The away match will kick off at 07:00 p.m. local time at Limassol Stadium in Cyprus, after the sides drew 1-1 in the first leg at Elbasan Arena.

Dinamo took the lead in the 79th minute through Fadairo, but Pafos levelled three minutes later from the penalty spot through Lele.

The Albanian side will now look to make the most of the return leg and secure a place in the league phase, with the 90 minutes in Cyprus set to decide their European campaign.

Dinamo will be seeking another strong performance on the European stage as they bid to advance to the next phase of the competition.

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Egnatia, coached by Nevil Dede, host Norway’s Lillestrøm in the Europa League play-off, while Dinamo welcome Cyprus’ Pafos in the Conference League play-off.

Egnatia have already secured a place in the Conference League phase but are seeking to go one step further and reach the Europa League. The match against Lillestrøm kicks off at 7 p.m., with the Albanian champions also benefiting from home advantage.

Dinamo take to the field at 9 p.m. in Tirana against Pafos, with the Albanian Cup holders looking to continue their European campaign after eliminating Aluminij and Auda in earlier qualifying rounds.

The team coached by Ilir Daja are two matches away from securing a place in the Conference League league phase, with Pafos standing between them and that goal.

Dinamo will also rely on Daja’s European experience. The veteran coach has previously guided both Skënderbeu and Kosovo’s Ballkani to the group stage of European competitions, bringing added experience to the club’s European campaign.

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It was a hard fought game and intense efforts with attacks and counterattacks and opportunities for the two sides to score until 96th minute, when the guests earned the qualification for the Conference League group round.

Although the Partizani had a very good start and won the first half after taking the lead with a goal scored by forward Bintsouka, but the guests equalized at the beginning of the second half by Marin Tomasov.

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The decision was made as the local stadium in the city of Struga fails to meet the criteria set by the European football body for this round’s games.

Likewise, no other stadium in the neighbouring North Macedonia currently meets the UEFA criteria and that’s why Struga side will host Iceland’s Breidablik in the arena of the central Albanian city of Elbasan.

In addition to the stadium, Albanian Football Federation will also offer its assistance to best organize the match thanks to the experience in hosting international football tournaments.

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After the 1 to 2 victory at the away match against Latvian side a week ago, the coach Zoran Zekic’s team proved to be superior over the rival.

Partizani, the reigning champions of Albania, took the lead at 21^st minute in a goal scored by Tedi Cara from the penalty kick.

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The hosts showed aggressiveness in the first half and took the lead with a goal scored by Gustavo Silva at 27^th minute.

Partizani performed better in second half and equalized at 58^th minute with a goal by Tedi Cara and scored the second goal at 75^th minute by Rrapaj.

Partizani will host Latvian side next Thursday, on August 17.

If qualified, based on today’s draw, Partizani would take on the losing team from the FC Astana (Kazakhstan) and PFC Ludogorets 1945 (Bulgaria).

Partizani are the reigning champions of Albania, having claimed their 17th league title last May.

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The 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round draw was held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, on Monday.

According to the program, Partizani will head to Latvia for the away match against Valmiera on Thursday, August 10, and will host Latvian side a week later on August 17.

If qualified, based on today’s draw, Partizani would take on the losing team from the FC Astana (Kazakhstan) and PFC Ludogorets 1945 (Bulgaria).

Partizani are the reigning champions of Albania, having claimed their 17th league title last May.

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TIRANA, May 26 /ATA/ – Dutch newspaper NRC wrote a feature story on the last night UEFA Conference League final of Italy’s Roma and Dutch side of Feyenoord played at Tirana’s Air Albania stadium on Wednesday evening. The Dutch journalist Pieter van Os notes that not only AS Roma won in Tirana, but Albania itself became part of Europe last night.

With the first and, as it turned out, the only goal of the game, it is immediately clear: everyone in the stadium support AS Roma except for the Dutch. The silent majority erupts into a long ovation of applause. Until then, the songs and roars of the Feyenoord legion have filled the small brand new stadium, just as they have dominated the center of Tirana during all sweltering hot day.

There is a party all day long. Fears of fan violence among the authorities and citizens of Albania’s capital, fuelled by night-time clashes and numerous arrests, proved unfounded.  The consideration and appreciation had also never been larger not to place fan zones in remote, city’s outskirts, a well-known process for gaining maximum control over hooligans. This was not the case in Tirana. Tirana and Albania want to prove something. The Feyenoord supporters were accommodated on the promenade stretching from the central square to the most luxurious cafés and department stores in the country. The Roma fans can party in Albania’s most beautiful park.

