Kosovo’s second consecutive win and second victory over Cyprus came on Tuesday, with Franco Foda’s side securing a 3-0 win in Prishtina in front of nearly 13,000 spectators.
The match began with tensions between Zhegrova and Ioannou, both of whom received yellow cards—Zhegrova for his reaction and Ioannou for his foul. Kosovo’s situation worsened when Besiktas forward Rashica had to leave the field due to injury, with Florent Muslija coming on to replace him.
Things started to fall into place for Kosovo after the half-hour mark. The first goal came from captain Amir Rrahmani, who, after a clever assist from Muslija, found space in the box and fired a close-range shot into the net.
What initially seemed like a blocked shot turned into the perfect assist for Krasniqi, who took the deflected ball and fired it straight into the net, making it 2-0 for the home team.
Sahiti then ensured there would be no doubt about the result, scoring a third goal to seal the win.
Muharrem Jashari also made his debut for Kosovo in this match. The 26-year-old defensive midfielder, currently playing for LNZ Cherkasy in Ukraine, is a former player for Drita and Trepça 89.
Overall, after a shaky first 30 minutes, Kosovo found their rhythm and gradually took control of the game, earning a well-deserved victory. Franco Foda once again experimented with new players, broadening his options and further expanding his tactical knowledge. While Kosovo's style still appears somewhat free-flowing, leading to periods of inconsistency, the team is growing.
With the crucial games coming up, this win has provided a much-needed confidence boost. The upcoming match against Romania will undoubtedly be one of the key highlights of the next international break.
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