Elbasani failed to finish off its first match against BATE Borisov with a victory in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The 1-1 draw leaves qualification wide open, and it will now be decided in the return leg in Azerbaijan.
The advantage came at the end of the first half
The team coached by Ivan Gvozdenoviç found the goal in first-half stoppage time. Ardit Nikaj took advantage of the chance created and sent the ball into the net, giving Elbasani a 1-0 lead before the break.
BATE responded after the interval
In the second half, the Belarusian side restored balance to the match. The equalizer came in the 67th minute, when Rusakov finished off the move that also sealed the final 1-1 result.
Qualification remains open
With this result, nothing has been settled in the first round. Elbasani and BATE Borisov will seek progression in the return leg, where the team advancing to the second round will be decided.
The return leg will be played on July 16
The second match is scheduled to be played on July 16 at 19:00 in Azerbaijan. After the first-leg draw, Elbasani heads into the decisive meeting with everything still open.
Elbasani took a temporary lead but failed to manage it through to the end.
Now the yellow-and-blue side will put everything on the line in the 90 minutes of the return leg, in an away trip expected to decide the fate of qualification.