Jagiellonia Białystok defeated Georgian champions FC Iberia 1999 Tbilisi 4-0 at home in Poland on Thursday to take control of their UEFA Europa League play-off tie.
Goals from Jesus Imaz, Jeremy Agbonifo and Sergio Lozano, alongside an own goal by Ibrahim Alhassan, gave the Polish club a commanding lead ahead of the second leg in Georgia next week.
Iberia started the match brightly in Białystok, pressing forward without fear against their favored hosts. Sławomir Abramowicz made two impressive saves from long-range efforts during the opening 20 minutes, including a dangerous strike from Zviad Natchkebia. Jagiellonia defender Wojtuszek also gifted possession to an opponent inside his own penalty area, but Iberia's attackers hindered one another before taking advantage.
The home side gradually asserted control and created their first clear chances. Agbonifo found the net from close range in the 27th minute, but the goal was ruled out after assistant Kajetan Szmyt was caught offside. Shortly afterward, Slovenian forward Nika Prelec missed a major opportunity when he struck the side netting from close to the goal line following a rebound from Agbonifo's initial shot.
Jagiellonia opened the scoring in the 34th minute through a retaken penalty. Agbonifo won the spot kick in the 32nd minute after being fouled. Imaz took the initial penalty, but Iberia goalkeeper Makaridze saved his weak effort. However, the referee ordered a retake because Iberia players ran into the penalty area too early. Imaz made no mistake on his second attempt, placing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Agbonifo doubled the hosts' advantage in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. Jagiellonia tore through the visitor's defense with a rapid passing combination inside the penalty area before Agbonifo provided a clinical finish to cap an outstanding first half.
VAR intervention and second half goals
Iberia appeared to pull a goal back early in the second half. In the 51st minute, Natchkebia finished off a team move, but a video assistant referee review determined that the Georgian side had committed a foul on Szmyt at the start of the attack, resulting in the goal being disallowed.
The visitors conceded a third goal in the 62nd minute through an error by Alhassan. Attempting to head away a Jagiellonia free kick, the Nigerian midfielder instead directed the ball into his own net past Makaridze. Jagiellonia missed a chance to add a fourth five minutes later when Prelec broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but shot wide of the target.
Late dominance and match details
Iberia came close to reducing the deficit in the 88th minute when substitute Eldar Kuliyev sent a header against the crossbar. However, Jagiellonia sealed the 4-0 win in the second minute of second-half stoppage time when substitute Lozano turned the ball in.
Jagiellonia entered the play-off round following a victory over Scottish club Rangers in the previous round of European qualification. Iberia, based in Tbilisi and known as Saburtalo until 2024, won the Georgian league title to reach European competition. They entered Europa League qualifying after being eliminated from the Champions League by Slovan Bratislava 2-0 and 1-1, before defeating Northern Irish team Larne 2-1 on aggregate after extra time following a 0-0 draw in their third qualifying round tie.
Jagiellonia head coach Adrian Siemieniec selected a starting lineup of Abramowicz in goal, behind defenders Wojtuszek, Vital, Kobayashi and Montoia. Klynge, Romanczuk and Imaz played in midfield, with Szmyt, Prelec and Agbonifo in attack. Siemieniec introduced Sow for Agbonifo after 60 minutes, Lozano for Imaz on 70 minutes, and brought on Conceicao and Sylla for Szmyt and Prelec in the 80th minute. Kobayashi received Jagiellonia's only yellow card.
Iberia head coach Andriy Demchenko fielded Makaridze in goal, with a defense of Kobuladze, Selimovic, Amisulasvili and Jinjolava. Dadiani, Alhassan and Kardava started in midfield, behind an attack of Ende, Sikarulasvili and Natchkebia. Demchenko replaced Alhassan with Kutsia in the 66th minute, brought on Dzaganija for Ende on 70 minutes, and substituted Dadiani for Kuliyev in the 80th minute. Spanish referee Ricardo de Burgos issued yellow cards to Alhassan, Kobuladze, Selimovic and Dadiani for Iberia.
