Albania ends homestand at Qemal Stafa stadium with a win

TIRANA, Oct. 16 – Albania’s national soccer stadium Qemal Stafa end its life with a win. Albania beat Slovenia 1-0 in the World Cup Group E qualifier Tuesday.
The stadium will be destroyed and be replaced with a new one.
Odise Roshi’s 37th-minute goal was enough to earnAlbaniaa victory overSlovenia. That keep Albania in the third place in the group with six points, on goal difference with Island, behind Switzerland and Norway.
Both sides had chances in the first 20 minutes,Albaniapair Armando Sadiku and Ervin Bulku seeing shots from the edge of the box saved while their keeper Etrit Berisha denied Zlatko Dedic, twice, and Andraz Kirm at the other end. Sadiku headed Ansi Agolli’s corner wide from six yards andSlovenia’s Tim Matavz saw a long-range effort saved moments before his team fell behind. Emiljano Vila was the provider, crossing from the left for Roshi to beatSloveniakeeper Samir Handanovic with a downward header. Vila shot wide at the start of the second half and, after Berisha saved from Josip Ilicic, Roshi saw a shot parried away by Handanovic. Matavz headed Ilicic’s cross wide and Kirm’s shot was easy for Berisha, who then also held Mirnes Sisic’s header.
Albania responded to Friday’s disappointing home defeat by Iceland in ideal fashion, beating Slovenia 1-0 to record their second win in four 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. It had not won with Slovenia in the last five matches they had held.
“I am very happy for the players and the fans,” De Biassi said after the match. “We showed that we were able to bounce back and silence the sceptics who didn’t believe in our strength. We are where we want to be.”
On Friday Iceland strengthened its second place group standing in the 2014 World Cup qualifying build-up after a 2-1 victory over Albania in an away game. Gylfi ߳r Sigur