Apollon Limassol edged past Brann 1-0 in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League at Brann's ground on Tuesday evening. The Cypriot side took all three points thanks to a single goal, and the result sends them through to the next stage while Brann's continental campaign comes to an end.
A. Ozbolt settled the match early, finding the net in the twenty-second minute. It was the only chance that mattered, and the away side never looked back after that. Apollon held their nerve when Brann pushed for an equaliser, and by then the visitors had turned it on defensively.
Discipline became a factor in the second half. Ozbolt picked up a yellow card just before the break, and N. Castro followed suit five minutes into the half. P. Kuhn was cautioned later on, while K. Eriksen received his booking in stoppage time. Apollon made three changes — Konomis, Weissbeck and Gudmundsson — while Brann brought on Ingason, Thomas, Escriche and Gudmundsson, though the substitutions came too late to shift the outcome.
The statistics tell the story of a one-sided afternoon, even if the scoreline was narrow. Brann dominated possession at 56 per cent for Apollon, but they managed only one shot on target from 113 attacks. Apollon were more efficient, registering three shots on target from 79 attacks. The hosts had seven corners to four, but corners don't win matches.
Brann came into this tie with momentum, having won their last two European qualifiers and drawn one. Apollon were on a run of four wins in their previous five matches. This result extended Apollon's unbeaten sequence and ended Brann's recent positive streak. The away end never stopped, and the visitors now hold the tie in their own hands for the return leg.