Vllaznia Shkodër vs Malisheva

The match began with a jolt for the home crowd. Malisheva struck inside three minutes when Laurent Xhylani found the net, silencing the Loro Boriçi stands and giving the Kosovan side a dream start with the first attack of the game.

Vllaznia responded with pressure but found Malisheva's defence organised. Midfielder E. Gurishta was booked in the 12th minute as frustration grew. D. Ibishi followed him into the referee's notebook for the visitors in the 35th minute.

The equaliser arrived in the 37th minute. Klinti Qato finished from a Rejan Toma assist, steering the ball home to level the scores at 1-1 heading into half-time.

The decisive moment came nine minutes into the second half. Malisheva's Danish midfielder A. Skovgaard was shown a straight red card in the 54th minute, reducing the visitors to ten men. Vllaznia capitalised immediately.

Two minutes later, Emiljano Musta scored to put the hosts ahead for the first time. The goal gave Vllaznia a 2-1 lead and left Malisheva's ten men chasing the game for the final half-hour.

Malisheva's V. Nafiu was booked in the 58th minute for a frustrated challenge, and the visitors made a double change on 64 minutes — Nafiu and Ibishi replaced by V. Isgandarli and K. Shani respectively — but the numerical disadvantage proved too great to overcome.

Klinti Qato scored the crucial equaliser that settled Vllaznia's nerves and restored parity before half-time. His 37th-minute strike, assisted by Rejan Toma, was the platform for the comeback.

Emiljano Musta scored the winner in the 56th minute, just two minutes after Malisheva's Skovgaard was sent off. His timing was impeccable — the goal arrived in the immediate aftermath of the red card, turning the match decisively.

Laurent Xhylani was Malisheva's bright spark, scoring the early opener in the third minute. He was substituted in the 84th minute for M. Bushaj as his side chased an equaliser with ten men.

Player of the match: Emiljano Musta (Vllaznia Shkodër) — his decisive goal within two minutes of Malisheva's red card effectively won the first leg.

The scoreline — Vllaznia 2-1 Malisheva — reflects a game that swung decisively on the red card. Malisheva's Xhylani goal in the third minute gave them a lead they held for 34 minutes, but after Skovgaard's dismissal in the 54th minute, the visitors failed to create a response. Vllaznia's two goals came from six shots on target, while Malisheva managed only the one early strike. Six yellow cards and one red were shown, with Malisheva collecting three yellows and the straight red — a discipline record that ultimately cost them.

Vllaznia carry a 2-1 aggregate lead into the second leg on 15 July, to be played at Kampi Nacional in Podujeve, Kosovo. The Albanian side, who finished third in the Kategoria Superiore last season, need only a draw to progress to the second qualifying round. Malisheva, third in the Kosovan Superleague, must win by at least one goal to force extra time, or by two to advance outright.

The winner of the tie will face either Dečić (Montenegro) or Liepāja (Latvia) in the second qualifying round. Vllaznia's pre-season form — including defeats to Olimpija Ljubljana, Koper and Argeș Pitești — made this competitive victory all the more significant for coach Edi Martini's side.

Vllaznia's experience told against a Malisheva side that competed well until the red card. The Albanian hosts were shaken by the early goal but showed composure to equalise before half-time and then pounced when the numerical advantage arrived. The tie is far from over — Malisheva need only a single goal in the second leg to level the aggregate — but Vllaznia now hold the advantage and the momentum.