TIRANA (Interstat) — Dinamo City erased an early deficit and defeated Egnatia 2-1 on Sunday in a global football match, using goals from Lorenco Vila and Klevi Qefalija to secure its first win in the competition this season. Egnatia had taken the lead inside two minutes through Altin Kryeziu, but Dinamo City answered before halftime and held the advantage through a tense second half. The home side’s victory came after it trailed early and then produced the decisive response before the interval.

Egnatia began with the early breakthrough when Kryeziu scored in the second minute. The visitors’ lead lasted until the 33rd minute, when Vila leveled for Dinamo City. Four minutes later, Qefalija put Dinamo City ahead with what proved to be the decisive goal. The quick turnaround gave the home side a 2-1 lead at the break and forced Egnatia to chase the match after halftime. Kryeziu’s opener had given Egnatia an early advantage, but Dinamo City’s two-goal burst in the first half came after the opener and gave the home side control.

The match grew more physical as it developed. Smajli G. was shown a yellow card in the 12th minute for Egnatia, and Aliji N. of Dinamo City was booked in the 30th minute. After Vila’s equalizer and Qefalija’s go-ahead goal, Dinamo City’s Ruci F. was cautioned in the 72nd minute, and Vila received a yellow card in the 76th minute after having scored earlier. Those bookings added to the tension as Egnatia searched for a way back into the game and Dinamo City worked to protect its lead.

Egnatia made a series of changes in an attempt to respond. The visitors made substitutions at the 46th minute involving Duka B., Smajli G. and Diabate I., then added Montenegro J. in the 58th minute. Dinamo City made substitutions involving Ayodeji M. and Lorran in the 65th minute, Egnatia added Ndreca E. in the 74th minute, and Dinamo City followed with Alhassan A. in the 77th minute and Silva-Richards R. in the 81st. Egnatia could not produce another goal, and Dinamo City saw out the closing stages for the victory. The substitutions gave both sides fresh options, but the scoreline did not change after Qefalija’s first-half goal. Egnatia’s changes came after halftime as it sought to overturn the deficit, while Dinamo City’s later substitutions were used to close out the match. The visitors pushed numbers forward in the final stages, but Dinamo City maintained its shape and limited clear chances.

Klevi Qefalija of Dinamo City finished with one goal, while Lorenco Vila had one goal and a yellow card. Altin Kryeziu of Egnatia scored once. Qefalija’s 37th-minute goal was the most important moment of the match, breaking a 1-1 tie and providing the final margin. Vila’s equalizer had kept Dinamo City in the game after the early setback, and the home side’s defense made the one-goal lead stand. The sequence of goals came in the second, 33rd and 37th minutes, with Egnatia taking the first lead and Dinamo City answering twice before the break. Egnatia finished with one goal and Dinamo City with two, and the final whistle confirmed the home side’s win after a second half without another goal.

The result moved Egnatia to 2-1 in the competition and 2-1-2 across all competitions. Dinamo City is now 1-2 in the competition and 2-2 across all competitions. Egnatia entered the match after a draw at Aarhus, a win over KF Vllaznia Shkoder, a home draw with Midtjylland and a win at Laci. Dinamo City had entered after a loss to Teuta, a loss at KF Vllaznia Shkoder and a win over Otrant. Dinamo City used the home match to collect its first competition victory of the season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Egnatia 2, Dinamo City 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Egnatia with a 68.5 percent probability to win. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.