Vllaznia break Tirana cup duck
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Article summary
KS Vllaznia won the Albanian Cup after beating KF Tirana 2-0, with Gilman Lika and Xhevahir Sukaj scoring the goals for the Shkoder side.
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Bright start
Vllaznia had played Tirana, the 2007 Albanian champions, in three previous cup finals and lost all of them but things started to look promising for them after just three minutes when Albert Kaçi set up Lika for their opener. Five minutes before half-time, Sukaj beat Alfred Osmani in the Tirana goal for a second time after fashioning a chance in the penalty area. After that there was no way back for the capital side as Vllaznia won the cup for the first time since 1987.
'For us'
Dervish Haxhiosmanovic, who won the 2000 title with Vllaznia and returned to the club following Mirel Josa's departure on 8 March, was thrilled with the victory, despite the absence of top striker Vioresin Sinani through injury. "It was a very good win for us and we deserved it," he said. Goalkeeper Amir Grima, who captained Vllaznia in Sinani's absence added: "This trophy is for us - the team, my family and our city."