Vllaznia Rally Past Malisheva to Take First-Leg Advantage, But Qualification Remains Wide Open

SHKODËR, Albania – KF Vllaznia took an important step toward the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League after defeating FC Malisheva 2-1 in the first leg of their opening qualifying round tie at the historic Loro Boriçi Stadium. However, the one-goal advantage leaves everything to play for ahead of next week's return leg in Podujevo.

The Albanian side showed resilience after an early setback, coming from behind through goals from Klinti Qato and Emiljano Musta to earn a deserved victory over the visitors from Kosovo.

Nightmare Start for Vllaznia

The match could not have started worse for the home side. Just four minutes into the contest, Laurent Xhylani capitalized on a defensive lapse to give Malisheva an early 1-0 lead, silencing the home supporters.

Rather than panic, Vllaznia gradually settled into the game, dominated possession, and created several scoring opportunities. Their persistence paid off in the 37th minute when Klinti Qato calmly finished from close range after an excellent assist from R. Toma, sending the teams into halftime level at 1-1.

Red Card Changes the Match

The turning point arrived in the 55th minute when Malisheva defender Andreas Skovgaard received a straight red card for a foul on Kubazi, reducing the visitors to ten men.

Vllaznia wasted no time taking advantage of their numerical superiority. Just one minute later, Emiljano Musta curled a superb free kick into the net to complete the comeback and put the Albanian club ahead.

Despite playing with ten men, Malisheva continued to threaten on the counterattack and created several dangerous chances, ensuring the tie remains very much alive ahead of the second leg.

Martini: "We Should Have Finished the Tie"

Following the match, Vllaznia head coach Edi Martini praised his players' determination but admitted he was frustrated by the team's inability to capitalize on their advantage.

"It has been a very stressful week. We prepared all month to play a certain way, but today we were forced to play with half of our expected lineup. I congratulate the players for their commitment and character."

Martini was particularly disappointed with his team's mentality after taking the lead.

"What frustrated me in the second half was seeing players slowing the game down and becoming satisfied with a 2-1 lead, even though our opponents had one player less. This is something that also happened last season. When we have the chance to finish off our opponent, we instead give them hope. We must become more aggressive, more focused, and believe in ourselves. We had opportunities to score a third goal and make the return leg much easier, but instead we left everything open. Malisheva played well and created chances even with ten men."

Brdarić Returns to Shkodër—This Time as an Opponent

One of the night's most emotional storylines was the return of Malisheva head coach Thomas Brdarić to Loro Boriçi Stadium.

The German coach is far from a stranger in Shkodër. During two separate spells in charge of Vllaznia, Brdarić became one of the club's most respected modern managers.

He ended the club's 13-year trophy drought by leading Vllaznia to the Albanian Cup title in the 2020-21 season and was subsequently named Albania's Coach of the Year. He later returned for a second spell in 2024, guiding the team to the Kategoria Superiore Final Four before departing in 2025.

Beyond his achievements on the pitch, Brdarić earned enormous respect from players and supporters alike for his leadership and humanity. During difficult financial periods at the club, he often paid for players' meals out of his own pocket and repeatedly described Shkodër as his "second home."

Football's script produced another remarkable chapter this summer. Only weeks after taking charge of FC Malisheva, Brdarić found himself returning to the stadium where he built much of his legacy. Before kickoff, he confidently stated that his new team would qualify, but this time it was Vllaznia celebrating at the final whistle.

All to Play for in Podujevo

The 2-1 victory gives Vllaznia a valuable first-leg advantage, but qualification is far from secured. The return match at Zahir Pajaziti Stadium in Podujevo promises another intense battle, with a place in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round at stake.

The winner of the tie will face Scottish Premiership side Hibernian in the next round.

Match Statistics Final Score: Vllaznia 2-1 Malisheva Goals: Laurent Xhylani 4' (M); Klinti Qato 37', Emiljano Musta 56' (V) Red Card: Andreas Skovgaard 55' (Malisheva) Total Attempts: Vllaznia 16 – 11 Malisheva Corners: 4 – 8 Offsides: 0 – 6 Yellow Cards: 3 – 3 Venue: Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, Albania