Drita and Escaldes Share Spoils in Tense Playoff Battle

FC Drita started with real intent, racing into an early lead through Halil Salihu in the fourth minute. The home side looked sharp in the opening exchanges, but Inter Club d'Escaldes refused to be overrun. Diego Berlanga equalised nine minutes later to settle the Andorran visitors, and the match quickly became a competitive affair with both teams trading chances.

Salihu's early strike set the tone, but Berlanga's response showed Escaldes had come to compete. Blerim Krasniqi restored Drita's lead just before half-time with a 42nd-minute goal, sending the hosts in front at the interval. Diego López's 56th-minute equaliser for Escaldes meant neither side could establish lasting control, and the match remained tightly balanced throughout.

The second half brought a shift in momentum. Escaldes grew into the game after López's leveller, pressing higher and forcing Drita into deeper defensive positions. Neither team could find the decisive breakthrough, however, and both sides seemed content to preserve their chances for what appeared certain to come next. Escaldes' willingness to engage in an open game rather than sit deep suggested confidence in their ability to progress, yet Drita's home advantage never quite translated into sustained pressure.

Discipline became a factor as the match wore on. Escaldes accumulated five yellow cards across the ninety minutes, with Soule, Agustín Hernández, Juan Torres, Javier Díaz and Agustín Otegui all cautioned. Drita's two bookings for Arianit Bytyçi and Ismail Jashari seemed to reflect their greater restraint, but the visitors' accumulated cautions never tipped into a red card despite the match's competitive edge. Both teams managed the closing stages without escalating tension into outright hostility.

The 2-2 draw leaves everything undecided as the tie moves toward its second leg. Neither side can claim superiority from this encounter, and both will view their chances as genuine. For Drita, the failure to hold their advantages will sting, while Escaldes can take encouragement from their ability to respond twice and avoid defeat on the road.