Belarus welcome Albania back
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Article summary
Having met in their previous UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign, Belarus and Albania are once more on a collision course in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group D.
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Having locked horns in qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008, Belarus are now preparing for a third meeting with Albania, this time in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group D.
Match background
• Belarus's record in two games against Albania reads W1 D1 L0 (W0 D1 L0 at home).
• The sides first met in Minsk on 2 September 2006, when Timofei Kalachev put the hosts ahead almost immediately. Despite that setback, Ervin Skela soon responded from the spot, and although Maksim Romaschenko then put Belarus back in front, Besnik Hasi made it 2-2 with four minutes to go.
• The return fixture in Tirana did not end so well for Albania, with Romaschenko and Vitali Kutuzov firing two goals apiece for Belarus in a 4-2 victory. Erion Bogdani and Edmond Kapllani found the net for the hosts.
• Belarusian and Albanian club teams have met in a couple of two-legged UEFA club competition ties, with the Albanian outfit – KF Tirana on both occasions – prevailing each time. In terms of individual games, the Belarusian sides' record reads W2 D0 L2 (W1 D0 L1 at home).