Own goal and equaliser for Albania’s Gjasula
After 2-2 draw, Croatia are at the bottom of their group
Between an own goal and an equaliser, there was 19 minutes. That is how long it took for redemption and Klaus Gjasula to meet. The midfielder’s strike deep in stoppage time rescued an afternoon for Albania that looked like it would go the way of their match against Italy. Between heartbreak and hope, there was 19 minutes.
For the second time in as many matches, Albania led against a powerhouse. If it was after 23 seconds against the defending champions, on Wednesday it took 11 minutes. Qazim Laci’s header put Albania, in their second-ever continental championship, ahead in Hamburg against a country famous for going deep in World Cup finals, a country for whom Luka Modric runs the show. But Croatia scored twice in two minutes, 74 and 76, Andrej Kramaric showing presence of mind to aim for the near post before Gjasula’s own goal, the fourth of the tournament. And just when it looked like agony and Albania could be used interchangeably this German summer, Gjasula made it 2-2 with a calm placement in 90+5.
Gjasula, 34, made his Albania debut in 2019. This season, his club Darmstadt has been relegated from Bundesliga. On Wednesday, he came on in the 72nd minute and even as he was getting used to the tempo of the match, Croatia pulled ahead with a goal listed against his name. There was nothing he could do about Luka Susic’s shot pinging off him. But when the opportunity came off a sweeping move and a cut-back, he made amends with a sharp finish. Minutes later, he took a booking for the team with a foul on Modric.
So, Croatia live. Even if it is at the bottom of Group B in the European Championships. But given that there is space for four best third teams, a point after two matches may not mean early holidays yet. Ahead on goal difference, Albania also have one point from two matches after this first-ever match between the two Balkan countries. But for them it is a start. "We came close to a draw. Perhaps tomorrow we might win, who knows?" Albania’s coach and honorary citizen Sylvinho had said before the match.
Albania were okay with Croatia having 68% possession. They trusted in their ability to spring forward in numbers when they could get the ball off Croatia. They did that well in the first half. Jasir Asani was superb and it was his pin-point delivery that found Laci. With Croatia’s defending being uncharacteristically lax through the game, it was Albania who led.
For all their control, Croatia couldn’t find space close to the Albania goal. The reverse was not true. Nedim Bajrami came close and so did Kristjan Asllani, again off a defence-splitting Asani pass that Modric would have been proud of. Croatia’s midfield is still too full of 2018 World Cup players, and on the break, Albania were easily running past them.
But Croatia are also familiar with tournament football. Coach Zlatko Dalic introduced Mario Pasalic and Susic at half-time and Croatia began asserting themselves. Susic’s shot was saved by goalie Thoms Strakosha but the goals looked like they were coming. It needed a smart back-volley from Mario Mitaj from almost his goalline to avoid further damage before Modric showed he could still shift gears in the 88th minute. His shot though was wide.
Croatia were ending stronger than they had begun and when Dominik Livakovic pulled off a brave save, it looked like they would be able to see this one through. Albania had other ideas. They kept testing Croatia till something gave.
