Historic for the Women's National Team, secures the World Cup play-offs

2026-06-09 23:19:00, Sport CNA

The women's national team wrote another important page in its history, triumphing 5-2 over Montenegro at the "Loro Boriçi" stadium and securing qualification for the first round of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers play-offs.

The red and black girls put in a great performance under the guidance of coach Armir Grima, turning the score around and dominating the match in front of the Albanian fans. The winning goals were scored by Megi Doçi (2), Fortesa Berisha, Gresa Berisha and Arbiona Bajraktari. Coach Grima started the match with this formation:

Rajmonda Spahiu (GK), Klea Hamonikaj, Arbiona Bajraktari, Mikaela Metalla, Alma Hilaj, Arbenita Curraj, Ezmiralda Franja, Ilarja Zarka, Vanesa Levendi, Fortesa Berisha and Megi Doçi (c).

Our national team starts the match on the attack and threatens the opposing goal in the fourth minute. A shot by Fortesa Berisha is stopped by the crossbar, denying our team the advantage goal.

The red and black girls continue to exert pressure and create other good scoring opportunities in the 11th and 12th minutes, first with Ezmiralda Franje and then with Fortesa Berisha, but without managing to find the way to the net.

In the 13th minute, Berisha tries again in front of the goal, but her attempt does not materialize into a goal. Several clear chances for our team, but no luck in finishing.

The Montenegrins take the lead in the 20th minute, but our team's reaction is immediate. Captain Megi Doçi goes in front of the goal to control a long ball and is blocked by the opposing goalkeeper. The referee awards a penalty in favor of Albania and punishes the Montenegrin goalkeeper with a red card, leaving the opponents with 10 players. Megi Doçi makes no mistake from the penalty spot, who in the 22nd minute restores the balance to the score, 1-1.

Our team continues to search for the advantage goal, taking risks again with Fortesa Berisha and then with Ilarja Zarka, but without being able to finish.

However, in the 45th minute, it was the Montenegrins who found the goal again and returned to the 1-2 lead.

Fortesa Berisha restores the balance a few moments later after a model action built by Megi Doçi. The captain passes to the right wing to Klea Hamonikajn, who sends the ball into the area for Berisha. The red and black striker this time makes no mistake and sends the ball into the net for the score 2-2, which ends the first half.

The second half began with Albania being the most demanding and dominant team in the game, with the red and black girls controlling the pace of the match and constantly creating dangerous situations in front of the opposing goal.

The turning point came in the 63rd minute, when captain Megi Doçi tried from distance and found the net with a beautiful shot, surprising the goalkeeper and the Montenegrin defense. A weighty goal that gave Albania the advantage and completed the red and black captain's personal double.

The dominance of Armir Grima's team continued. In the 67th minute, Gresa Berisha scored the fourth goal for Albania after an elegant assist from Ezmiralda Franja, giving the team a significant advantage.

Just three minutes later, the red and black girls scored again. This time it was defender Arbiona Bajraktari who found the net after another accurate assist from Ezmiralda Franja, sealing the final score 5-2 and an unforgettable evening for the Albanian Women's National Team.

Thanks to this victory and the three points gained against Montenegro, Albania secures qualification for the first round of the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers, confirms its position in League B and sets a new record, accumulating 7 points in a League B group for the first time. Another important achievement for the Women's National Team, which continues to write history and confirm the progress of women's football in our country.