ML Vitebsk 2–1 Borac Banja Luka | Europa Conference League | 13 August 2026

Second Leg — ML Vitebsk Progress on Aggregate

In a remarkable second leg that defied all expectations of tempo and drama, ML Vitebsk secured their Europa Conference League progression with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Borac Banja Luka. The match, played on 13 August 2026, stretched all the way to the final moments of extra time, with Artem Kontsevoy's 120+5' winner ultimately settling the tie in the Belarusian side's favour.

Match Analysis

If ever a match deserved the label "relentless," this was it. The opening minutes were nothing short of extraordinary — four goals arrived within the first eight minutes. Zakhar Volkov opened the scoring almost immediately in the 1st minute, only for Stojan Vranješ to equalise for Borac just sixty seconds later. Artem Kontsevoy then restored Vitebsk's lead in the 3rd minute, but Borac mounted a stunning response through Amer Hiroš (4') and Matej Deket (6'), before Sebastián Herrera Cardona added a fourth in the 8th minute, turning the match on its head.

After that breathless opening, the game settled and Vitebsk were forced to chase the tie. Denilho Cleonise, assisted by Zakhar Volkov, pulled one back just before half-time in 45+1', giving Igor Ryabov's side a platform to build on. That goal proved pivotal in keeping Vitebsk's aggregate hopes alive heading into the second half.

The match remained finely balanced through the second half and into extra time. Vinko Marinović's Borac side made use of their substitution options, with Matej Deket — introduced in the 91st minute — making an immediate impact by scoring in the 103rd minute, assisted by Amer Hiroš, to seemingly put Borac in the driving seat once more.

Yet Vitebsk refused to be denied. Deep into stoppage time of extra time, Artem Kontsevoy produced the decisive moment in the 120+5' minute, sealing a 2–1 win on the night and completing a dramatic progression. The statistics underlined Vitebsk's dominance in terms of attacking intent: 100 dangerous attacks to Borac's 48, and 53% ball possession to Borac's 47%. Vitebsk also edged the shots on target count, recording 6 to Borac's 4.

The disciplinary picture was busy without being explosive. Five Borac players were cautioned — Viktor Rogan, Amer Hiroš, Bart Meijers, Nemanja Jakšić, and Damir Hrelja — while Vitebsk picked up bookings for Aleksandar Mesarović and Valeri Bocherov.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast leaned marginally toward a Borac Banja Luka win (39%), with a draw considered at 26% and a Vitebsk win at 35%. The final result — a Vitebsk victory — was our least favoured outcome, and the prediction was marked incorrect. A low confidence rating of 46/100 reflected genuine uncertainty about this tie, which proved well-founded given the extraordinary twists across 125 minutes of football. Predicting the direction of such a volatile, high-intensity contest was always going to be hazardous.

Key Takeaways

• Artem Kontsevoy was the defining figure, scoring both Vitebsk goals in the 3rd minute and deep in extra time — a player who delivered when it mattered most.
• Denilho Cleonise's 45+1' goal was arguably the turning point, keeping Vitebsk in the tie heading into the interval.
• Vitebsk's attacking volume — 147 attacks, 100 dangerous — illustrated their determination to control the tie despite conceding early.
• Borac's late