Albania delivered a crucial blow to Serbia’s World Cup qualification hopes with a dramatic 1-0 victory in Leskovac, courtesy of a stunning late first-half strike from Rey Manaj.
The Red and Blacks claimed all three points in Saturday’s fiercely contested clash at the Dubocica Stadium, leapfrogging their Balkan rivals into second place in Group K of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The result leaves Serbia’s hopes of reaching the tournament hanging by a thread whilst Albania edge closer to their maiden World Cup finals appearance.
Manaj’s spectacular volley deep into first-half stoppage time proved the difference in a tightly fought encounter between two nations separated by fierce historical rivalry both on and off the pitch. The 28-year-old striker connected brilliantly with a cross to the far post, sending the travelling Albanian supporters into raptures with what proved to be the only goal of the game.
“What a great goal for Albania,” exclaimed commentators as Manaj’s strike found the back of the net. The forward, who has now scored three goals in the qualifying campaign, received a yellow card for his exuberant celebration but will scarcely care given the significance of his contribution.
The match kicked off at 7:45pm local time with both sides desperate for victory, knowing that three points could prove pivotal in the race for qualification. Serbia, still reeling from their humiliating 5-0 home defeat to England last month, dominated possession but struggled to convert their territorial advantage into clear-cut chances.
Serbia enjoyed the better of the play throughout much of the contest, recording more shots and controlling large spells of the match. However, Albania’s defence, which has conceded just three goals in five qualifying matches, stood firm under sustained pressure from the hosts.
The Eagles’ best opportunities fell to Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who squandered two significant chances to break the deadlock. After making a promising run into the box, his effort sailed harmlessly over the crossbar. Fellow forward Luka Jovic, who came on as a substitute for legendary striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, also failed to test Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha adequately.
“Serbia have had more of the ball and shots, but in the only thing that matters, goals, Albania lead by one to nil,” observed match analysts as the game approached its conclusion. Despite Serbia’s dominance in possession and territorial control, they lacked the cutting edge required to penetrate Albania’s well-organised defensive structure.
The second half saw Serbia throwing men forward in desperate search of an equaliser, but Albanian manager Sylvinho’s tactical discipline ensured his side absorbed the pressure effectively. Albania defended resolutely with almost their entire team behind the ball when out of possession, looking to exploit counter-attacking opportunities when they won back possession.
In the dying moments, Albania nearly doubled their advantage when midfielder Nedim Bajrami broke away on a counter-attack. After Serbia committed men forward, the Albanian playmaker ran the length of the field and went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but missed the chance that could have sealed a 2-0 victory.
Serbian manager Dragan Stojkovic made several substitutions in an attempt to salvage something from the match, introducing fresh legs including Luka Jovic and Lazar Samardzic. However, Albania’s defensive resilience proved impenetrable, with Mario Mitaj and the back four standing firm until the final whistle.
The match was officiated by 41-year-old Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, who has presided over 40 Champions League matches and 291 Romanian league games. This marked his eighth World Cup qualifying fixture, with the official keeping control of a passionate encounter that saw yellow cards shown to players from both sides, including bookings for Aleksandar Mitrovic and Juljan Shehu.
The victory represents Albania’s second consecutive win in the qualifiers, following their 1-0 triumph over Latvia last month. With eight points from five matches, the Red and Blacks now sit in the crucial second position in Group K, one point ahead of Serbia who have played one game fewer.
England lead the group comfortably and appear certain to claim the automatic qualification spot, meaning the battle for second place and a potential play-off berth has intensified dramatically. Albania’s victory significantly strengthens their position whilst dealing a severe blow to Serbia’s aspirations.
For Albania, the result edges them tantalisingly close to what would be a historic achievement. The nation has never qualified for a World Cup finals, having made their major tournament debut at Euro 2016. Manager Sylvinho has built a defensively solid unit that has proved difficult to break down throughout the qualifying campaign.
Serbia, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to resurrect their campaign. Following their 5-0 mauling by England and now this defeat to their fierce rivals, the Eagles must regroup quickly when they face Andorra on 14th October before crucial fixtures against England and Latvia in November.
Albania’s upcoming fixtures include a friendly against Jordan before returning to World Cup qualifying action against Andorra on 13th November and a potentially decisive encounter with England on 16th November. Three more wins could secure their place in the play-offs at minimum, keeping alive their dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The atmosphere inside the Dubocica Stadium was electric throughout, with the historical tensions between the two nations adding extra spice to an already significant sporting contest. The fixture has been marred by controversy in the past, including an abandoned match in 2014 when a drone carrying an Albanian flag sparked violent scenes in Belgrade.
Saturday’s encounter passed without major incident, though the passion and intensity on the pitch reflected the significance of the result for both nations’ World Cup dreams. For Albania, it represents a giant step towards history. For Serbia, it leaves their qualification hopes in serious jeopardy.
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