Conference League: Benincasa opener not enough as Virtus fall to Dila Gori

Despite an early goal from Benincasa to break the deadlock, Virtus went down 3-1 to Dila Gori in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League played last night. Luigi Bizzotto’s side – in his final matches in charge of the Neroverdi – began their European campaign at the Tengiz Burjanadze in Gori, Georgia, and got off to the best possible start. In the third minute Benincasa wins the ball back on the edge of the final third and then plays in Scappini, who sends it across for Golinucci. The San Marino international midfielder lays it back to Benincasa, who has continued his run perfectly and finishes off to put the Neroverdi in front. Dila Gori react immediately and five minutes later restore parity through Sheikiladze, who gets to the ball before Passaniti as he comes out and makes it 1-1. The hosts keep pushing and on 14 minutes turn the game around with a precise long-range effort from Anoff that gives Passaniti no chance. Virtus try to get back into it, especially through the individual play of Amati, but the sides go in at half-time with Dila Gori leading 2-1. Chances are fewer after the restart, but in the 68th minute the Georgians extend the gap on the Acquaviva club: a cross from Shekiladze who, after scoring, now turns provider for substitute Kante, who heads in the 3-1. In the closing stages Virtus attempt to reopen the contest thanks to a well-worked move started by Gasperoni, who plays a ball in behind for Di Pollina; he squares it across for Scappini, but the club’s all-time top scorer in European competition (five goals to his name) fails to hit the target. In Georgia it therefore finishes 3-1 to Dila Gori. In the return leg, scheduled for Thursday 16 July at 21:00 at the Stadium, Virtus will need to score twice to level the tie.

UEFA Conference League 2026-27, First Qualifying Round (first leg) | Dila Gori – Virtus 3-1

DILA GORI (4-3-3)

Kereselidze; Sanyang, Kikabidze, Joao Araujo, Jalagonia; Anoff, Tall (54’ Kouakou), Menteshashvili; Gogoberishvili (46’ Kante), Shekiladze (84’ Kobakhidze), Parulava (65’ Donkor)

Substitutes: Sanikidze, Poeketie, Nyenetue, Museliani, Yarbrough, Etou

Head coach: Diamantis Vavalis

VIRTUS (4-4-2)

Vivan; Di Pollina, Yaha, Ciacci, De Santis (79’ Gori); Lombardi, Golinucci (75’ De Lucia), Amati (84’ M. Gasperoni), Buonocunto (84’ Satalino); Scappini, Benincasa (46’ Santi)

Substitutes: Guddo, Muggeo

Head coach: Luigi Bizzotto

Referee: Miloš Bošković (MNE)

Assistant referees: Marjan Paunović (MNE), Marko Gojkovic (MNE)

Fourth official: Miloš Bešović (MNE)

Booked: Amati, Tall, Parulava, M. Gasperoni

Scorers: 3’ Benincasa, 8’ Sheikiladze, 14’ Anoff, 68’ Kante

Attendance: 1,635