Mitrovica and Metalist 1925 played out a 0:0 draw in the Women's Champions League first qualifying round semi-finals on Wednesday. The match at the 26th of August ended without a single goal despite both sides having opportunities to break the deadlock. To be fair, neither team could find a decisive moment in an even contest.
By then it was clear this would be a tight affair from the first whistle. Mitrovica came into the game with mixed recent form, having beaten Ferencváros 2:1 but also suffering heavy defeats against Brann and Ludogorets. Metalist 1925 showed more resilience with victories over TSK and India, though they had lost to Fenerbahçe and PSV.
The first yellow card came in the 48th minute when E. Emerllahu was booked. Mitrovica made changes through the match, bringing on D. Apanaschenko in the 60th minute and E. Kryeziu shortly after. By then the game had settled into a cautious pattern where neither side wanted to take unnecessary risks.
B. Mahmuti received a yellow card in the 74th minute, adding to the tension as the match approached its final stages. Mitrovica brought on B. Shala in the 85th minute while Metalist 1925 responded with two substitutions in stoppage time — T. Khimich and G. Berisha both came on in the 90+1 minute. M. Ivanchenko was shown a yellow card five minutes into added time.
The draw means both teams advance to the final qualifying round, though neither side can claim they dominated the encounter. Mitrovica will take confidence from their recent 10:0 victory over Zimbru Chișinău, but Wednesday's result shows they still have work to do. Metalist 1925 held their ground against a side that had shown attacking firepower in previous matches.