This Thursday, the Inver Reds are set to take on Kosovan side FC Prishtina in the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round First Leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
The game comes after the Inver Reds progressed with a penalty shootout victory over Latvian side FK Auda last week.
Following a 0-0 draw in Ballymena, last Wednesday’s second leg saw the Invermen twice come from behind to force the game to penalties with goals from Conor McKendry and Paul O’Neill.
Having scored all four of our spot kicks, a save from Rohan Ferguson, and the help of the woodwork, all saw Nathan Rooney’s side progress over our Latvian opposition.
We are now set to face the Kosovan opposition for the third consecutive season, starting with Thursday’s first leg at the Ballymena Showgrounds.
Having faced FC Ballkani in the previous two seasons, we are now set to take on FC Prishtina in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League.
With 11 Kosovan Superleague titles, 9 Kosovar Cups and 11 Kosovar Supercups, FC Pristinha are currently the most successful side in the nation’s history and are playing in European competition for the first time since the 2021/22 campaign.
With the Kosovan outfit sharing the same domestic calendar as ourselves, FC Prishtina finished sixth in their league, 26 points off the league leaders and 14 behind FC Ballkani in second.
However, it is in cup competitions that the side has performed best. In January, they beat FC Ballkani 2-1 to win the Kosovar Supercup before securing a 1-0 win over Llapi in the Kosovar Cup Final in May.
Albin Krasniqi’s strike sealed the narrow win for the side, with the victory sealing their spot in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers this summer.
They were dealt a difficult draw in the first round, losing 5-2 on aggregate against Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol, despite a 2-1 second-leg win with goals from Hamdi Namani and Rin Ahmeti.
Amongst their ranks, the Kosovar Cup champions have a handful of standout players such as leading scorer Leutrim Kryeziu who has scored a team-high 10 goals last season and provides their main threat going forward.
Meanwhile, teammate Valmir Veliu provides a creative threat from the wing, having signed for the club at the beginning of July.
The Kosovan international made his debut for the club in their UEFA Europa League tie against Sheriff and has previously plied his trade in Turkey for the likes of Gazantiep and Istanbulspor.
At the other end of the pitch Ron Raçi is a young centre back who joined the club last summer and has become a star player for the side.
Described as “one of the most exciting centre‑back prospects in the Balkans,” Raçi made his international debut for Kosovo back in June in a 4-2 win over Comoros.
Tickets are on sale now for Thursday’s first leg against FC Prishtina at the Ballymena Showgrounds. Click here to get yours now.
