National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Svetaslav Yanchyk made the kick off which started today's match. Marjus Laçka showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Svetaslav Yanchyk, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. Stepan Firago stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nderim Pepo's shot from short distance in the 6th minute. After having played for 7 minutes, Nderim Pepo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Albania's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nderim Pepo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Stepan Firago showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Januz Oparaku, who was totally free with the ball in the 9th minute. Belarus's Stepan Firago played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Januz Oparaku in the 10th minute of play. Marjus Dragoti recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 14th minute Januz Oparaku shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stepan Firago saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Nderim Pepo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Stepan Firago was relentless in the 15th minute of the game. The supporters of Albania booed when Belarus was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Svetaslav Yanchyk didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Svetaslav Yanchyk in the 18th minute of play forced Albania's goalkeeper Marjus Laçka to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Belarus's Stepan Firago played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Aulin Janku in the 21st minute of play. Albania's Isa Koliqi was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Stepan Firago in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. Marjus Laçka took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Yuriy Ishyk, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Stepan Firago came out of the goal in the 26th minute to try and stop a shot by Albania's Januz Oparaku. But to his dismay, Januz Oparaku quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After 29 played minutes Albania got a freekick which was hit by Nexhat Shaho. Stepan Firago showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Januz Oparaku in the 31st minute of the match. Albania's Marjus Laçka proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 38th minute of the match, managed to save Albania from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nexhat Shaho in the 40th minute of play forced Belarus's goalkeeper Stepan Firago to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Pilip Mikhailov hit a great freekick 42 minutes into the match. Marjus Laçka took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Konstantin Mezin, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Januz Oparaku was the one to do the kick off. After 57 played minutes Belarus got a freekick which was hit by Ivan Mezin. Stepan Firago was a little too slow when Januz Oparaku got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 58th minute. The score was now 0-2. 62 minutes into the match, Albania's goal looked a bit too open when Pilip Mikhailov came free, but Marjus Laçka reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 62nd minute, Pilip Mikhailov ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marjus Laçka was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. When Svetaslav Yanchyk came up free with the goalie in the 64th minute, the Belarus fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Svetaslav Yanchyk couldn't finish the play. Nderim Pepo's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Stepan Firago read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. Albania's Marjus Laçka played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Svetaslav Yanchyk in the 71st minute of play. Januz Oparaku fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 75th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stepan Firago having to interfere. Zenon Mikulchik hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Aulin Janku got free with Stepan Firago in the 81st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Stepan Firago showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nderim Pepo, who was totally free with the ball in the 84th minute. After a rather tough play, Belarus's Vadim Borisenko got a free kick in the 94th minute. When the match was over Albania could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Belarus throughout the match.