Tirana revival floors Dinamo
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Article summary
KF Tirana 3-0 FC Dinamo Tbilisi
(Agg: 3-3, Tirana win 4-2 on penalties) Tirana produce a magnificent comeback.
Article body
Albanian title holders KF Tirana produced a magnificent comeback to see off the challenge of FC Dinamo Tbilisi of Georgia in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.
Scores levelled
Tirana were thrashed 3-0 in Tbilisi last week and appeared to have little hope of progressing. But they roared back tonight to level the aggregate scores in normal time and then pinch the tie on a penalty shoot-out.
Lici opener
Suad Lici got the comeback under way with the opening goal after 13 minutes and Indrit Fortuzi doubled the Tirana advantage 18 minutes into the second half.
Shoot-out success
Mahir Halili struck the crucial third goal with ten minutes remaining and after extra time failed to produce any more goals the hosts held their nerve to win the day 4-2 on spot-kicks. Tirana will now play Grazer AK of Austria in the second qualifying round.