Depleted Albania find inner strength

Albania won their first match in Group 10 in qualifying for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship despite their squad having been badly hit by a stomach virus prior to the match.

Own goal
The only goal came from Azerbaijan's Eshgin Guliyev who put through his own net on 63 minutes as Albania picked up their first points at the third time of asking to consign the visitors to defeat in their opening game. Albania's preparations were thrown into turmoil by a virus that led to striker Ahmet Jonuzi and central defender Ditmar Bici, both key players, spending the night before the game in hospital. Neither recovered in time, so Emiljan Vila was called in from the senior side to bolster the depleted U21 ranks.

Vila threat
The midfielder's presence made all the difference. Albania dominated possession in midfield with Vila a constant threat. He created first-half openings for Vilfor Hysa and Erando Karabeci, but both shot wide when well placed. The decisive moment came on 63 minutes when Odise Roshi, who had come on for Hair Zeqiri ,who had also spent the previous evening in hospital, set up Erando Karabeci whose shot was deflected in off Azeri defender Guyiev.