Conference League: a contentious red card shatters Virtus’ League Phase dream

In front of the Captains Regent, among more than 1,100 spectators at the San Marino Stadium for the second leg of the UEFA Conference League Playoffs, Virtus face Icelandic side Breiðablik while nurturing the dream of reaching the League Phase of the youngest of UEFA’s club competitions.

The San Marino champions start bravely, even though last week’s narrow defeat (1-2) might have suggested a more cautious game plan in the opening stages. Instead, Bizzotto’s men are quicker out of the blocks and come close to taking the lead on 9 minutes from a Buonocunto free-kick. The visiting goalkeeper spills the ball badly, Scappini pounces and turns it goalwards, but Breiðablik survive by a whisker as the ball is cleared off the line.

Having escaped, the Icelanders show no mercy in the 16th minute. A vertical move frees Ingvarsson’s left foot inside the box: Guddo parries to his side, unfortunately straight to Kristinsson, who cannot fail to find the net. Soon after, Virtus risk going 0-2 down from a corner deflected by Scappini, whose touch clips the crossbar of his own goal.

With the lead secured, Breiðablik tighten up and look to manage possession. In response, the Neroverdi from Acquaviva rely on the flair of their wide men, and are rewarded in the 40th minute. Zenoni cuts inside down the left and drives to the by-line before crossing to the far post, where Niang rises to head in at the back stick: it may not be his trademark, but it is a superb 1-1. The momentum is now with Virtus, but they are soon hit by a contentious decision from the referee, who denies Niang a free-kick and instead shows Zenoni a second yellow card – the winger twice punished harshly by the official’s judgement. Just 120 seconds after equalising, Virtus find themselves down to ten men.

After the break, Bizzotto opts against making substitutions, reshaping his side into a 4-4-1 with Buonocunto wide on the left. Breiðablik can afford to sit on the ball, working Virtus from side to side with long spells of possession. There is no real danger for Guddo in the early stages, as the hosts try to settle into the new shape with a man down and to find a way back. However, it is the Icelandic side who strike again, capitalising on an extra phase of play after a poor clearance from the Neroverdi: Ingvarsson’s left-foot lay-off proves costly, bringing the curtain closer on 59 minutes. Shortly after the hour, Bizzotto throws on Amati and Lombardi for Montanari and Gori – both applauded as they leave – switching to an ultra-attacking 3-5-1. Just beforehand, Guddo is called into action by a Gunnlaugsson effort from twenty metres. Virtus respond through the Amati-Niang combination, with the latter losing his stride after outpacing his marker. A corner results, which A. Einarsson tips over the bar, well-positioned to deal with Amati’s wicked delivery. Soon after De Lucia replaces Sabato, Kristinn Jónsson tries his luck, finding only the side netting and a corner after a deflection. In the 76th minute Breiðablik squander the chance to land the knockout blow through Gunnlaugsson, only to seal the contest seconds later thanks to Thomsen’s simple finish from the middle of the box.

Virtus’ European campaign ends with a very bitter taste, despite their achievement in reaching the UEFA Conference League Playoffs and earning themselves one and a half matches in which to savour the dream of the competition’s League Phase. In the missing half, a numerical disadvantage that is hard to understand and that the San Marino champions will have to shake off quickly: on Sunday comes their league debut against La Fiorita, one of the main contenders to challenge for a title that has been based in Acquaviva for the past two years.

UEFA Conference League 2025-26, Playoffs | Virtus-Breiðablik 1-3

VIRTUS (4-2-3-1)

Guddo; Gori (65’ Lombardi), Giacomoni, Legittimo, Sabato (70’ De Lucia); Golinucci; Montanari (65’ Amati); Niang, Buonocunto (77’ Benincasa), Zenoni; Scappini

Substitutes: Passaniti, Battistini, Lombardi, Muggeo, Capicchioni, Amati, Benincasa, Ciacci

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

BREIÐABLIK (4-3-3)

A. Einarsson; Valgeirrson, Muminović, Orrason, K. Jónsson (80’ Ómarsson); Gunnlaugsson, A. Jónsson (80’ Magnússon), V. Einarsson (50’ Steindórsson); Thorsteinsson (68’ Bjarnason), Kristinsson (68’ Thomsen), Ingvarsson

Substitutes: Bragason, Snæhólm, Lúðviksson, Hallsson, Yeoman, Björgvinsson, Ulfarsson

Coach: Halldór Árnason

Referee: Mykola Balakin (UKR)

Assistant referees: Oleksandr Berkut (UKR), Viktor Matyash (UKR)

Fourth official: Denys Shurman (UKR)

VAR: Oleksii Derevinskyi (UKR)

AVAR: Dmytro Panchyshyn (UKR)

Scorers: 17’ Kristinsson, 41’ Niang, 59’ Ingvarsson, 77’ Thomsen

Booked: V. Einarsson, Zenoni, Buonocunto, Legittimo, Sabato, Scappini, Benincasa

Sent off: Zenoni (second yellow card)

Attendance: 1,124