Conference League: Virtus’ comeback dreams dashed by outstanding Kereselidze

Luigi Bizzotto’s Virtus faced the daunting task of overturning the 3-1 defeat suffered in Georgia seven days earlier and trying to reopen the qualification race for Q2 of the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League. The hosts, in an unusual all-pink strip, threaten first from a set piece: Scappini meets the free-kick with his head on 5 minutes, but his effort flies well over. From another dead ball, this time a corner, the recordman for goals scored in UEFA club competitions with San Marino sides finds the same outcome. A scare for Passaniti on 13 minutes, when a scramble following Tall’s header is eventually dealt with by the defence, not without some nervous moments. Dila Gori are happy to sit in a positional block, clearly focused on protecting the two-goal cushion earned in Georgia in the first leg. Parulava leads one of the few forays forward by the visitors, but is denied by a perfectly timed recovery tackle from Emilio Di Pollina. Despite Virtus’ great bravery in lining up in a 4-2-4 under Bizzotto, sufficient precision in their build-up play is lacking, at least in the first half-hour. Paradoxically, it is from a mis-hit cross from the right that Lombardi puts Kereselidze in trouble, the keeper doing well to palm the ball away sideways. Soon after, Golinucci swings the ball to the far post, where Scappini cannot quite pull off what would have been a spectacular – but extremely difficult – control. The visitors’ best move of the first half comes on 42 minutes along the Shekiladze-Menteshashvili axis, the latter firing over from the edge of the area. In the first of two minutes of added time, we see the first save by Passaniti – the keeper getting down well to Parulava’s piledriver. It is nothing, however, compared to Kereselidze’s acrobatic stop on Buonocunto’s header, somehow tipping it over the bar with his fingertips. The Dila Gori goalkeeper is then tested again by Ciacci. The strong finish leaves Virtus with positive sensations as they head to the dressing rooms: they have failed to score the goal that would have brought the target closer, but are fully aware they are up against opposition within their reach.

The start of the second half confirms this impression because – despite the two substitutions made by Vavalis – it is Virtus who threaten again through an initiative sparked by Di Pollina, whose left-footed strike at the near post forces another important save from Kereselidze, his second decisive intervention. At the other end, the newly introduced Kante wastes a free header, failing to hit the target despite being completely unmarked. Shortly afterwards, Passaniti has no problem smothering Gogoberishvili’s left-footer, the other new face after the break. The incident that could reshape the final outcome comes on 55 minutes, when Anoff – already booked – arrives late on Amati, who this evening becomes the all-time appearance leader for San Marino clubs in European competitions (23). An inevitable second yellow and Virtus enjoy a numerical advantage for thirty-five minutes plus added time. From the resulting free-kick from the side of the penalty area, Scappini’s right-footed effort is blocked by a defender. On 63 minutes, Ciacci has a double chance: he fails to make proper contact first time and then hesitates instead of taking on the first-time right-footed shot, squandering a golden chance – probably distracted by an opponent’s presence. At the other end, Kante races clear on goal – but Passaniti does superbly to narrow the angle and deny him. On 73 minutes his opposite number Kereselidze takes centre stage again to keep out Scappini’s header from an Amati cross. In the final twenty minutes, play is almost entirely in and around the Dila Gori penalty area, with the visitors looking on the verge of crumbling at any moment. The introductions of Santi and Gasperoni inject fresh energy down the flanks, where the Georgians struggle to double up – not least because of their numerical inferiority. An incredible chance falls to Ciacci on 85 minutes, when Scappini flicks on an Amati cross into the path of the onrushing San Marino player, who connects first time from point-blank range. Almost everyone in the stadium goes from hands aloft to hands on heads as Kereselidze produces a sensational, result-saving stop, and he continues his MVP night with another outstanding reflex save to deny Scappini on 87 minutes. Those are perhaps Virtus’ last real opportunities to turn the tie on its head, their players left wondering how the opposing keeper has managed such a string of monumental interventions. Not even Kereselidze, however, can do anything about Ciacci’s scuffed left-footer from an Amati cross, which makes it 1-0 for Bizzotto’s side on 90’+2 and sets up a heart-stopping finale. The miraculous happy ending that would have taken the game to extra time, though, never materialises. Virtus’ second victory in UEFA competitions proves more bitter than many defeats: only the inspired performance of Kereselidze, the Dila Gori goalkeeper, denied San Marino football an unprecedented comeback.

UEFA Conference League, Q1 second leg | Virtus-Dila Gori 1-0

VIRTUS (4-3-3)

Passaniti; Di Pollina, Ciacci, De Lucia (82’ Satalino), Gori (46’ Yahya Rabie); Golinucci, Amati, Buonocunto (82’ Muggeo); Lombardi (71’ Santi), Scappini, Piscitella (71’ Gasperoni)

Subs: Guddo

Coach: Luigi Bizzotto

DILA GORI (4-3-3)

Kereselidze; Sanyang, Kikibidze (62’ Etou), João Araújo, Jalagonia; Anoff, Tall, Menteshashvili (81’ Yarbrough); Nyenete (46’ Gogoberishvili), Shekiladze (46’ Kante), Parulava (70’ Kouakou)

Subs: Sanikidze, Poeketie, Kobakhidze, Museliani, Donkor

Coach: Diamantis Vavalis

Referee: Mervan Bejtullahu (KOS)

Assistants: Edmond Zeqiri (KOS), Fatmir Sekiraqa (KOS)

Fourth official: Lirim Jashar (KOS)

Scorer: 90’+2 Ciacci

Booked: Anoff, Gori, Jalagonia, Muggeo, Ciacci

Sent off: Anoff (second yellow card)

Attendance: 288