Elbasan has finally found its first victory of this season in the Abyssinia Superiores, and it has done so in the most convincing way possible: defeating Egnatia, the defending champion, 2-1. In a match where the pace and tension increased significantly at the end of the first half, the yellow-blue team managed to manage the advantage and get the three points they were missing until the fourth week.
The success also takes on special significance for Ivan Gvozdenovic's bench, which was shaken by the results of the first few weeks. For Elbasan, this victory could serve as a starting point to change the course of this early season.
Open confrontation
The Yellow-Blues started the match with a clear approach: not to leave too much space for the champions and to constantly look for ways to threaten the opposing goal. The team led by Gvozdenović showed more initiative in the first minutes and sought to impose its rhythm. However, the goal would only come at the end of the first half, when the match would take an extraordinary turn.
Six minutes that changed everything
The three goals of the match were scored within just six minutes, turning the end of the first half into a real spectacle. In the 41st minute, Nikaj unblocked the score and gave Elbasan the much-needed advantage. But the lead did not last long. Egnatia reacted immediately and Montenegro restored the balance, bringing the score to 1-1.
When it seemed that the teams would go to the locker rooms with the score tied, Nikaj struck again. In 45+2', the striker scored his second personal goal and returned Elbasan to the lead. A crazy end to the half, with the game constantly shifting from one goal to the other for several minutes and both teams finding their way to the net.
Two penalties claimed
After the break, the pace of goals stopped, but not the intensity of the confrontation. The match was characterized by more fighting in every area of the field, wasted chances and a tension that increased as the end approached.
Both teams had claims for penalties in controversial episodes. Elbasani requested a penalty after a suspected handball in the area by an Egnatia player, but the referee decided to allow the action to continue.
Champions without the final reaction
Egnatia tried to find the way to equalize again, but Elbasan managed to defend the advantage created in the first half. In the end, the yellow-blues celebrated a victory that is worth more than three points. Against the reigning champions, Elbasan showed character and reacted at the moment when it needed a positive result the most.
With the 2-1 success, Gvozdenović's team ends the negative series at the beginning of the season and breathes more freely after four weeks. Meanwhile, for Egnatia, the away loss shows that even the champions can encounter difficulties in a championship where every match demands the maximum.
