Lusso W vs ZFK Skopje 2014 W

Skopje's Kristina Krsteva received the first yellow card of the match in the 33rd minute for a foul. Four minutes later, Lusso broke the deadlock. Keso Metonidze scored from close range with a right-footed finish, assisted by Emily Brough, who had started after appearing as a half-time substitute in the semi-final.

Skopje's Ivana Milevska was booked in the 38th minute. The North Macedonian side made four substitutions at half-time — Elena Naumovska, Kristina Krsteva, Jovana Karalioska and Mihaela Dodevska all replaced.

Lusso introduced Brazilian midfielder Thaisa Renata for Teona Bakradze in the 58th minute. A minute later, the decisive moment arrived. Evgenija Veljanovska, Skopje's goalkeeper, turned the ball into her own net under pressure, doubling Lusso's lead to 2-0.

Gvantsa Kadagishvili was booked for Lusso in the 70th minute. Further substitutions followed: Metonidze made way for Elene Bolkvadze, Kristina Bakarandze for Giovana Maia (both 78th minute), and in the 90th minute Tekla Beridze replaced Katie Godden while Anastasia Buchukuri replaced Irina Khaburdzania. The match finished 2-0 after four minutes of added time.

Veljanovska's own goal in the 59th minute ended any realistic prospect of a Skopje comeback. The North Macedonians had kept the score at 1-0 through the interval and the first 14 minutes of the second half, but the goalkeeper's unfortunate concession made a two-goal deficit insurmountable on a neutral ground. The timing was critical — Lusso had made an attacking substitution just before the goal (Thaisa Renata for Bakradze), and the fresh impetus contributed to the pressure that forced the error.

Keso Metonidze (Lusso W) — Scored the opening goal, her first of the qualifying campaign, and was a consistent attacking threat before being substituted in the 78th minute. Her finish from Brough's delivery proved the decisive strike.

Emily Brough (Lusso W) — Provided the assist for Metonidze's opener from open play, justifying her starting place after appearing as a half-time substitute against Czarni Sosnowiec.

Evgenija Veljanovska (ZFK Skopje 2014) — A difficult afternoon for the Skopje goalkeeper. She had been a standout performer in the semi-final loss to Athlone Town but was responsible for the own goal that sealed Lusso's win.

Player of the Match: Keso Metonidze (Lusso W)

The match produced only two goals and three yellow cards — a low-event contest reflecting the psychological state of both teams after heavy semi-final defeats. Skopje made four substitutions at half-time, suggesting manager Ilija Mandarov was dissatisfied with the first-half performance. Lusso made their first change in the 58th minute and immediately forced the own goal. The three yellow cards (two for Skopje in the first half, one for Lusso in the second) indicate a physical but controlled contest. The attendance of 15 — confirmed by BBC Sport — reflected the early kick-off and the fact that this was a third-place play-off rather than the final between Czarni Sosnowiec and Athlone Town later that day.

For Lusso W, this result gives them third place in Group 4 of the UWCL first qualifying round. The Georgian champions exit the tournament after two matches with a 2-0 win and a 7-1 loss. They will return to domestic competition in Georgia.

For ZFK Skopje 2014, the defeat means elimination from the 2026/27 UWCL without a win. The North Macedonian champions lost 4-0 to Athlone Town in the semi-final and 2-0 to Lusso in the third-place match.

Czarni Sosnowiec won Group 4 by beating Athlone Town in the final, advancing to the second qualifying round for a place in the group stage.

A low-stakes dead rubber between two eliminated teams, Lusso's 2-0 win was a deserved consolation. Metonidze's goal and the fortunate own goal were enough against a Skopje side that created few clear chances after their heavy semi-final loss. Both sides will regroup domestically, though the gap to Europe's elite was evident across the two matchdays in Sosnowiec.