Ballkani pulled off a dramatic turnaround against Bohemians in a UEFA Conference League knockout that went to a penalty shootout, eventually winning 3-2 after extra time. The designated home side was chasing the tie after losing the first leg 2-1, and they delivered when it mattered most. Serebe struck early in the 10th minute to get them going, but Bohemians equalized from the penalty spot through James-Taylor on 20 minutes. Ballkani took control in the second half—Giovanni made it 2-1 in the 50th with an assist from Serebe, then Domgjoni added a third just eight minutes later, also courtesy of Serebe's creative play. Bohemians weren't done though; Hickey pulled one back in the 88th to set up a tense finale. Extra time saw an extraordinary penalty sequence that went all the way to sudden death, with both sides converting multiple spot-kicks before Ballkani finally prevailed.

Our model predicted a 2-1 scoreline with Ballkani at 43% to win—a lean rather than a confident call, given the competitive nature of the matchup. We got the result direction right but way off on the goal tally; the match developed into a far higher-scoring affair than anticipated, especially once penalties came into play. Pre-kickoff, we'd flagged Bohemians' strong defensive form and their aggregate lead as reasons they might control the game, while Ballkani's motivation at home could swing things their way. That tactical tension played out early on, but Ballkani's second-half intensity and Serebe's influence—he set up two of their three goals in open play—proved too much for Bohemians to handle in regulation. The penalty shootout was pure drama, but it's a result that reflects Ballkani's desperation and execution when the stakes were highest.