Today, Europa League spoke Albanian! In every sense, because three Albanian teams that participate in the qualifying round of Europa League, managed to pass in the next round.
Firstly it was Teuta that secured the qualification in the next round, after defeating 2-0 the Israeli team of Beitar Jerusalem in ‘’Niko Dovana’’. The team from Durrës scored the advantaging goal in the 6th minute with Krasniqi. The first half ended with the same result while in the second half, the Albanian teams plays well and doubles the results in the 86th minute with Hebaj, sealing the wing and the qualification of Teuta in the next round.
Then, it was the turn of KF Laçi that secured the qualification after the penalty shootout in the Azerbaijani transfer against Keslas. Full time and extra time ended in a scoreless result. It was Nwabueze that started the penalty series continuing with Lushkja, Rapo, Mazrekaj and Ignjatovic, with everyone scoring. The hero of Laçi was the goalkeeper Sherri that deflected the penalty of Qyrtymov, thus securing the qualification of the second round of Europa League.
As for the evening match, Kukësi defeated 2-1 Slavia Sofia at ‘’Air Albania’’ stadium, going through the second leg of Europa League. Forward Eze scored the penalty at the 55th minute but Slavia equalized the result with Krastev at the 81st minute. 5 minutes before the final whistle, Cooper scored a beautiful goal that was worth the qualification. Together with KF Tirana, there are fore Albanian teams that continue the journey at Europa League.
For the football specialist and renowned former coach, Sulejman Mema, this is a success of Albanian football that will have positive impact in increasing completion even in the local championship.
‘’Everyone should feel good for this achievement of the Albanian teams. This is worthy even fo the increase of completion in the Albanian championship because when the teams benefit from experience and economically, quality is on the top. The transfer market will bring qualitative players and the investments for the youth will be even greater, because that is the future’’ – declared Mema, noting the work of the coaching school of AFA, that has its important share in this triumph.
‘’ I want to underline that this success belongs even to the coaching school. The coaches of the four teams that have qualified in the next round of Europa League have gone through the coaching school of AFA. This confirms the fact that Albanian coaches have reached the necessary maturity to lead teams, not only in Albania but even abroad’’- declared Mema.
Finally, the specialist of the national teams stressed that ‘’ new elements have made a difference, young players that are being confirmed in high levels. Elements that are part of the national teams’’.
