Under-15s: Albania too strong for the Titans, but Angelini finds the net

No joy for the Under-15 National Team in their second match of the Development Tournament currently taking place in Albania: the hosts ran out emphatic 9-1 winners and, thanks to this victory, now top the group together with Bosnia. The game opens up after eight minutes: Sina tries his luck from the edge of the box, Fabbri stretches well to parry but on the rebound the quickest to react is Hyseni, who makes it 1-0. The Titans do not give up and just a minute later there is a fine run down the right by Aureli, who wins a good corner. However, the set piece does not create danger and Albania clear. On the quarter-hour mark another good chance for the Biancazzurri with a free-kick from deep by Gasperoni, who picks out Montali in the area. He manages to steer a header towards goal but keeper Brungaj holds the effort, which is straight at him. Just before the half-hour mark Albania double their advantage: a move starting from a short corner, the ball is swung into the middle where Fabbri misjudges his coming out, allowing Xhemali to pounce and tuck it away for 2-0. The hosts’ third arrives on 37 minutes with a free-kick from the edge of the box by Rrena that slips past the side of the Biancazzurri wall and catches Fabbri out on his left. Albania keep pushing and on 40 minutes they make it four: Xhemali carries the ball forward into the final third and slides in the rapid Rrena, who, once inside the box, flicks it across with the outside of his boot for team-mate Hyseni to tap home his brace. The start of the second half also smiles on Albania, who strike again with their fifth of the day: substitute Dybeli wins the ball back high up the pitch and then feeds Rrena, who breaks into the penalty area and beats Fabbri for the second time with a precise right-footed finish. Albania are still not satisfied and on the hour mark they extend their lead: corner from Resuli, Benaj heads it down and then Vajushi turns it in to make it 6-0. The contest becomes a little less bitter for San Marino when Michele Angelini does well to win the ball back as Albania attempt to build from the back and, once he reaches the edge of the area, he unleashes a delicate chip that drops in behind the opposing goalkeeper. Albania continue to pour forward and it takes a great save from Fabbri on Meco’s close-range effort, after being set up by Resuli, to prevent yet another goal. The Titans show themselves again in attack shortly afterwards when Mazza capitalises on a mistake in the build-up by the Albanians and tries to catch keeper Hoxha out with a shot from distance that whistles just past the post. Albania keep going relentlessly and score their seventh shortly after (75'): another through ball from Cela for Dybeli, who shoots from the edge of the box and finds the bottom corner. Five minutes later the hosts add another – their eighth when Vajushi punishes a hesitant clearance from the Titans’ defence and beats Fabbri with a low angled finish from close range. The final goal of the day also goes Albania’s way as they further embellish the scoreline: a fine pass from Dybeli on the edge of the box finds Benaj, whose powerful strike crashes off the crossbar; on the rebound Xhemali is on hand to tap in and complete the 9-1. San Marino will be back in action, for their final match of the Development Tournament, on Monday 28th at 10:00 against the Faroe Islands, who yesterday were beaten 2-0 by Bosnia (the Balkan side are level on maximum points with Albania). The match will also be broadcast live and free on the YouTube channel of the Albanian Football Association (FSHF).   Under-15 Development Tournament, Matchday 2 | Albania – San Marino 9-1 ALBANIA Brungaj (46' Hoxha), Cekrezi (46' Resuli), Mile (46' Dani), Nezaj, Nikolli (46' Caslli), Sulaj (46' Dybeli), Hyseni (46' Vajushi), Sina (46' Cela), Rrena (49' Benaj), Sharka (46' Meco), Xhemali. Head coach: Armand Dama SAN MARINO Fabbri, Amati (62' Mazza), Aureli (54' Montebelli), M. Ceccoli (46' Piergiacomi), Baggiarini, Frulli (72' Della Balda), Gasperoni (72' Monaldi), Lepri (46' Angelini), Montali (62' A. Ceccoli), Prendi, Renzi (46' Testoni) Substitute: Michelotti Head coach: Dario Vanni   Referee: Arapi (ALB) Assistant referees: Fejzullah (ALB) and Balaj (ALB) Fourth official: Mehmetaj (ALB) Scorers: 8' and 40' Hyseni, 28' and 90' Xhemali, 37' and 48' Rrena, 57' and 80' Vajushi, 61' Angelini, 75' Dybeli

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