK) 1-2 (1-2), 2-4 on aggregate
(Agyiri 10'; Rusnák 4', Stojčevski 45'+2)

Estonia together with Gibraltar and San Marino are the only league to have already
lost all their non-champion entries, and Flora lost in the Champions League
qualifiers, too.

FC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)* v FK ŽELJEZNIČAR (BIH) 1-2 (0-0), 3-4 on aggregate
(Sedko 64' (pen); Sachivko 44' (og), Krpić 78')

The last time these two teams had met was in the quarterfinals of the 1984-85 UEFA
Cup. Back then the Bosnians (with Ivica Osim as their coach) went through and
were in turn eliminated by Hungary's Videoton in the semis. Different times..
38 years later in Baku (Dinamo's choice in light of a potential next round match-
up against Neftçi) Željezničar prevailed again, as even though Aleksandr
Sachivko's own goal: https://giphy.com/media/eACsAuVC0n1M7kyys3/giphy.gif
was cancelled out by Pavel Sedko's penalty, awarded for Željo keeper Mulalić's
head slap: https://giphy.com/media/EbUfsbuIcVZIT0FADH/giphy.gif
late on Sulejman Krpić turned in Irfan Jašarević's cut-back cross for the winner:
https://giphy.com/media/4HuxjG6dXX0cVNZmYd/giphy.gif

FC ZIMBRU CHIȘINĂU (MDA) v SP La Fiorita (SMR)* 1-0 (1-0), 2-1 on aggregate
(Dedechko 35')

Aww. Unfortunately La Fiorita's 39-year-old keeper Gianluca Vivan despite more
than 180 Serie C matches under his belt let a shot by Zimbru's Ukrainian
midfielder Denys Dedechko go straight through him:
https://giphy.com/media/pzMv8VurJWZ2LULk1i/giphy.gif

FC Dinamo Batumi (GEO)* v KF TIRANA (ALB) 1-2 (0-1), 2-3 on aggregate
(Kapanadze 90'; Lushkja 28', Deliu 77')

Dinamo Batumi are leading the Georgian Erovnuli Liga at the moment, but that
doesn't make them any better at catching a break in Europe. Regi Lushkja swept in
Ardit Hila's cross for the opener:
https://giphy.com/media/kkWh9Rer2ZT5W5oCrs/giphy.gif
and just after Dynamo Kyiv loanee Heorhiy Tsitaishvili had volleyed against the
left post Ardit Deliu made it two by likewise converting a cross by Fjoart Jonuzi:
https://giphy.com/media/FZYZQd2NslCdN6XTGF/giphy.gif
Tornike Kapanadze's deflected consolation goal came too late.

FC DILA GORI (GEO) v FC DAC 1904 (SLK)* 2-0 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Gale 33', Alef Santos 78')

But amazingly some Georgian clubs do catch a break! Dila were the better team in
the first half and Barbadian international striker Thierry Gale, who had made his
way to Stalin's home town via Honvéd Budapest, ran onto Tornike Dzotsenidze's
through ball to lob it over DAC keeper Petráš. The Hungarian Slovakians ramped up
the pressure in the second half, but just after a seven-minute break due to
floodlight failure Dila got the aggregate winner thanks to Brazilian in the East
Alef Santos's excellent curler from 25 metres. Late on Dunajská Streda hit the
woodwork twice.

Following Ferencváros the day before, another shock for a Hungarian government-
sponsored club.

FC NEMAN GRODNO (BLR) v FC Vaduz (LIE)* 1-1 (1-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Savitski 16' (pen); Golliard 86')

The Belarusians decided to play this in Gyirmót's small stadium in the suburbs of
Győr in Western Hungary. Liridon Berisha, who had already given away a goal in the
first leg, caused a handball penalty to give Neman the lead, and despite YB loanee
Théo Golliard getting a late equaliser with a deflected shot an overall rather
disappointing Vaduz side went out already at the first hurdle. Rapid Vienna will
breathe a sigh of relief.

If it weren't for last year's miraculous season, Liechtenstein would be second
from last in the UEFA ranking.

