DINAMO CITY – HAJDUK SPLIT 3:1 (Zabergja 14′, Qardaku 109′, Berisha 111’/Karačić 99′)
Dinamo City: Teqja – Meksi (James 119′), Dita, Aliji, Lorran (Neziri 41′) – Nani (Maliqi 115′), Gassama (Qardaku 70′), Qefalija (Berisha 70′), Bregu – Zabergja, Vila (Beqja 70′)
Hajduk split: Ivušić – Karačić, Mlačić, Šarlija, Hrgović (Melnjak 90’+1′) – Kalik (Benrahou 59′), Pajaziti (Sigur 90’+1′), Krovinović – Bamba, Livaja (Pukštas 115′), Brajković (Durdov 46′, Rebić 91′)
Dinamo City defeated Hajduk Split 3-1 after extra time in a dramatic UEFA Conference League return leg, thus knocking the Split side out of Europe, although Hajduk arrived in Tirana with an advantage from the first match. The Albanian team was more aggressive and precise from the start, and already in the 14th minute Zabergja put the hosts ahead, erasing Hajduk’s advantage from Split. Hajduk failed to create any real opportunities in the first half, with only isolated attempts, such as Livaja’s shot in the 27th minute, suggesting a possible comeback.
In the second half, Hajduk played better, but a key chance for Durdov in the 56th minute was denied by Dinamo’s goalkeeper Teqja. The peak of the drama came in the 78th minute when Bamba received a second yellow card, forcing Hajduk to play the rest of the game, including extra time, with one player less. Still, in the 99th minute, Hajduk briefly restored hope when Benrahou delivered a corner and Karačić headed home for 1-1, putting Hajduk virtually “through” thanks to the away goal.
However, the worst for the Whites was yet to come: between the 109th and 111th minute, Dinamo City scored two quick goals, first through Qardaku’s fantastic long-range strike, and then Berisha capitalized on a poor defensive reaction from Hajduk. Despite initiative and courage with ten men, Hajduk failed to equalize, and their last chance in the final minutes was cleared by the home defense. In the end, Hajduk suffered another European heartbreak, this time exiting the Conference League despite optimism and an early advantage, and will play only domestic competitions for the remainder of the season.
