Levadia stun top Swedish side IFK Göteborg in UEFA Conference League away win
Estonian Meistriliiga side FCI Levadia shocked Swedish Allsvenskan giants IFK Göteborg with a 2-1 away victory in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round.
Shock victory on the road
Last season's Estonian league runners-up, FCI Levadia, pulled off a stunning upset on Tuesday, beating 18-time Swedish champions IFK Göteborg 2-1 away in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round. Göteborg finished fourth in the Allsvenskan last season.
Clinical finishing
The hosts failed to capitalize on their first-half chances, while Levadia struck twice with efficiency. In the 33rd minute, Gambian midfielder Bubacarr Tambedou won a duel down the left flank, setting up a two-on-one attack which Brazilian striker Wendell finished. Wendell made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, cutting onto his left foot at the edge of the penalty area and firing a low shot inside the near post.
Pressure and resilience
Göteborg increased the tempo in the second half. Shortly after the break, striker Adam Bergmark-Wiberg headed a cross against the post, forcing Levadia goalkeeper Karl Andre Vallner to scramble. Levadia coped well with the pressure and even had chances to add a third. Mihkel Ainsalu's shot was blocked, and the home keeper denied Joao Pedro's close-range header. Levadia were also unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when a Frank Liivak cross struck a defender's hand.
Dramatic finish
It looked like Levadia would keep a clean sheet, but in the second minute of stoppage time, Abraham Nwankwo turned a low cross from the left into his own net to make it 2-1. There was further drama as Göteborg captain August Erlingmark was sent off with a red card deep into stoppage time.
The second leg takes place in Tallinn on Thursday, July 30, with Levadia holding a one-goal lead and two away goals.