KF Egnatia (ALB) v FC ARARAT-ARMENIA (ARM)* 4-4 aet (1-1, 2-2), 5-5 on aggregate, Ararat-Armenia win 4-2 on penalties
(Medeiros 4', Kasa 36', Dwamena 108', 120'+4; Eza 17', Castanheira 58',
Yenne 110', Bueno 113')

Brazilian in the East Fernando Medeiros, who had started out at Santos, early on
headed in a corner kick, but Ivorian striker Wilfried Eza soon equalised for the
Armenians on the break. Parma youth product Redi Kasa headed Egnatia in front
again, but Ararat-Armenia (it's always necessary to use the full name since
there's another FC Ararat in the Armenian League) once more equalised through
their new Portuguese signing Adriano Castanheira:
https://giphy.com/media/vR8zEy3w3geg6LMneo/giphy.gif

Extra Time was insanity, and exactly the kind of thing that makes these early
rounds so much fun. Raphael Dwamena tapped in from close range following yet
another header, but Nigerian winger Tenton Yenne immediately equalised for the
Armenians by converting the rebound off of Artem Avanesyan's header:
https://giphy.com/media/KGRaPttJCa1ITghXpa/giphy.gif
As crosses were an evident problem for both teams throughout the match, chaos
after a corner kick ended with Colombian centre-back Junior Bueno volleying in
Ararat-Armenia's fourth, but Dwamena once more came to the rescue deep in stoppage
time by reacting quickest to a wayward header by the Armenian defence:
https://giphy.com/media/4CYeWNAlDYJYEezcBs/giphy.gif
Poor Dwamena was then one of only two Egnatia players to convert his penalty in
the shoot-out.

Víkingur (FAR) v INTER CLUB D'ESCALDES (AND)* 1-1 (0-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Vatnhamar 76' (pen); Andreu 64')

Martin Klein Joensen thought he'd levelled the aggregate score in the eighth
minute of stoppage time, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.
Disappointing result for the Faroese, but quite incredibly Andorra still have all
three of their clubs alive.

SC Gjilani (KOS) v FC PROGRÈS NIEDERKORN (LUX)* 0-2 (0-0), 2-4 on aggregate
(Mazure 65', Jarmouni 90'+1; Red Card: Sinani (Gji) 14')

For the most part ten Kosovars held their own very well, but I don't think it's a
good idea to be caught this high up if you're a man down:
https://giphy.com/media/AoJg6ZL9cfcy3W8jXL/giphy.gif

Connah's Quay Nomads FC (WAL)* v KA (ISL) 0-2 (0-1), 0-4 on aggregate
(Hafsteinsson 16', Aðalsteinsson 77')

Hafsteinn (one goal in 1990) and his son Daníel (now two goals in 2023) maintain
their quota and together still account for half the goals Akureyri have ever
scored in Europe.

FK Arsenal Tivat (MNE) v FC ALASHKERT (ARM)* 1-6 (0-2), 2-7 on aggregate
(Đorđević 58'; Agdon 40', 45'+1, 48', Racines 74', Grigoryan 90'+2, Kutalia 90'+5)

This was quite a crucial match for Montenegro to get out of the bottom five in
the UEFA ranking, and it didn't go very well, the helplessness best embodied by
Serob Grigoryan's cross in stoppage time:
https://giphy.com/media/JoEh3KQEbCPjgoTs1f/giphy.gif
Hat trick scorer Agdon is yet another Brazilian in the East.

Glentoran FC (NIR) v GŻIRA UNITED FC (MLT)* 1-1 aet (0-0, 1-1), 3-3 on aggregate, Gżira win 14-13 on penalties
(Burns 90'+13; Lucas Macula 67')

In what was emphatically *not* a sign of things to come, Bobby Burns missed an
early penalty for Glentoran (just as his teammate Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe had done in
the first leg). Lucas Macula tapped in after fellow Brazilian in the Mediterranean
Thiaguinho's shot had come off the post to give Gżira the aggregate lead, and
stoppage time was the first sign of madness - Jay Donnelly thought he had saved
Glentoran in the 95th minute but after some discussion between the officials he
was flagged for offside, resulting in a brawl between the two benches and lots
more minutes of stoppage time, in the thirteenth minute of which Burns got the
equaliser after all from a goalmouth scramble.

In the shoot-out all twenty-two players converted their penalties - I don't think
I've ever seen anything like this - and as everyone had to go for a second round
it was Donnelly's penalty number 24 that became an instant classic, one for the
ages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKU_siorq04
(incidentally, I wonder whether Donnelly will enjoy being back in the spotlight
like this: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-46822351 )

In the end, at the 28th attempt it was poor 17-year-old Leon Boyd who saw his
second spot kick saved by Gżira keeper Cassar:
https://giphy.com/media/BwF0M99hT0rruaewRy/giphy.gif

Gżira have now won more than half of their European match-ups, and are flawless
in penalty shoot-outs (won three out of three).

SS Cosmos (SMR) v FK SUTJESKA (MNE)* 1-1 (1-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Nisi 41'; Krstović 73')

Aww. Cosmos in their second ever European tie (they lost 0-1 and 0-2 against
Rapid Vienna in the 2001-02 UEFA Cup, not that I would have remembered) took the
lead through Lorenzo Nisi's nice volley:
https://giphy.com/media/tCxnVB1yWBew2H6prB/giphy.gif
but Srđan Krstović headed in the decisive goal from a corner kick..

