Arda vs Kauno Zalgiris: Resumen

PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali welcomed FK Kauno Žalgiris to the Arena Arda Stadium for the crucial second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie. Following a 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Lithuania, the Bulgarian side faced an uphill battle to overturn the deficit and keep their European dreams alive.

On a warm August evening in Kardzhali, the atmosphere was electric as local supporters packed the 11,114-capacity venue, creating a cauldron of noise to inspire their team. Manager Alexander Tunchev opted for an aggressive lineup, with Félix Eboa leading the attack, supported by the creative talents of Viacheslav Veliev and Birsent Karagaren.

The match began with intense pressure from the home side, desperate to level the aggregate score. However, Žalgiris, under coach Eivinas Černiauskas, displayed remarkable resilience, with goalkeeper Tomas Švedkauskas making several crucial saves to maintain their advantage. The Lithuanian side's disciplined defensive approach frustrated Arda throughout the first half, despite the hosts dominating possession.

After the break, the game opened up as Arda pushed forward with increasing urgency. Their persistence was rewarded in the 67th minute when Serkan Yusein found the net with a powerful strike from outside the box, sending the home crowd into raptures. The Bulgarian side continued to press for the decisive goal that would send them through, but Žalgiris remained dangerous on the counter-attack through the pace of Fabien Ourega.

As the match entered its final stages, tension mounted with both teams knowing a single moment could determine their European fate. In a dramatic conclusion, Žalgiris defended heroically to protect their aggregate lead, with Nosa Edokpolor making a goal-line clearance in the dying minutes.

This crucial UEFA Europa Conference League encounter showcased the fine margins in European competition, with both PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali and FK Kauno Žalgiris demonstrating why they had reached this stage of the tournament.

"We showed tremendous character tonight against a very organized Žalgiris side. The support from our fans was incredible and pushed us to fight until the final whistle. Unfortunately, we couldn't find that second goal to progress, but I'm proud of how we performed in European competition this season," reflected Aleksander Tunchev, Arda's coach after the final whistle.

"Our defensive organization was the key tonight. We knew Arda would come at us with everything, especially in front of their passionate supporters. The players executed our plan perfectly and showed great mental strength to withstand the pressure," said Eivinas Černiauskas, visibly pleased with his team's resilience.

"The atmosphere was incredible, and we gave everything to turn this tie around. We're disappointed not to progress further in Europe, but we'll take the positives from this experience and focus on domestic success," commented Arda midfielder Viacheslav Veliev, who delivered an impressive performance.

"This is a historic moment for our club. To advance in European competition against such a quality opponent shows how far we've come. Our defensive solidarity was exceptional, and we always believed we could progress," stated Žalgiris defender Nosa Edokpolor, whose last-minute clearance proved crucial.

"The difference between success and failure in these European ties is minimal. Arda showed their quality tonight, but Žalgiris defended admirably and took advantage of their first-leg victory," analyzed Bulgarian football expert Ivan Stoichkov in his post-match assessment.

Possession: PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali dominated with 62% compared to FK Kauno Žalgiris' 38%, reflecting the home side's control throughout much of the match.

Shots: The Bulgarian side registered 16 attempts with 7 on target, while the visitors managed just 6 shots with 2 testing Anatoliy Gospodinov in the Arda goal.

Corners: Arda's offensive pressure resulted in 9 corner kicks, compared to Žalgiris' 3, highlighting the territorial advantage enjoyed by the home team.

Cards: The high-stakes nature of the match was evident in the disciplinary record, with Arda receiving 3 yellow cards (Georgi Nikolov, Dimitar Velkovski, and Cəlal Hüseynov) while Žalgiris collected 4 (Haymenn Bah-Traore, Devine Naah, Gratas Sirgėdas, and Amine Benchaib).

Key Player Performances:

• Serkan Yusein (Arda): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 91% pass completion
• Tomas Švedkauskas (Žalgiris): 6 saves, including 2 classified as exceptional
• Félix Eboa (Arda): 5 shots, 3 on target, 7 successful dribbles
• Nosa Edokpolor (Žalgiris): 9 clearances, 4 interceptions, 1 goal-line clearance

Team Comparisons:

• Passing accuracy: Arda (85%) vs. Žalgiris (76%)
• Successful tackles: Arda (14) vs. Žalgiris (21)
• Distance covered: Arda (108.6 km) vs. Žalgiris (112.3 km)

These UEFA Europa Conference League statistics demonstrate how PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali controlled possession and created more chances, while FK Kauno Žalgiris displayed defensive resilience and tactical discipline to preserve their aggregate advantage.

