National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Mehat Kovaçi got the match started through his kick off. Marjus Laçka made a fantastic save in the 3rd minute, when Vinícius Junior sent off a good shot on target. 8 minutes into the match, Greece's Vinícius Junior sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Marjus Laçka narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 9 minutes Albania's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Sotiris Alexandropoulos who took care of the corner kick. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Albania's goalie and right to Lionel-Andrés Messi. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Albania's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Albania's defense didn't have a chance, in the 12th minute, when Vinícius Junior scored to the left of an out of position Marjus Laçka, making the score, 1-0. In the 15thth minute of the game Vinícius Junior who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Albania's Marjus Laçka was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When Vinícius Junior fell near the penalty area in the 16th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Greece's protests and gave Vinícius Junior a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Albania booed when Greece was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 16 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vinícius Junior didn't get a good kick on the ball. Marjus Laçka had in the 22ndth minute some difficulties stopping Lionel-Andrés Messi's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. A collision led to Albania getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Aulin Janku hit a great ball. Vinícius Junior fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marjus Laçka having to interfere. Vinícius Junior sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 34 minutes into the game, Paolo Mut threw the ball into play from the sideline. Greece's Nikos Pantaleon quickly snatched the ball and retained possesion. Marjus Laçka took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vinícius Junior, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Vinícius Junior had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Albania getting a freekick after 43 minutes play. Paolo Mut hit a great ball. After having played for 46 minutes, Vinícius Junior managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Greece's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vinícius Junior was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Mehat Kovaçi fell near the penalty area in the 47th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Albania's protests and gave Mehat Kovaçi a yellow card for diving instead. After 47 played minutes Albania got a freekick which was hit by Mehat Kovaçi. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

When Greece's Vinícius Junior in the 51st minute got a chance for a shot 51st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Albania's goalie prevented a goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lionel-Andrés Messi in the 55th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Marjus Laçka prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Greece made a substitution. Alexis Louboutis replaced Evripidis Nafpliotis. Greece made a substitution. Chatziioannou Valeras replaced Jason Statham. Albania made a substitution. Vibar Vërçuni replaced Aulin Janku. Albania's Marjus Laçka played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pipis Karapatakis in the 70th minute of play. Pipis Karapatakis scored 2-1 in the 72nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Marjus Laçka, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Mehat Kovaçi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Albania getting a freekick after 77 minutes play. Paolo Mut hit a great ball. Timos Tsalavoutas scored 3-1 in the 79th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Marjus Laçka, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 81st minute Pipis Karapatakis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Marjus Laçka saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Timos Tsalavoutas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pipis Karapatakis in the 87th minute of play forced Albania's goalkeeper Marjus Laçka to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Greece's Lionel-Andrés Messi in the 90th minute got a chance for a shot 90th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Albania's goalie prevented a goal. Nikos Pantaleon hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. In the 93rd match minute, Greece was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alexandros Komninos to maneuver through the defense. When Nertil Maldini fell near the penalty area in the 96th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Albania's protests and gave Nertil Maldini a yellow card for diving instead. After 96 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Albania! The referee gave Greece a penalty, 98 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Lionel-Andrés Messi, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Albania's Marjus Laçka. 4-1. Greece's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.