Conference League: Cruel defeat for Virtus in a crazy match, but still in the race

The first leg of the Conference League Q3 leaves a very bitter taste for Virtus. Level on goals and two men up, Bizzotto’s Neroverdi switch off for a fatal instant (with just one minute to go before the 90th), allowing hosts Milsami to snatch a crazy match. The Moldovan side immediately try to steer the game onto the most favourable track. Passaniti has to excel to stop Nwaeze (overhead kick) and especially Iosipoi, already ready to celebrate but forced to surrender to a piece of brilliance from the Acquaviva goalkeeper. Nwaeze again tests Passaniti’s reflexes on 25 minutes, then finds a way past the Virtus keeper on the half-hour mark, powering home a header from Khali’s free-kick. Khali then goes for personal glory from distance, but he too runs into a superb Passaniti. At Virtus’ toughest moment, VAR steps in to spot Cobet’s arm to the face of Battistini, leading to a straight red card for the home striker. The incident injects new life into Virtus, who in the lengthy first-half stoppage time force Timbur into action with a Scappini turn and shot aimed at the bottom corner. The duel resumes at the start of the second half and this time the Neroverde striker comes out emphatically on top, latching onto a long through ball from Gori, rounding the keeper and bringing Virtus back on level terms. However, the visitors’ enthusiasm is soon frozen by Khali’s free-kick, which finds the gap to outwit both wall and goalkeeper. But on this night of a thousand emotions, Virtus refuse to give in to despair. Battistini tests Timbur from outside the area, then VAR spots a blatant handball by Jardan on the edge of the box and the referee awards a penalty, which Scappini converts, restoring parity for Virtus and giving himself a brace. A brace that could have become a hat-trick on 86 minutes, after Takyi is sent off (second yellow): the striker rounds Timbur but takes himself too wide and misses the target. It would have been the crowning moment of Neroverde ecstasy. Instead, round the corner lies a cruel twist: De Lucia and Passaniti fail to communicate and Ndon pounces to tap into an empty net from point-blank range. A burning finale, but one that still leaves Virtus fully in contention to go through.

UEFA Europa Conference League 2025-26, Third Qualifying Round | Milsami – Virtus 3-2

MILSAMI (4-1-4-1)

Timbur; Asmelash, Lupano, Nwaeze, Takyi; Jardan; Iosipol, Yoda (90’ Olutande-Matthew), Gînsari (61’ Ndon), Khali; Cobet

Substitutes: Dujmović, Vornic, Ghimp, Lisu, Chele, Luchita, Arhirii

Coach: Igor Picusciac

VIRTUS (4-3-3)

Passaniti; Battistini, Rinaldi, Piscaglia (39’ De Lucia), Gori; Buonocunto, Montanari (68’ Golinucci), Amati; Lombardi (68’ Capicchioni), Scappini (87’ Ciacci), Zenoni

Substitutes: Guddo, Muggeo, Benincasa, Giacomoni

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

Referee: Edgars Maļcevs (LVA)

Assistant referees: Mārtiņš Svipsts and Deniss Ševcenko (LVA)

Fourth official: Aleksandrs Anufrijevs (LVA)

VAR: Andris Treimanis (LVA)

AVAR: Sergejs Vasjkovs (LVA)

Booked: Lombardi, Battistini, De Lucia, Amati, Takyi, Zenoni

Sent off: Cobet (straight red), Takyi (second yellow)

Scorers: 31’ Nwaeze, 51’ and 73’ (p) Scappini, 61’ Khali, 89’ Ndon