17': First significant chance of the match as Félix Eboa's powerful header from Lachezar Kotev's cross forced a spectacular save from Tomas Švedkauskas, setting the tone for the goalkeeper's impressive performance.

32': Yellow card for Žalgiris midfielder Haymenn Bah-Traore after a tactical foul on Viacheslav Veliev, who was breaking dangerously toward the Lithuanian side's penalty area.

45+2': Half-time whistle with the score still 0-0, leaving Arda needing at least two goals in the second half to overturn the first-leg deficit.

52': Tactical substitution by Arda coach Aleksander Tunchev, introducing an additional attacking player to increase offensive pressure, shifting from a 4-3-3 to a more aggressive 3-4-3 formation.

67': GOAL! Serkan Yusein breaks the deadlock with a powerful strike from 20 yards after a clever layoff from Birsent Karagaren, giving Arda a 1-0 lead on the night but still trailing 1-1 on aggregate.

73': Žalgiris responds with a dangerous counter-attack, with Fabien Ourega's shot striking the post after a rapid break, nearly silencing the home crowd.

88': Dramatic moment as Nosa Edokpolor makes a crucial goal-line clearance to deny what seemed a certain equalizer from Félix Eboa's close-range effort.

90+5': Final whistle blows with Arda winning 1-0 on the night but Žalgiris progressing to the next round on away goals after a 1-1 aggregate score.

This UEFA Europa Conference League chronicle captured the ebb and flow of a tense encounter between PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali and FK Kauno Žalgiris, with the Lithuanian side's defensive resilience ultimately proving decisive in the tie.

This UEFA Europa Conference League encounter marked just the second-ever meeting between PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali and FK Kauno Žalgiris, with their only previous confrontation coming in the first leg in Lithuania on August 7, 2025. That match resulted in a 1-0 victory for the Lithuanian side, giving them the advantage they successfully defended in Kardzhali.

Across the two matches, several key individual battles proved decisive in determining the outcome of this qualifying round tie:

Félix Eboa vs. Nosa Edokpolor: Arda's primary attacking threat found himself constantly challenged by Žalgiris' resolute defender. While Eboa created numerous opportunities across both legs, Edokpolor's exceptional defensive performance, culminating in his crucial goal-line clearance in the return fixture, ultimately proved the difference.

Viacheslav Veliev vs. Devine Naah: The midfield battle between Arda's creative force and Žalgiris' defensive midfielder showcased contrasting styles. Veliev's technical ability and vision posed constant problems, but Naah's physical presence and tactical discipline helped the Lithuanian side maintain their defensive shape.

Anatoliy Gospodinov vs. Tomas Švedkauskas: The goalkeeping duel across both legs saw Švedkauskas emerge as the more influential figure, with his six saves in the second leg proving crucial to Žalgiris' progression.

Statistically, the tie was remarkably balanced despite contrasting approaches: Arda dominated possession in both matches (58% in Lithuania, 62% in Bulgaria) but struggled to convert chances, while Žalgiris demonstrated clinical efficiency and defensive solidity.

This PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali versus FK Kauno Žalgiris confrontation, though brief in history, provided a fascinating tactical battle between Bulgarian attacking flair and Lithuanian organizational discipline, with the latter ultimately prevailing over 180 minutes of competitive European football.

Following this UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying round result, both teams return to their respective domestic competitions with contrasting emotions but similar league positions.

PFK Arda 1924 Kardzhali currently sits 8th in Bulgaria's Parva Liga after a mixed start to their domestic campaign. Their recent 0-0 draw against Lokomotiv Plovdiv highlighted some of the offensive challenges that were also evident in this European fixture. Despite the disappointment of European elimination, Aleksander Tunchev's side remains within striking distance of the European qualification spots in the Bulgarian top flight, just six points behind the third-placed team with plenty of matches remaining.

FK Kauno Žalgiris occupies 23rd position in their qualifying path of the UEFA Europa Conference League, with this victory securing their progression to the playoff round where they'll face stiffer competition from more established European sides. In Lithuania's A Lyga, they continue to challenge for domestic honors, currently positioned in the top three and maintaining a serious challenge for Champions League qualification next season.

For Arda, focus now shifts entirely to improving their Parva Liga position and potentially challenging for domestic cup success as their European adventure ends. Meanwhile, Žalgiris will need to balance their continued European campaign with domestic ambitions, with the Lithuanian side now just two rounds away from the Conference League group stage – an achievement that would represent a historic milestone for the club.

Both teams' performances in this tie demonstrate the competitive nature of this season's UEFA Europa Conference League, with fine margins deciding who advances in the competition.