Inter d'Escaldes Defend 2-0 Lead vs Flora Tallinn in Conference League Play-Offs

Inter Club d'Escaldes crushed Flora Tallinn 4-0 away in Tallinn's Lilleküla Stadium, sealing a 6-0 aggregate win in the UEFA Conference League play-offs and becoming the first Andorran club to advance to the final qualifying round through victory.

Under coach Felip Ortiz, the Andorran champions extended their 2-0 first-leg lead from Encamp with a commanding display against the Estonian titleholders. Flora applied early pressure, as Alamaa headed toward goal in the 8th minute—cleared by Anwar Hernández—and Javi Díaz parried a shot from Zenjov after he evaded Jilmar Torres. Inter responded swiftly in the 17th minute: Mauricio Pochettino delivered a cross, Domi Berlanga backheeled it, Kollo inadvertently deflected, and Pablo Molina—known as "Modric"—struck from the edge of the box for 1-0.

Flora created further opportunities before the break, but Javi Díaz held a Kolobov header from a corner, Álex Sánchez blocked a Varjund attempt off an Alamaa flick-on, a Sappinen effort flew low, and Zenjov's lob drifted wide. Inter remained disciplined defensively before exploiting Flora's forward pushes after halftime.

Soule Sidibé threaded a pass from David López to Faysal Chouaib for 2-0 in the 69th minute; the Malian beat Evert Grünvald with a low cross finish. Substitute Borja Arellano made it 3-0 in the 77th, latching onto López's long ball, rounding his man, and firing across goal. Chouaib netted his second in the 81st, tapping in after Grünvald spilled a Sidibé shot.

Flora pressed late to no avail, with Javi Díaz saving from Sappinen and Usta missing off an Antonov layoff. Ortiz hailed his squad post-match: "Very happy because the club is doing things very well, but this win belongs to the players. I want to thank them all for what they've done, and now there's just one tie left to make full history. This thrashing comes from our bravery."

The result equals FC Santa Coloma's 4-0 away win over Mons Calpe two seasons ago. Inter now face Kosovo's Drita, who ousted San Marino's Tre Fiori (4-1 first leg), in the final play-offs. The away leg in Kosovo is scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday, pending official confirmation, with the return at home two weeks later.

Match details

Flora Tallinn 0-4 Inter Club d'Escaldes

Goals: Pablo Molina (17'), Faysal Chouaib (69', 81'), Borja Arellano (77').

Flora Tallinn: Grünvald; Kuraksin (Pihela 82'/84'), Kolobov, Kollo, Tovstik (Usta 66'), Kreida (Antonov 74'/75'), Alliku (Teevali 82'/85'), Varjund (Kalimullin 74'/75'), Alamaa, Sappinen, Zenjov. Coach: Konstantin Vassiljev.

Inter Club d'Escaldes: Javi Díaz; Pochettino, Anwar Hernández, Álex Sánchez, Jilmar Torres; Otegui, David López (Víctor Alonso 81'), Pablo Molina (Lamine Diaby 81'), Domi Berlanga (Borja Arellano 57'/58'), Soule Sidibé (Dacu 81'/84'), Faysal Chouaib (Marc Rodríguez 84'/85'). Coach: Felip Ortiz.

Referee: Pavle Ilić (Serbia), VAR: Aleksandar Živković. Yellow cards: Kolobov (32'), Kollo (36'), Zenjov (55'), Alamaa (76') for Flora; Berlanga (8'), Pochettino (20') for Inter. Attendance: 2,253/2,283.