Sheriff hold off determined Dinamo

Despite a 1-0 loss at KS Dinamo Tirana, FC Sheriff progressed to the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round for the second consecutive season via a 3-2 aggregate success.

Sheriff took a 3-1 advantage to Albania following last week's home win, but Emiljan Vila's 18th-minute effort left the hosts just one strike from an away goals' triumph. The Moldovan titleholders managed to keep the Tirana club at bay for the remainder of the contest, though, and will play NK Dinamo Zagreb.

Andrey Sasnitski's team received a warning before going behind when Fation Sefa headed wide in the 13th minute. They did concede soon after as Vila rose to head in Gjergj Muzaka's corner. Sheriff responded and Aleksandr Erokhin passed up a good chance to level matters on the night before the break.

Dinamo were having most of the play, but Sheriff did well to deny them any clear scoring chances and it was the visitors, again, who went nearest after the interval when Jymmy França missed from close range. It ultimately did not matter as Sheriff held on to edge through.