Feyenoord supporters are surprised. “It is almost as if they (Albanians) really like that we are here,” says a Feyenoord fan wearing a shirt with word “The Legion” imprinted on it. He has flown to Tirana together with his two sons. “They also say: the people here receive us so kindly, that is actually hard to believe.” They expect Rick Karsdorp to give a weak “tap back” to the Italian keeper, in order to let his old club win. His family still lives in Rotterdam; he was even loaned to Feyenoord to play again. He knows what he owes us,” he said.

Things actually went different; a sour blow for Feyenoord supporters, who gave away a lot just to be in Tirana.

Success of a new UEFA tournament

Not only were the supporters pleasantly surprised in the run-up to the final, but also the European Football Association UEFA, especially about the interest. UEFA Chairman Aleksander Ceferin could therefore understand the criticism of the stadium choice. From now on, UEFA would think of larger stadiums.

The success of this new European tournament is evident in Tirana’s central Skanderbeg Square. There is a long queue there all Wednesday, in the blazing sun. Thousands of Romans, Rotterdammers and Tirana citizens wait their turn quietly to climb a scaffold and have their picture taken with the cup, a trophy that was never awarded before but has apparently already reached the status of relic. Some even kiss the trophy.

The UEFA chief’s error of judgment proves quite fortunate for Tirana and no other fan incidents were recorded in the city. The violence seems to have been contained, although it was there, of course, through the Tuesday night to Wednesday.  Nineteen police officers were injured. One suffered stab wounds. Police fired tear gas and arrested nearly 100 people, mostly Italians. Ten civilians were hospitalized. Two Dutchmen will remain in custody – an official investigation has been launched against them.

In the early Wednesday morning, another 80 Italian fans were put back on ferry to Italy via Durres. “Deportees”, Albanian newspapers call them. Tirana citizens are happy about it, because Albanians residing illegally in Italy were sent back to Albania for years, often by ship. “There should be 84,” an Albanian tells a group of Feyenoord supporters. He meant that number as a reference to the tragedy of Otranto, in March 1997, when 84 Albanians lost their lives after their boat was rammed by an Italian ship and sank. The victims were fleeing the chaos and violence that plagued Albania in those days.

Public urination

But it is not the Italians to be blamed. A man, who does not wish to be named, shows a video that is increasingly circulating in the WhatsApp groups of Albanians during the day. You can see a Feyenoord fan that beats up a police officer. The Deputy Mayor, Anuela Ristani, confirms the authenticity of the news. The violence surprises her less than urinating in public. “We’ve put mobile toilets everywhere, really, rows long, but apparently that’s a thing among supporters, that you pee against buildings.”

However, most Albanians experience the final differently. They do not see the game as an appetizer for the Champions League final next Saturday in Paris. . This Conference League final is the best that has happened to Albania in living memory. “Perhaps only the arrival of the Scorpions in 1996 came close,” Olsi Avdija says. Elvis Toci (52): “This is the best thing since we knocked down the statue of the dictator in February 1991.”

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“What a night in Tirana!” UEFA said via its Twitter official profile.

The Europe’s highest football body extended appreciation for organizing the first Conference League final played in Tirana’s Air Albania stadium last night. Italy’s Roma won the inaugural UEFA Conference League after defeating Feyenoord 1-0.

“What a night in Tirana! Thanks for staging the first ever UEFA Conference League final,” UEFA said.

The last night final in Tirana was officially broadcasted in 155 countries around the world and more than 400 million viewers all over the world were watching the game played at Air Albania.

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Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo did well to send the ball into the net, scoring the first ever goal in a Conference League final that kicked off earlier with a spectacular ceremony, featuring a performance and dancing choreography right at centre of Air Albania stadium and a choreography of colours of Roma and Dutch side of Feyenoord.

The choreography ended with the former captain of Albania’s national side, Lorik Cana bringing the Conference League trophy at the centre of the pitch of the national arena.

Roma’s Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho picked the following starting line-up: Rui Patricio, Smalling, Ibanez, Mancini, Cristante, Karsdorp, Mkhitaryan, Pellegrini, Zalewski, Zaniolo, Abraham.

Whereas Feyenoord’s coach Arne Slot decided to start the game with the following line-up: Bijlow, Geertruda, Trauner, Senesi Baron, Malacia, Aursnes, Kokcu, Nelson, Til, Sinisterra, Dessers.

Romanian referee István Kovács is officiating the game, assisted by Vasile Florin Marinescu and Ovidiu Artene and fourth official Sandro Schärer of Switzerland.

The VAR is German Marco Fritz, with Christian Dingert and Bastian Dankert in support.

Second half of Conference League final of Roma versus Feyenoord started at Air Albania stadium in Tirana.

Feyenoord hit the post early on at 47th minute.

Feyenoord hit the post again at 50th minute as Tyrell Malacia left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

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