Hamrun Spartans suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok in a match from match day 1 of the UEFA Conference League league phase at the at the Stadion Miejski w Białymstoku in Bialystok on Thursday.

It was a good performance by Giacomo Modica’s side who never looked inferior to their opponents, especially during the first half. The hosts managed to take the lead early in the second half and to make matters worse for Hamrun, Joseph Mbong was sent off. 

The Spartans looked quite confident in the opening minutes and Saliou Thioune tried his luck with a low shot from outside the area which was saved by the Jagoellonia goalkeeper on 9 minutes. On 17 minutes, Thioune served N’Dri Kofffi on the right but the patter’s angled shot scraped past the post. Jagiellonia replied with a Pululu effort which was blocked by Bonello hardly a minute later. 

Vital went close with a header for Jgiellonia off a corner from the left by Wdowik on. 29 minutes.  Four minutes later, Hamrun threatened with a fine Ante Coric effort which was neutralised by turned into a corner in style by Abramowicz. 

Jagiellonia through they had taken the lead on 38 minutes when off a cross from the left, Flach  and Camenzuli rose for the ball which reached Pull who served  Jesus Imaz and the Spanish forward slotted the ball past Henry Bonello. However the goal was disallowed following VAR check as Pululu had pushed Polito inside the area. 

Four minutes in the second half, Pululu had a goal disallowed for a clear offside position.

However on 57 minutes, Jagiellonia were not to be denied when Pululu served Jesus Imaz and the latter beat Bonello with a well placed shot from a central position just outside the area. 

Hamrun had a good opportunity to equalise on 58 minutes with a cross from the right by Koffi but there was no one to connect.

The Spartans were reduced to ten men on 61 minutes as Joseph Mbong was sent off for a foul on Taras Romanczuk.

N’Dri Koffi went close to equalising on 73 minutes with a close range effort which was blocked by a defender. A minute later, Vincenzo Polito came to the rescue for Hamrun, anticipating Pululu who was about to hit past Bonello.

Ten minutes from time, Oskar Pietuszewski for Dušan Stojinović blcked by Bjelicic into a corner and after Hamrun had appeals for a penalty after Stijn Meijer seemed to have been brought down inside the area turned down by the referee, Jagiellonia threatened once again in the dying minutes but Taras Romanczuk and Dimitris Rallis had close-range efforts neutralised by Bonello. 

Jagiellonia Sławomir Abramowicz, Dušan Stojinović, Taras Romanczuk, Alejandro Pozo (76′ Louka Prip), Afimico Pululu (85′ Dimitris Rallis), Jesús Imaz (85′ Dawid Drachal), Bernardo Vital, Norbert Wojtuszek, Bartłomiej Wdowik, Leon Flach (66′ Sergio Lozano), Oskar Pietuszewski. 

Hamrun Henry Bonello, Rafael Compri, Saliou Thioune (76′ Stijn Meijer), Joseph Mbong, Vincenzo Polito, N’Dri Koffi (76′ Semir Smailagic), Ante Coric, Eder (76′ Mouad El Fanis), Ognjen Bjelicic, Domantas Simkus (66′ Jovan Cadjenovic), Ryan Camenzuli.

Referee: Igor Stojchevski MKD
Assistant referees: Goce Petreski MKD, Darko Vidinic MKD
Fourth official:  Fatmir Bafto MKD
Video Assistant Referee: Erwin Blank NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Richard Martens NED