Estonian champions FCI Levadia have progressed to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League after a dramatic two-legged clash against Georgian champions Iberia 1999, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory. The second leg ended 2-2 after extra time, with substitute Robert Kirss emerging as the hero by scoring the match-winning goal in the 109th minute.
In the first leg last week, held at A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Levadia claimed a narrow 1-0 win thanks to an 80th-minute strike from Ernest Agyiri – their first victory in European competition this season. Heading into the return leg at the 27,000-seater Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, where the temperature soared to 36°C, Levadia needed at least a draw in regular time to advance.
Both teams came into the match fresh, having skipped their domestic weekend fixtures. Levadia head coach Curro Torres made two changes to his starting lineup: captain Rasmus Peetson returned to central defense alongside Nigerian Victory Iboro, replacing Tanel Tammik, while Mark Roosnupp started up front in place of Bubacarr Tambedou.
The opening minutes saw pressure from both sides. Iberia created the first real chance, Dzagania hitting the post with a clever backheel from a corner. Levadia responded through Agyiri, but his curling corner was safely caught by Makaridze.
Levadia’s defense was tested several times, with goalkeeper Karl Andre Vallner making crucial saves, including a reaction stop from close range against Goshteliani. The home side finally broke through in the 40th minute when left-back Tabatadze delivered a pinpoint cross that deflected in off Goshteliani, leveling the aggregate score at 1–1.
After halftime, Curro Torres introduced his son Carlos, who turned out to be the game-changer. Just three minutes into the second half, he latched onto a pass from Tur and fired a low shot past Makaridze, putting Levadia ahead again on aggregate.
The Georgians were relentless. Captain Tabatadze led the charge, and after several missed chances and physical battles, Iberia equalized once more in the 87th minute. Tabatadze found Agyakwa with a precise cross, and the defender despite the contact with the goalkeeper finished coolly with his head to make it 2-1 on the night, 2-2 on aggregate.
With both teams unable to find a winner in regular time, the match went to extra time. Despite Iberia’s efforts, their energy began to fade. Levadia, on the other hand, looked fresher and more composed.
The decisive moment came in the 112th minute. After a clever move by Alexandre on the wing, his cross found Robert Kirss, who made no mistake and buried the ball into the net, putting Levadia 3–2 up on aggregate.
Vallner, who had been outstanding all match, continued to deny Iberia’s desperate attempts, including a crucial one-on-one save from Vrbanec. He was later booked for time-wasting, but it was a small price to pay.
As Iberia’s final free kick failed and even their goalkeeper couldn’t make the difference in the dying seconds, the whistle blew — and with it, Levadia’s dream lived on.
With this victory, FCI Levadia advance to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The pressure-filled night in Tbilisi brings them one step closer to the main stages of a European competition – a dream that remains alive for club owner Viktor Levada.
Later tonight, they will find out their next opponents – either Welsh champions The New Saints or Luxembourg’s Differdange, with Differdange holding a 1–0 lead from the first leg away.
Iberia 1999 vs FCI Levadia – 2:2 (1:0) After extra time.
Goals: Goshteliani 40’ Agyakwa 87’ | Torres 48’ Kirss 109’
IBE: Makaridze, Zohouri (Kvartskhava 73’), Agyakwa, Jgerenaia, Tabatadze, Kardava (Vrbanec 90+6’), Goshteliani (Sikharulidze 73’), Dadiani (Klas 62’), Silagadze, Dzagania (Rusevic 62’), Tabatadze (Amisulashvili 102’)
LEV: Vallner, Tur, Peetson (Tammik 71’), Iboro, Schjonning-Larsen, Ainsalu (Kirss 82’), Mavretic (Alexandre 66’), Joao Pedro (Zakarlyuka 106’), Agyiri (Torres 46’), Musaba, Roosnupp (Tambedou 66’)
