EXCLUSIVE / Pogradeci-Skënderbeu friendly derby ends. Find out what happened

Pogradeci-Skënderbeu 0-2

Scorers: Janaqi 11’, Rodrigues 73’ (own goal)

Pogradeci Lineup: Staniç, Zguro, Kasmollari, Samake, Sallo, Kazem, Marakli, Gjoni, Danaldi, Lilo, Rodrigues.

Coach: Ardian Mema

Substitutes: Baçi, Raza, Pere, Merkolaj, Paushi

Skënderbeu Lineup: Alia, Rani, Vaskuez, Shaqe, Vangjeli, Janaqi, Estrela, Abubakari, Nasr, Ukiçi.

Coach: Ernest Gjoka

Substitutes: Dervishaj, Zenullari, Hamadu, Gjini, Franklin, Gift, Emanuel, Laze, Korçari, Hasa, Nasto

Referee: Juxhin Xhaja

The friendly match between Pogradeci and Skënderbeu kicked off at 17:30 and attracted the interest of fans in the stands of “Gjorgji Kyçyku” Stadium, despite being just a preseason game.

The first 10 minutes were quiet for both teams. Skënderbeu made slightly more attacking attempts but without threatening the home goal, while Pogradeci opted mostly to play in defense.

It wasn’t until the 11th minute that Skënderbeu launched a quick attack down the left wing, with the ball ending up at the edge of the Pogradeci penalty area, where Janaqi struck a powerful shot into the net. Skënderbeu took the lead, 0–1.

There was celebration in the Skënderbeu camp for the goal, but just three minutes later, Pogradeci had their first real chance: Kazem fired a shot from the right side, but it was saved by goalkeeper Marko Alia.

In the 22nd minute, Pogradeci came close again. After a cross into the box, Kazem headed the ball toward goal, but it went just over the crossbar — a near miss for the home side.

At minute 35, Pogradeci missed the best chance to equalize. Kazem broke past the defense, found himself one-on-one with Alia, shot at goal, but Skënderbeu’s keeper pulled off a critical save.

With no further clear chances, the first half ended 0–1 in favor of Skënderbeu.

The second half began with substitutions: Shaqe came off and Zenullari came on. Still, the pace remained calm and the game uneventful until the 60th minute, with almost no goal attempts on either end.

In the 61st minute, Tayo had a great chance to double the lead for Skënderbeu, but after pushing the ball too far inside the box, Staniç reacted quickly and saved Pogradeci from conceding again.

Then in the 73rd minute, Skënderbeu struck again. Rodrigues, in an attempt to head the ball back to goalkeeper Staniç, accidentally sent it into his own net. Skënderbeu went 0–2 up.

There were no major opportunities until the end of the match. Skënderbeu secured a clean 0–2 win away in Pogradeci, impressing both in play and in result.

Two minutes after the second goal, Nasr found himself in the six-yard box and fired a diagonal shot, but once again the Pogradeci keeper made a fine save, pushing it out for a corner.

“KORÇA BOOM”