Albania round-up: Tirana take 20th title
Monday, May 12, 2003
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SK Tirana have been crowned champions of Albania for the 20th time after a 6-1 victory over KS Bylis.
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Coach thrilled
Tirana won the title with three matches to spare to give coach Fatmir Frashëri his first championship while in charge of the club he also served during his playing days. "I am so happy to have won my first title as Tirana coach, after winning with them as a player," said Frashëri, who previously guided KS Dinamo Tirana to the title in 1985/86. "In the last three matches we will perfect our play and be ready for the first round of the [UEFA] Champions League."
Four for Halili
Bylis were unable to stop Tirana, who had needed just a draw to take the crown, from easing to victory. Mahir Halili scored four times in the rout, to make it 18 goals for the season. He now has four more goals than his nearest rival, Vioresin Sinani of KS Vllaznia, who remain 12 points adrift despite a 4-2 win against struggling KS Besa.
Low-key derby
Elsewhere, Dinamo and KF Partizani played out a goalless derby draw while the same scoreline was recorded after KS Shkumbini's visit to KF Erzeni. KS Apolonia's fight for survival was given a lift after a 1-0 win against KS Besëlidhja. On Wednesday, Apolonia take on KF Lushnja in a key relegation battle. Finally, KS Flamurtari ended a three-match losing streak with a 1-0 success against KS Teuta while KS Elbasani moved up to seventh by beating Lushnja 2-1.
