KF Shkëndija edged past Europa FC 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier, settling the tie with a late strike from Vane Krstevski. The match was a tight affair, with neither side able to find a breakthrough until the closing stages.
The only goal arrived in the 86th minute when Krstevski found the net to give the home side the lead. The game had been goalless before that, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. Endrit Krasniqi and Aleksander Trumci were booked for Shkëndija, while Europa's Borja Fernández also saw yellow in stoppage time.
Krstevski was the match-winner, scoring the decisive goal with just four minutes of normal time remaining. The result gives Shkëndija a narrow advantage heading into the second leg, though Europa will feel they can overturn the deficit on home soil.
