Under-21: Albania score in each half, debuts for Riccardi and Meloni

With a goal in each half, Albania claimed the friendly played in Tirana at the Air Albania Stadium against San Marino Under-21. The Titans, however, came within a whisker of equalising in first-half stoppage time, when Tamagnini’s effort drifted just wide.

Coaches Matteo Cecchetti and Alban Bushi opted for near-identical systems at kick-off. The hosts started on the front foot through a dangerous Dodaj: after just 2 minutes the forward stung the gloves of Jacopo Casadei, then moments later caused more panic in the box, but the Sammarinese rearguard scrambled clear for a corner. Albania repeatedly attacked down the left, where Simone Gasperoni was operating, but the Titans kept their shape. The first clear chance arrived shortly after the quarter-hour mark (17’) with a rocket from the edge of the box by captain Fetaj, but Casadei produced a fine diving save; on the rebound, Maskuti failed to hit the target. Midway through the half the deadlock was broken: another move down the left, Perndreca winning his duel with Simone Gasperoni before squaring for Dodaj, who controlled and picked out the far corner. The game then settled into a pattern of Albanian possession, with San Marino content to sit deep and contain the home side’s advances. On 42 minutes the Titans grew in confidence, as Casadei sent Tamagnini clear in behind; the wing-back surged forward and squared for Marco Gasperoni, but the Sammarinese captain was unable to get a shot away. A couple of minutes later Fetaj was dangerous again, and a coming-together in the area with Domeniconi resulted in a penalty and a yellow card for the centre-back. Fetaj stepped up but dragged his right-footed effort wide – with Casadei appearing to have the angle covered. The Titans finished the half strongly, even creating a clear scoring opportunity: from the right, Marco Gasperoni delivered perfectly for Tamagnini, whose header flew just centimetres wide of a sensational equaliser.

Albania came flying out of the blocks after the restart, with a wicked strike from Dodaj turned into the net by substitute Rama, but the Rossoneri forward was in an offside position and the goal was ruled out. The second for the Eagles was, however, only a matter of time: on 52 minutes Dodaj broke through down the right, his driven cross-shot from the number 22 was then turned in by captain Fetaj, who made amends for his earlier penalty miss.

Both coaches went to their benches – unlimited substitutions but in three windows – to inject fresh legs. The hosts almost added a third through substitute Toma, who slalomed brilliantly in the area only to see his left-footed effort deflected for a corner. The flurry of changes also saw Cecchetti hand debuts to Cristan Meloni and Simone Riccardi. The Sammarinese head coach also changed goalkeeper, bringing on Borasco in place of Casadei. The new man between the posts proved decisive on 78 minutes with a low save at the feet of Rama, and shortly afterwards when he cut out Daka’s attempt. Albania kept pressing and on 82 minutes went agonisingly close to a third again through Fetaj – one of the standout performers – whose right-footed strike drifted wide after a one-on-one with Borasco. In stoppage time, Borasco once more did brilliantly to beat away another thunderous effort from Daka. In Tirana it finished 2-0 to Albania.

International friendly | Albania 2-0 San Marino

ALBANIA [5-3-2]

Veliaj (65’ Taho); Perndreca (65’ Selimaj), Fikaj (65’ Ad. Kurti), Ramj, Marku (46’ Bashi), Ar. Kurti (73’ Daka); Fetaj, Brruti (46’ Kote), Shehu; Dodaj (65’ Toma), Maskuti (46’ Rama)

Substitutes: Dema

Head coach: Alban Bushi

SAN MARINO [5-3-2]

J. Casadei (73’ Borasco); S. Gasperoni (63’ Bugli), M. Casadei (78’ Valentini), Ciacci (73’ Zavoli), Domeniconi (78’ Riccardi), Tamagnini; Chiaruzzi (63’ Guerra), Della Balda (73’ Meloni), Renzi (46’ Cervellini); M. Gasperoni (46’ Canarezza), Arlotti (78’ Molinari)

Substitutes: Conti, Protti

Coach: Matteo Cecchetti

Referee: Juxhin Xhaja

Assistants: Rejidi Avdo, Edjena Kapxhiu

Fourth official: A. Koci

Scorers: 21’ Dodaj, 52’ Fetaj

Booked: Domeniconi

Note: on 44’ Fetaj missed a penalty