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World Cup qualifying: Albania savour 2-1 win over Kazakhstan [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Tirana (Reuters) - Albania beat Kazkhstan 2-1 to take their tally to 12 points in Group Two, the most points they have ever collected in a World or European Championship qualifying competition.
Albania, way behind qualifiers Ukraine and hopefuls Turkey, Greece and Denmark, have no chance of reaching the finals, but enjoyed their fourth win in the competition against the visitors, who have lost all nine matches they have played.
Florian Myrtaj put Albania ahead with a tap in to an empty net after Erion Bogdani set him up after 54 minutes, before Bogdani lobbed the ball past Kazakhstan's goalkeeper David Lorya to score the second goal two minutes later.
Kazakh striker Maxim Nizovtsev pulled one back with a header past Albanian goalkeeper Ilion Lika in the 63th minute. Albania then retreated and Kazakhstan lost a golden chance to score in extra time.
Exactly a year ago, they beat newly-crowned European champions Greece in Tirana, but their drive to make it to the finals soon lost steam, despite the side's improved play under new German coach Hans-Peter Briegel.
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