Drita vs Kauno Žalgiris

Kauno Žalgiris could not have asked for a better start. Inside nine minutes, Amine Benchaib slipped a pass through the Drita defence for Vykintas Slivka, who had been officially unveiled as a Kauno Žalgiris player only the day before after returning to Lithuania for the first time in 15 years. The Lithuanian international finished emphatically to put the visitors ahead on the night and level the tie on aggregate after the 1-1 first-leg draw in Kaunas.

Drita responded within 11 minutes. Liridon Balaj turned provider, his cross finding Igball Jashari, who scored from close range to make it 1-1 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate. The Kosovo side grew into the half and carried that momentum after the break.

Eight minutes into the second half, Balaj again supplied the delivery — this time from a corner — and Ardian Manaj rose highest to head Drita into a 2-1 lead, completing a rapid turnaround. With the aggregate score now 3-2 in their favour, the hosts appeared to be closing in on the second qualifying round.

But Kauno Žalgiris refused to wilt. Slivka struck again in the 82nd minute, finishing clinically after a pass from J. Moutachy, to level the match at 2-2 and restore parity on aggregate.

The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute. A VAR review penalised a handball inside the Drita area, and Benchaib held his nerve from the spot to send the Lithuanian champions through with the final kick of regulation time.

The penalty awarded after a VAR check for handball was the clear inflection point. Drita had defended resolutely for the eight minutes following Slivka's equaliser, but the intervention from the video assistant referee shifted the aggregate lead decisively in Kauno Žalgiris' favour. For a side making their Champions League debut, the composure required to convert from the spot in a hostile away stadium was the difference between progression and extra time.

Vykintas Slivka — Two goals on his debut for the club, days after signing professionally for the first time in 15 years away from Lithuania. The 31-year-old midfielder's brace was the foundation of the comeback.

Amine Benchaib — A goal and an assist. The Belgian-born midfielder created the opener with a threaded pass for Slivka and converted the decisive penalty under extreme pressure. His influence across both legs was decisive.

Liridon Balaj — Two assists for the Drita captain, both of which turned the match in the hosts' favour at different stages. His corner for Manaj's header was especially well-delivered.

Player of the match: Vykintas Slivka.

The provider statistics show Kauno Žalgiris dominated the ball with 63% possession and registered 27 shots (9 on target) to Drita's 12 (4 on target). That shot volume tells a story of sustained second-half pressure that eventually broke Drita's resistance. Despite leading twice, Drita managed only three shots on target after the 20th minute, highlighting how the visitors' territorial control gradually wore down the home defence. The 5-3 substitution advantage also reflected Kauno Žalgiris' deeper squad depth, with coach Željko Sopic able to introduce fresh legs in the final phase.

Kauno Žalgiris advance to the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, where they will face Faroese champions KÍ Klaksvík, who eliminated Luxembourg's FC Atert Bissen with a 4-2 aggregate victory. For Drita, the defeat ends their European campaign at the first hurdle — a disappointment given their run to the UEFA Conference League knockout phase play-offs last season.

Kauno Žalgiris showed the resilience required to survive in Champions League qualifying, recovering from a second-half deficit in a hostile environment on their European debut. Slivka's instant impact and Benchaib's nerve from the spot papered over the defensive fragility that allowed Drita to score twice, but the Lithuanian champions' refusal to accept defeat was the defining quality of the night.