DUNDALK FC (IRL)* v FC Bruno's Magpies (GIB) 3-1 (1-1), 3-1 on aggregate
(Hoban 3', Martin 48', Dos Santos 83' (og); Joe 33')

Dundalk captain Patrick Hoban headed in an early corner kick, but Spanish
midfielder José Manuel Martínez Oliver, simply called Joe and like so many in the
Gibraltarian league a former Segunda B player, got the equaliser for the Magpies
with a brilliant volley from distance:
https://giphy.com/media/vNxogBE7F8lA0KU7bW/giphy.gif
John Martin saved the Irish the blushes by rifling in his own rebound:
https://giphy.com/media/CE94yKJMzG6D4NwsVd/giphy.gif
and late on Brazilian on the Rock André dos Santos tapped Hoban's cross into his
own net.

KF Vllaznia (ALB) v LINFIELD FC (NIR)* 1-0 (0-0), 2-3 on aggregate
(Balaj 54')

Bekim Balaj headed in a cross (the one thing he occasionally managed to do in a
Sturm Graz jersey as well) by Geralb Smajili, but despite not offering anything
in terms of offence Linfield held on to the narrow result to go through.

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC (WAL) v KF Shkëndija (MKD)* 1-0 aet (0-0, 1-0), 1-1 on aggregate, Haverfordwest win 3-2 on penalties
(Jenkins 89')

So one Welsh team made it through after all, and it's the most unfancied one.
With only their second effort on target Lee Jenkins's deflected shot sent the tie
to extra time, and in the shoot-out two Shkëndija players saw their spot kicks
saved by County's New Zealand keeper Zac Jones and one hit the post:
https://giphy.com/media/36l2yODwbKLYNd55Ua/giphy.gif

Haverfordwest had qualified for Europe by going through two play-off matches for
the last European spot of the 2022-23 Cymru Premier, and they won both of those on
penalties.

DERRY CITY FC (IRL) v HB (FAR)* 1-0 (0-0), 1-0 on aggregate
(Dialo 23')

Former England U-19 international Sadou Diallo headed in a corner kick for the
only goal of the tie.

KF Víkingur (ISL) v RIGA FC (LAT)* 1-0 (0-0), 1-2 on aggregate
(Guðjónsson 83')

Things got interesting after Helgi Guðjónsson had tapped in fellow substitute
Ari Sigurpálsson's cross: https://giphy.com/media/hYLerGF3GN24rwsYc2/giphy.gif
but too little too late.

Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (IRL) v F91 DIDDELENG (LUX)* 2-3 (1-1), 3-5 on aggregate
(Desprez 22' (og), Murphy 60'; van Lingen 9', 67', 90'+5;
Red Card: Sidibe (Did) 88')

An absolutely hilarious own goal by Düdelingen's new French keeper Didier Desprez:
https://giphy.com/media/4lYXElbReIgKTlUxYW/giphy.gif
cancelled out Oege-Sietse van Lingen's opener, and things were all square for a
moment after Adam Murphy had surprised Desprez at his near post:
https://giphy.com/media/5O9KbXiWApCSUQrZwQ/giphy.gif
but a badly lost ball led to van Lingen waltzing in alone on goal:
https://giphy.com/media/rMcpkYX3BU69J0Ge9p/giphy.gif
and despite being reduced to ten after Sidibe had received a second yellow
Düdelingen's Dutch midfielder completed his hat trick with an easy solo run past
a static Irish defence: https://giphy.com/media/6IZMcbmHYv84ScacgK/giphy.gif

FK Sarajevo (BIH)* v FC TORPEDO KUTAISI (GEO) 1-1 (1-0), 3-3 on aggregate, Torpedo win 4-2 on penalties
(Ziljkić 12'; Gigauri 90'+1)

Well, if there are any teams out there that catch even fewer breaks in Europe than
those from Georgia it's the Bosnian ones. Ahmedin Ziljkić slid in to turn Francis
Kyeremeh's cross over the line:
https://giphy.com/media/j08rsDqYpzRnaX8Tqf/giphy.gif
and 20,000 in Sarajevo's Olympic Stadium could celebrate until the first minute
of stoppage time when Merab Gigauri headed in Giorgi Arabidze's free-kick:
https://giphy.com/media/Nw3ZMbLqfSU1EXkw9I/giphy.gif
In the shoot-out, Torpedo's Serbian keeper Kljajić saved against Ivan Ikić and
Amar Beganović.

