Jake Grech was on the mark but Floriana suffered a 4-2 defeat at FC Ballkani. Photo: Domenic Aquilina
BALLKANI 4 Tolaj 13, 32 Adetunji 27, 76
FLORIANA 2 Grech 8 pen.; Jah 25
BALLKANI A. Iljazi; G. Smajli, B. Jashanica, I. Batarelo, A. Potoku (79 E. Letaj), A. Deliu (72 W. Hamidi), Giovanni, A. Diene, B. Tolaj (90 L. Kolgeci), S. Adetunji, A. Kryeziu.
FLORIANA G. Cioletti; G. Gamarra, I. Mendonca, L. Lopez, A. Garzia (80 O. Spiteri), J. Grech, D. Vella (66 Z. Scerri), C. M’Mombwa, M. Veselji, M. Jah (80 T. Glisovic), F. Varela.
Referee: Gergo Bogar (Hungary FA).
Yellow cards: Garzia, Jah, Varela.
Floriana endured a difficult night in Pristina as they fell 4-2 to Ballkani in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie.
Despite twice taking the lead, the Maltese side ultimately succumbed to the superior quality of the Kosovan outfit, who take a two-goal cushion into the return leg in Malta.
The match, played at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium, a venue familiar to Maltese football as it hosted the men’s national team back in 2018, saw Floriana name an unchanged starting line-up from their win over Haverfordwest County AFC. Alejandro Garzia returned at right-back, while Mattia Veselji started on the right flank.
After a cagey start, Floriana were handed an early opportunity to break the deadlock.
A handball in the Ballkani box during a free-kick situation led the referee to point to the spot. Jake Grech made no mistake to score his ninth goal in UEFA competitions, drawing level with Andre Schembri and Michael Mifsud, and just two shy of Maltese all-time European top scorer Gilbert Agius.
Moments later, Floriana had the chance to double their lead when Mustapha Jah broke free on the counter, but his shot failed to hit the target.
Highlights from the first-half, including all five goals scored in the opening 45 minutes.
That miss proved costly as Ballkani swiftly restored parity through Bleart Tolaj, who headed in expertly at the far post from a pinpoint cross.
Despite Ballkani’s dominance in possession, Floriana managed to regain the lead midway through the half. Grech was again involved, winning the ball in midfield and feeding Jah, who embarked on a dazzling solo run before firing past the goalkeeper for 2-1.
Yet the hosts responded almost immediately.
Barely two minutes later, Nigerian forward Sunday Adetunji pounced inside the six-yard box to make it 2-2, capitalising on Floriana’s failure to clear their lines.
Ballkani nearly took the lead soon after when Ardit Deliu’s low shot struck the upright.
Ballkani took the lead for the first time on the night when Tolaj grabbed his second, finishing off a slick move on the right with a composed effort past Giacomo Cioletti.
The Kosovans’ movement on the flanks continued to trouble Floriana, who struggled to close down space.
An unusual interruption arrived just before the half-time whistle, as the stadium floodlights went off momentarily with the referee eventually whistling for the break.
The second half resumed with no substitutions, but the tempo dropped slightly.
Ballkani, still on the front foot, created further chances. Diene and Deliu both had efforts on goal, with the latter drawing a solid save from Cioletti. Adetunji thought he had doubled his tally with a fourth, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Eventually, Adetunji did get his brace and Ballkani’s fourth, when he was left completely unmarked in the box to nod home from close range, capping a dominant display from the hosts.
Ballkani’s fourth and final goal, to seal the 4-2 victory.
Floriana offered little in the way of response after the break, managing their first shot on target in the second half only in the 88th minute, when Charles M’Mombwa forced a save from the Ballkani goalkeeper.
The result leaves Daniel Portela’s side with a mountain to climb in the return leg next week.
