- Fran Reilly
- Mon, Jun 20 2016
On a historic night for Albanian football, the Eagles secured a first ever European Championships win, beating Romania 1-0 in Lyon to secure a third place finish in Group A.
Romania hadn't lost in eight competitive meetings with Albania spanning a period of 68 years, but Armando Sadiku's 43rd minute header – Albania's first ever Euros goal – put an end to that run, eliminating the Tricolorii from the tournament who finished with one point from their three matches.
As for Giovanni de Biasi's men, they now have to endure a nervous wait to see if three points and a -2 goal-difference will be enough for progression to the knockout phase. Back when Albania first secured qualification in October, they returned home to
a heroes' welcome and were given the country's highest civilian award, the Honour of National Order.
Imagine what would happen if, in what is their first ever major finals appearance, Albania secured a place in the last-16. No matter what, they will return home legends after a tense game against a Romanian side who didn't disgrace themselves at this tournament.
To make it more frustrating for Anghel Iordanescu's team, they dominated the opening 25 minutes of the game but failed to turn that into an advantage on the scoreboard.
Nicolae Stanciu had his and Romania's first chance of the night from distance after three minutes but it flew harmlessly over the bar. Three minutes later and Ovidiu Hoban attempted to beat Etrit Berisha from the left side of the box, but the Albania 'keeper was able to gather at the second attempt after the ball had bounced in front of him.
Romania continued to make all the early running, with Bogdan Stancu in the eighth minute next up to try his luck. He connected with a sweet left-footed volley first-time from just outside the area, but it flew straight at Berisha who was able to hold it.
Then, in the 14th minute, some neat play from Denis Alibec saw him leave three Albanians for dust with one touch before attempting to curl the ball around Berisha who was off his line – the shot barely missed the target, although the 'keeper acted like he had it covered.
However, having weathered the early storm, Albania settled and battled their way back into the game. A training ground routine in the 35th minute nearly saw them take the lead. From a low corner, Ledian Memushaj presented Migjen Basha with time to shoot from the edge of the box, but the latter could only fire over the bar.
Albania weren't to be denied, though, and the breakthrough came two minutes before the interval, with Memushaj involved again. His right-wing cross flew straight as an arrow towards the far corner of the six-yard box, coaxing Romania 'keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu from his goal-line.
FC Zurich striker Sadiku peeled off his marker and watched the flight of the ball before cleverly nodding it across the wandering 'keeper, with Romania skipper Vlad Chiriches only able to look on in agony as it bounced into the net. Tatarusanu jumped and threw his arms in frustration, but he really only had himself to blame.
Alibec almost responded immediately for Romania, hitting a snapshot on the turn in first-half injury time, but it went straight at Berisha. It was Albania then who had the first two chances of the restart, with Mergim Mavraj heading both of them over the bar.
In the 61st minute, Gabriel Torje, having been sprung from the bench, tried to shoot through a crowd of bodies in the Albanian penalty area, but his attempt was blocked by Arlind Ajeti who was a rock in defence all evening for the Red and Blacks.
Substitute Florin Andone then came agonizingly close to equalising in the 76th minute. He beat Ansi Agoli in a race to the ball after a one-touch move to create the chance – but his shot cannoned back off the bar having taken a slight deflection off of the sliding defender, with Berisha beaten.
Romania's frustration was highlighted two minutes later when Stanciu blazed over from distance when a more patient build-up was required. Moments later, the Steaua Bucharest winger lost his footing as he was about to pull the trigger from the edge of the box which would have done little to better his mood.
Albania nearly doubled their lead twice in a minute when Mavraj side-footed a volley from a corner into the side-netting, with some fans thinking it had gone in, before Andi Lila headed wide 60 seconds later.
One poor Stanciu effort aside, Albania came through the final, and most crucial, part of the game – including five minutes of injury time – relatively untested to carve out another piece of footballing history for themselves. Now they wait to see if they have created just a little bit more.
Romania: Ciprian Tatarusanu; Cristian Sapunaru, Dragos Grigore, Vlad Chiriches, Alexandru Matel; Adrian Popa (Florin Andone, 68), Ovidiu Hoban, Andrei Prepelita (Lucian Sanmartean, 46), Bogdan Stancu; Nicolae Stanciu; Denis Alibec (Gabriel Torje, 57).
Subs not used: Costel Pantilmon (GK), Silviu Lung Jr (GK), Cosmin Moti, Claudiu Keseru, Valerica Gaman, Steliano Filip, Alexandru Chipciu, Razvan Rat, Mihai Pintilli.
Bookings: A Matel (54), C Sapunaru (85), G Torje (90+3).
Albania: Etrit Berisha; Elseid Hysaj, Arlind Ajeti, Mergim Mavraj, Ansi Agolli; Andi Lila, Amir Abrashi, Migjen Basha (Lorik Cana, 83), Ledian Memushaj, Ermir Lenjani (Odise Roshi, 77); Armando Sadiku (Bekim Balaj, 59).
Subs not used: Orges Shehi (GK), Alban Hoxha (GK), Shkelzen Gashi, Sokol Cikalleshi, Naser Aliji, Ergys Kace, Frédéric Veseli, Taulant Xhaka, Burim Kukeli.
Bookings: M Basha (6), M Memushaj (85), E Hysaj (90+4).
Referee: Pavel Královec (CRO).
Attendance: 49,752.
Extratime Man of the Match: Arlind Ajeti (Albania).
