National Team Friendly

National Stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Gaspard Izquierdo took the kick off in the first half of the match. Alberino Pujana made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Frai Shehu in the 8th minute of play. 11 minutes into the match, U21 Venezuela's goal looked a bit too open when Frai Shehu came free, but Alberino Pujana reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 13 minutes into the game, Don Cuca was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. U21 Venezuela's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave U21 Albania the free kick. Alberino Pujana came out of the goal in the 14th minute to try and stop a shot by U21 Albania's Minir Noli. But to his dismay, Minir Noli quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Laze Gjoka made a fantastic save in the 19th minute, when Gaspard Izquierdo sent off a good shot on target. After a rather tough play, U21 Albania's Luftëtar Myftiu got a free kick in the 20th minute. Gaspard Izquierdo'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 25th minute of play. In the 33rd minute Januz Oparaku shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alberino Pujana saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Gaspard Izquierdo's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Laze Gjoka was relentless in the 35th minute of the game. Alberino Pujana took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Minir Noli, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 39th minute of the match, Don Cuca tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Laze Gjoka saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. U21 Albania's Laze Gjoka proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 41st minute of the match, managed to save U21 Albania from getting a goal against them. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Odilon Marcha hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. Frai Shehu recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 53rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 59 minutes into the game, Minir Noli cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. Alberino Pujana was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 64th minute Januz Oparaku shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alberino Pujana saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lucio Oquendo in the 67th minute of play forced U21 Albania's goalkeeper Laze Gjoka to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 68th match minute, U21 Albania was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Frai Shehu to maneuver through the defense. U21 Venezuela made a substitution. Xandro Zubillaga replaced Lucio Oquendo. After 69 played minutes U21 Albania got a freekick which was hit by Frai Shehu. Laze Gjoka showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Xandro Zubillaga, who was totally free with the ball in the 74th minute. Xandro Zubillaga scored 1-2 in the 85th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Laze Gjoka, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. U21 Venezuela's Alberino Pujana played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Minir Noli in the 90th minute of play. When the final whistle sounded U21 Albania left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than U21 Venezuela.