Right place, right time
A shot smashes against the bar. Then drops. Straight at Vedat Muriqi’s feet. The 83rd minute in Pristina. Kosovo’s striker does not think twice. He bursts forward, shakes off his man, fires. And Ireland pay the price.
One goal. Just one, but it’s enough. Kosovo win 1-0 against the Boys in Green to launch their Nations League campaign. Kept quiet for long spells, Kosovo’s attack finally finds a way through, right at the end, right when it mattered.
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Here we go again
Troy Parrott had a go. So did Chiedozie Ogbene. It made no difference. Ireland built pressure and kept coming, but they ran into a green-and-red wall. And when the legs went late on, in the final quarter of the game, that was when it all turned.
Second campaign. Second opening-day defeat for the Irish. Same old story of frustration. Heimir Hallgrimsson has barely had time to enjoy a calm build-up either: just last week, he was still having to answer for clumsy comments about Israel. That is the opponent they face on Sunday in Budapest.
Kosovo keep moving up
At the other end, this is a side that no longer looks overawed by higher-ranked opposition. Vedat Muriqi, the national team’s record scorer, underlines his status again. Kosovo bank three valuable points from the start, in a group where every detail will count.
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