In the UEFA Europa Conference League game on 20 August 2026, Dinamo Tirana beat Pafos FC 1:1. Match numbers: corners 3:1, fouls 14:12.
Match report
Penalty misses and late drama as Dinamo Tirana and Paphos share points
Dinamo Tirana and Paphos played out a 1-1 draw in the Conference League playoff round at Elbasan Arena on Wednesday night. The hosts took the lead through D. Fadairo before Lele struck from the spot to salvage a point for the Cypriots. We had backed Paphos to win — 48 per cent confidence — but the match went another way entirely.
What stands out is what Paphos missed before they scored. David Luiz had two penalties saved in consecutive minutes, 37 and 38, and was substituted at half-time. That was a costly spell. By then Dinamo had already seen Domingos Quina booked for the challenge, but the visitors paid for sloppy finishing. The captain dragged his side through it after that, though he could not find the net himself.
Dinamo took advantage of the pressure. Fadairo found space in the box and finished coolly in the 79th minute. Paphos responded when Lele stepped up for a penalty, converting in the 82nd minute after a trip inside the area. The visitors switched to a back three to see it out, but Dinamo never looked like surrendering their share of the spoils.
The statistics tell a story of possession without penetration. Paphos held 54 per cent of the ball and registered six shots off target alongside four on target. Dinamo, with 46 per cent possession, were sharper — four shots on target from two attempts wide. The visitors had more attacks overall, 102 to 123, but the extra pressure told against them.
A draw keeps both sides in contention for the next round. Dinamo enter with momentum from four wins in their last five matches, while Paphos come off a mixed run including that 3-3 draw with Salzburg. The table goes out of the window in these games, but the result means neither side has lost ground tonight.
Prepared from match data
Key numbers
Possession, %46–54
Shots on target4–4
Shots off target2–6
Attacks123–102
HT🟨19' Lelê — Yellow card🟨30' Malomo Taofeek Ayodeji — Yellow card✗37' David Luiz — Penalty missed✗38' David Luiz — Penalty missed🟨39' Domingos Quina — Yellow card⇄46' David Luiz — Substitution⇄57' I. Sunjic — Substitution⇄57' D. Quina — Substitution⇄57' N. Moumi Ngamaleu — Substitution⇄76' M. Ayodeji — Substitution⇄76' E. Qardaku — Substitution⇄76' K. Qefalija — Substitution⇄76' H. Berisha — Substitution⚽79' D. Fadairo — Goal🟨81' Aldo Teqja — Yellow card🟨81' Bruno Dita — Yellow card⚽82' Lele — Penalty🟨85' Lorenco Vila — Yellow card🟨86' L. Vila — Yellow card⇄88' Lele — Substitution⇄90' U. Ismaili — Substitution
L23 Aug · Home Vora · 0:1L27 Aug · Away Pafos FC · 2:4W31 Aug · Away Skenderbeu Korce · 1:0W6 Sep · Home AF Elbasani · 2:1W12 Sep · Away Partizani · 4:2W19 Sep · Home Laci · 3:1
