Baric’s dream comes to an end

17 Nov 2007 (Albanian Times)

Albania 2-4 Belarus:

Belarus pulled to within a point of Albania after fighting back from 2-1 down to take all three points from Tirana...

Belarus' superior finishing proved crucial in a largely even encounter in the Albanian capital.

Albania started well, SK Tirana's Klodian Duro looking particularly dangerous, but in fact Belarus got the opener against the run of play when he rifled home a long-range effort 28 minutes in.

It was the 28th minutes when Maksim Romashchenko up the ball midway inside the Albania half before venturing a few steps forward and drilling the ball past the despairing Arian Beqaj's outstretched hand and into the bottom-left corner. 1 – 0 to Belarus.

On the 39th minute Erion Bogdani picks up the ball just inside the penalty area and fires a shot high into the centre of the goal to pull Albania level at 1-1

It was 11 minutes in the clock from Romashchenko’s goal when Erion Bogdani fires a shot from inside the penalty area to level the score.

Just 4 minutes from Bogdani’s goal, Kapllani turns everything around with 2 – 1 lead.

43 Kapllani (Albania) scores! A quick turnaround here in Tirana as the home side move in front two minutes before the break as Edmond Kapllani turns and finds the net with his left foot from inside the area.

45+1Kutuzov (Belarus) scores! Three goals in seven minutes see Belarus back on level terms in first-half added time. Vitali Kutuzov drills in with his left foot after a headed pass by Timofei Kalachev.

- The referee blows for half-time.

The second half begins

54 Kutuzov (Belarus) scores! This topsy-turvy encounter takes another twist as Belarus move 3-2 ahead - Kutuzov side footing his second goal low into the centre of the goal.

63 Romashchenko (Belarus) scores from the penalty spot. Belarus now have breathing space after Maksim Romashchenko is fouled by Armend Dallku for the award of a penalty. He takes it himself and makes no mistake to fire it straight down the middle.

For the next 32 minutes Albania tried very hard to get back into the scoresheet, but Belarus defended very well.

Albania 2 - 4 Belarus
0-1 Romaschenko 28'
1-1 Bogdani 39'
2-1 Kapllani 43'
2-2 Kutuzov 45'
2-3 Kutuzov 54'
2-4 Romaschenko (pen) 63'

Albania (Baric): Beqaj, Curri, Dede, Lala (Bushaj 75), Rrustemi, Skela, Cana, Dallku, K. Duro, Bogdani, Kapllani.

Belarus (Stange): Zhevnov, Omelyanchuk, Filipenko, Plaskonny (Skverniuk 65), Kirenkin, Kulchiy, Kalachev (Korythko 75), Romashchenko, Hleb, Bulyga, Kutuzov.

Yellow Cards: Kirenkin 16'.

Referee: Bulent Demirlek (Turkey.)

Reporting for Albanian Times, from Tirana John Troy