Ballkani built a 3-0 lead inside 57 minutes, then held on after Connah's Quay struck twice in seven minutes to make it 3-2 in the Europa Conference League first qualifying round.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Ballkani made the breakthrough in the 20th minute when captain Edvin Kuč fired home from an A. Dosso assist, giving the hosts a lead they took into half-time. The Kosovan side had controlled the first period, with Gentrit Halili earning an early yellow card for a 13th-minute foul.
Manager Mislav Karoglan sent on M. Ismajlgeci for A. Klinaku at the break, and the change paid immediate dividends. Within four minutes of the restart, D. Vokrri's delivery found Giovanni, who doubled the lead with a crisp finish in the 49th minute.
Ballkani struck again in the 57th minute through V. Serebe, who collected Giovanni's pass and rounded the goalkeeper to make it 3-0. The tie appeared settled.
But Connah's Quay had other ideas. Substitute M. Woodcock, on for F. Deane in the 53rd minute, pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 69th minute. The Welsh side sensed a route back and piled on pressure. In the 76th minute, fellow substitute Hussein Mehasseb — who had replaced Harry Franklin 10 minutes earlier — scored to make it 3-2, setting up a frantic finish.
Ballkani held on through five minutes of stoppage time, with Ivica Batarelo seeing yellow in the 90+5th minute for a foul as the hosts secured their passage.
The turning point
Ballkani's third goal inside the first 12 minutes of the second half — Serebe's 57th-minute strike — effectively ended the contest as a two-legged affair. The 3-0 aggregate cushion gave Karoglan's side the breathing room they would ultimately need, though they nearly squandered it. Connah's Quay's response after falling 3-0 behind on the night was commendable, but the damage done by Serebe's goal proved irreversible.
Key performers
- Giovanni (Ballkani): The Brazilian-style midfielder scored one goal (49') and assisted Serebe's strike (57'), involved in two of Ballkani's three goals before being substituted in the 67th minute.
- V. Serebe (Ballkani): Took his goal with composure, rounding the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 in the 57th minute, capping a sharp forward display.
- Hussein Mehasseb (Connah's Quay): The substitute made an immediate impact, scoring in the 76th minute and sparking hopes of a remarkable comeback.
- E. Kuč (Ballkani): Opened the scoring with a captain's goal in the 20th minute and anchored the midfield before his 66th-minute substitution.
Player of the match: Giovanni
By the numbers
The match produced five goals from 22 events logged, with seven yellow cards reflecting the competitive edge of a European qualifying tie. The first leg had ended 0-0 in Wales, meaning Ballkani's three goals in the return leg were decisive. Connah's Quay's xG story is not available from official sources, but the Nomads' two goals in the space of seven second-half minutes (69' and 76') suggest they created enough to trouble the Kosovan defence after falling behind. Ballkani's early control — reflected in a 1-0 half-time lead that could have been wider — proved the foundation of the victory.
What it means
Ballkani advance to the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round, keeping their European campaign alive. For Connah's Quay, the 2026/27 European journey ends at the first hurdle after a gallant second-leg display. The first leg in Deeside had finished goalless, and the Welsh side will rue a slow start in Prishtinë that left them too much to do.
Ballkani's next fixture in the competition will be confirmed in the coming days. Connah's Quay return to domestic duty in the Cymru Premier League, with their European ambitions now on hold until next season.
Verdict
Ballkani showed the quality to build a commanding lead and the resilience to protect it when the game turned. Connah's Quay will feel they left the tie in the first half in Kosovo, where they failed to lay a glove on the hosts. The Nomads' late fightback was spirited but ultimately short of the two more goals they needed.
Match Events
Key match events between Ballkani and GAP Connah S Quay FC — 5 goals and 7 cards recorded during the match.
assist: A. Dosso
assist: D. Vokrri
assist: Giovanni
Penalty
Rivalry since 2026
Ballkani vs GAP Connah S Quay FC Head to Head Results· 1
Ballkani and GAP Connah S Quay FC have met 1 times — Ballkani won 0, GAP Connah S Quay FC won 0, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2026. A combined 0 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 0.00 per match (0 for the home side, 0 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 17 Jul 2026