CRUSADERS FC (NIR)* v FC Haka (FIN) 1-0 (0-0), 3-2 on aggregate
(Heatley 73')

Ha-ha Haka! https://giphy.com/media/vNhnw06jsguD9CyFPT/giphy.gif

Considering they're a summer league with the season in full swing during these
qualifiers you'd really expect the Finnish league to be a bit better. But then
they also suffer from the summer league problem that last year's best teams
needn't necessarily be this year's best teams. Haka currently sit second from
last in the Veikkausliiga.

KF SHKUPI (MKD)* v FK Hegelmann (LTU) 0-0 (0-0), 5-0 on aggregate

Why overexert yourself, it's a long season.

Draw for Europa Conference League 2nd Qualifying Round (July 27 and August 3)

Champions Path
_ = unseeded team (one per draw group)

SP Tre Penne (SMR)_ v Valmiera FC (LAT)
Ferencvárosi TC (HUN) v Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL)
The New Saints FC (WAL) v FC Swift Hesper (LUX)

Atlètic Club d'Escaldes (AND)_ v FK Partizani (ALB)
Ħamrun Spartans FC (MLT) v FC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
FCV Farul Constanța (ROM) v FC Urartu (ARM)

FK Struga (MKD) v FK Budućnost Podgorica (MNE)_
KF Ballkani (KOS) v Larne FC (NIR)

Byes: Lincoln Red Imps FC (GIB) and FC Flora (EST)

Main Path
* = seeded team

HNK Rijeka (CRO)* v KF Dukagjini (KOS)
Gżira United FC (MLT) v F91 Diddeleng (LUX)*
Djurgårdens IF (SWE)* v FC Luzern (SUI)
NK Celje (SLO) v Vitória SC (POR)*
FK Sutjeska (MNE)* v FC Santa Coloma (AND)

Hapoel Be'er Sheva FC (ISR)* v FK Panevėžys (LTU)
FC Vorskla Poltava (UKR) v FC Dila Gori (GEO)*
FC CFR 1907 Cluj (ROM)* v Adana Demirspor (TUR)
FC Ordabasy (KAZ) v Legia Warszawa (POL)*
FK RFS (LAT)* v Sabah FK (AZE)

Beşiktaş JK (TUR)* v KF Tirana (ALB)
FK Željezničar (BIH) v Neftçi PFK (AZE)*
APOEL FC (CYP)* v FK Vojvodina (SRB)
FC CSKA 1948 Sofia (BUL) v FC FCSB (ROM)*
FC Alashkert (ARM)* v Debreceni VSC (HUN)

KKS Lech Poznań (POL)* v FK Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
Kalmar FF (SWE) v FC Pyunik (ARM)*
FK Bodø/Glimt (NOR)* v Bohemians Praha 1905 (CZE)
FK Auda (LAT) v FC Spartak Trnava (SLK)*
NK Osijek (CRO)* v Zalaegerszegi TE FC (HUN)

FC Twente (NED)* v Hammarby IF (SWE)
KA (ISL) v Dundalk FC (IRL)*
Club Brugge KV (BEL)* v AGF (DEN)
Crusaders FC (NIR) v Rosenborg BK (NOR)*
Hibernian FC (SCO)* v Inter Club d'Escaldes (AND)

FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)* v KF Drita (KOS)
B36 (FAR) v Haverfordwest County AFC (WAL)*
FC Basel 1893 (SUI)* v FC Tobol (KAZ)
FC Differdange 03 (LUX) v NK Maribor (SLO)*
FK Austria Wien (AUT)* v FK Borac Banja Luka (BIH)

PFC CSKA-Sofia (BUL)* v ACS Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe (ROM)
FC Ararat-Armenia (ARM) v Aris FC (GRE)*
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC (ISR)* v FC Petrocub Hîncești (MDA)
FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino (BLR) v AEK Larnaca FC (CYP)*
FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO)* v FC Aktobe (KAZ)

FC Midtjylland (DEN)* v FC Progrès Niederkorn (LUX)
Derry City FC (IRL) v KuPS (FIN)*
KAA Gent (BEL)* v MŠK Žilina (SLK)
Kecskeméti TE (HUN) v Riga FC (LAT)*
Linfield FC (NIR)* v MKS Pogoń Szczecin (POL)

PAOK FC (GRE)* v Beitar Jerusalem FC (ISR)
Balzan FC (MLT) v FC Neman Grodno (BLR)*
Fenerbahçe SK (TUR)* v FC Zimbru Chișinău (MDA)
Qəbələ FK (AZE) v AC Omonoia (CYP)*
KF Shkupi (MKD)* v PFC Levski Sofia (BUL)

Ciao,
Werner