Albania’s women’s football team has emerged victorious in their final qualifying match against Luxembourg, winning 3-1 and securing the top spot in Group C5 with a total of 9 points. The decisive match, played at the “Elbasan Arena,” saw goals from captain Megi Doçi, and forwards Qëndresa Krasniqi and Fortesa Berisha. This victory propels the Albanian team to League B in the Nations League, and the team will also compete in the play-offs for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland.
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| Albania's Women's Team before the match against Luxembourg |
Match Highlights and Key Moments
Starting Lineup:
- Goalkeeper: Viona Rexhepi
- Defenders: Lucije Gjini, Alma Hilaj, Sara Maliqi, Arbenita Curraj
- Midfielders: Fortesa Berisha, Ezmeralda Franja, Gresa Berisha
- Forwards: Qëndresa Krasniqi, Megi Doçi (c), Kristina Maksuti
Albania dominated the first half, creating numerous scoring opportunities through Fortesa Berisha, Megi Doçi, and Qëndresa Krasniqi. The first goal came from captain Megi Doçi, who successfully converted a penalty awarded by the main referee. Doçi’s precise execution put Albania in the lead in the 29th minute. Qëndresa Krasniqi doubled the score in the 47th minute after a beautiful assist from Lucije Gjini. Krasniqi dribbled past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0, giving Albania a comfortable lead going into halftime.
The second half began with another goal for Albania, with Fortesa Berisha scoring in the 46th minute to extend the lead to 3-0. Albania continued to dominate the game, maintaining possession and creating several more chances without converting them. Coach Grima made strategic substitutions in the 88th minute, bringing on Lufo, Pacarizi, Ndoj, and Tukaj for Maksuti, Berisha, Krasniqi, and Sara Maliqi, respectively. Luxembourg managed to score a consolation goal in the 91st minute, ending the match with a 3-1 scoreline. Grima made a final substitution, replacing Fortesa Berisha with Klesta Ago.
Moving Forward: Nations League and UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Play-Offs
This resounding 3-1 victory not only secures Albania’s promotion to League B in the next edition of the Nations League but also qualifies them for the first round of the play-offs for a spot in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025. The Albanian team will face one of the third or fourth-placed teams from any group in League A. The upcoming matches promise to be challenging but present a significant opportunity for the Albanian women’s team to showcase their talent on a larger stage.
With their recent performances, Albania’s women’s team has demonstrated their growing prowess in European football, bringing pride to their nation and inspiring future generations of female footballers.