National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725,
Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Torbjörn Nilsson kicked off to start the match. After 3 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for U21 Albania! Laze Gjoka had in the 4thth minute some difficulties stopping Torbjörn Nilsson's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his right side, but he still managed to hold the ball In the 4th minute, Torbjörn Nilsson ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Laze Gjoka was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. After having played for 6 minutes, Balthazar Bär managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. U21 Sweden's supporters crossed their fingers, but Balthazar Bär was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Laze Gjoka showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Balthazar Bär, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. In the 10th minute of the match U21 Sweden got a corner. U21 Albania's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Torbjörn Nilsson ran over to the corner to take the kick. Balthazar Bär might have been able to make a better finish in the 12th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Laze Gjoka. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Balthazar Bär ran back to his position shaking his head. Laze Gjoka made an important save on a dangerous shot by Balthazar Bär in the 12th minute. Torbjörn Nilsson hit a great freekick 14 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Frai Shehu in the 21st minute of play forced U21 Sweden's goalkeeper Ronnie Meck to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 22 minutes into the match, U21 Albania's goal looked a bit too open when Balthazar Bär came free, but Laze Gjoka reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Balthazar Bär received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Laze Gjoka tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Balthazar Bär sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Torbjörn Nilsson charged in rather forcefully in the 43rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Torbjörn Nilsson the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 43rd minute, Torbjörn Nilsson hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 47 minutes into the game, U21 Sweden's Torbjörn Nilsson nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Laze Gjoka made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-0. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.
U21 Sweden's Ronnie Meck played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Minir Noli in the 53rd minute of play. In the 54th minute Balthazar Bär shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laze Gjoka saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Minir Noli received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Ronnie Meck tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 58th minute, Balthazar Bär got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 66th minute Torbjörn Nilsson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laze Gjoka saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ronnie Meck took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luftëtar Myftiu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Frai Shehu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 71st minute of the match, but Ronnie Meck made a huge save. 72 minutes into the match, U21 Sweden's goal looked a bit too open when Januz Oparaku came free, but Ronnie Meck reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Englantin Qeraxhiu during the 77th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 77th match minute, U21 Albania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Englantin Qeraxhiu to maneuver through the defense. U21 Sweden's Dan Mårtensson was substituted for Henning Gulliksson. U21 Sweden made a substitution. Ivar Nickov replaced Balthazar Bär. After a rather tough play, U21 Albania's Englantin Qeraxhiu got a free kick in the 78th minute. In the 79th minute Torbjörn Nilsson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Laze Gjoka saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ivar Nickov's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Laze Gjoka read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 82nd minute of play. If Ivar Nickov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 84 minutes into the match, U21 Albania's goal looked a bit too open when Ivar Nickov came free, but Laze Gjoka reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Luftëtar Myftiu hit a great freekick 85 minutes into the match. With a little luck, U21 Sweden's Ronnie Meck got control of the ball when Minir Noli tried to sneak it across the goal line. U21 Sweden's Oliver Flamez quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Alesandro Nesta, made in the 88th minute of the game. Minir Noli blasted a shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Ronnie Meck having to make a save. If Ivar Nickov had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ivar Nickov in the 91st minute of play forced U21 Albania's goalkeeper Laze Gjoka to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. U21 Sweden's Oliver Flamez managed, thanks to a brazen rush, stole the ball on a throw-in made by Alesandro Nesta in the 92 minute of the game. 94 minutes into the game, U21 Sweden's Torbjörn Nilsson nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Laze Gjoka made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 5-0. When Alesandro Nesta fell near the penalty area in the 97th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored U21 Albania's protests and gave Alesandro Nesta a yellow card for diving instead. Alesandro Nesta hit a great freekick 97 minutes into the match. U21 Albania's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.
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