Dinamo Tbilisi
Tbilisi’s Penalty Redemption After Late Drama
Dinamo Tbilisi scraped past Luxembourg’s US Mondorf-les-bains 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in their UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round tie, Nika Ninua burying the decisive spot-kick after an astonishing 111th-minute equaliser had saved Georgian blushes.
Mondorf’s Shock Lead After Bah’s Penalty Miss
The Boris Paichadze Stadium gasped in the 65th minute as Albanian striker Albi Bah blazed Tbilisi’s penalty over the bar, the home side’s profligacy punished brutally when Mondorf’s Camille Couturier pounced on a defensive error to slot home with just four minutes of normal time remaining. The Luxembourgers, who had barely threatened all night, suddenly had one foot in the next round.
Ninua’s Nerve Rescues Tbilisi
But just as the visitors’ historic upset seemed certain, Ninua – brought on moments earlier – converted a controversial 111th-minute penalty after a clumsy tackle by Arvin Knoepffler, the defender earning a yellow card as Mondorf’s bench erupted in fury. The Georgian international kept his composure amid bedlam before Tbilisi’s goalkeeping heroics in the shootout sparked pandemonium.
What This Means For Both Sides
For Tbilisi, relief as much as joy – surviving against Luxembourg’s sixth-best team despite 64% possession and 18 shots. For Mondorf, agonising ‘what ifs’ after coming within moments of their greatest European result. The Georgians progress to face Austria’s Wolfsberger AC, their continental adventure alive by the finest of margins.
Key Moments
86′ ⚽ US Mondorf-les-bains — C. Couturier (assist: M. Kirch)
111′ ⚽ Dinamo Tbilisi — N. Ninua🔮 Before kick-off: our match preview & prediction.
