FCI Levadia progressed to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League in emphatic fashion after defeating Welsh side Caernarfon Town 5-0 at A. Le Coq Arena, completing a remarkable 10-0 aggregate victory.
Having already won the first leg in Wales by the same scoreline, Levadia entered the return match with the tie effectively decided. Nevertheless, the Estonian champions showed no intention of easing off and produced another dominant attacking display, setting a new club record for their largest aggregate victory in European competition.
The previous benchmark had stood for 12 years, when Levadia defeated San Marino club La Fiorita 8-0 on aggregate in UEFA Champions League qualifying. That record was surpassed comfortably as the Tallinn side scored five more unanswered goals in front of 1,082 spectators.
Levadia took the lead after only four minutes through Enock Otoo, who collected the ball on the right side of the penalty area, sent his defender the wrong way with a clever body feint and curled a fine finish into the far corner.
The hosts continued to control possession and dictate the tempo, with Caernarfon forced to defend deep for long periods. The second goal arrived after a mistake from visiting goalkeeper Connor Roberts, whose poor pass was intercepted by Bubacarr Tambedou. The forward quickly released Wendell, who calmly lifted the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
Levadia added a third before the break after Wendell was brought down inside the penalty area. João Pedro stepped up and sent Roberts the wrong way from the spot, leaving the hosts 3-0 ahead on the night and 8-0 in front on aggregate after only 33 minutes.
The Estonian league leaders remained in complete control after half-time, although head coach Zahovaiko used the comfortable position to rotate heavily. Five substitutions were made at once in the 66th minute, with several key players given a rest and young Estonians Gregor Lehtmets and Hubert Liiv handed their European debuts.
The changes did little to reduce Levadia’s attacking threat. Caernarfon lost possession near their own penalty area, allowing Lehtmets to find Tambedou, who finished confidently to make it 4-0.
Mihkel Ainsalu completed the rout in the closing stages after being set up by Mark Oliver Roosnupp. The midfielder curled a left-footed strike from outside the penalty area into the far corner.
Caernarfon created little across the two legs and never seriously threatened to make the tie competitive. Levadia, by contrast, scored ten times without reply and advanced with one of the most dominant European results in the club’s history.
Their reward is a considerably more difficult second-round meeting with Swedish side IFK Göteborg, who finished fourth in the Allsvenskan last season.
FCI Levadia vs Caernarfon Town – 5-0 (3-0) – 10-0 on aggregate
Goals: Otoo 4′, Wendell 20′, Joao Pedro 33′ (Penalty kick), Tambedou 70′, Ainsalu 89′
