Albania 1-0 Latvia Player Ratings: Kristjan Asllani 8.5/10 Rated as Albania Secures a Narrow 1-0 Victory

Albania clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Latvia in their WC Qualification Europe clash. The game at Arena Kombëtare was ultimately decided by a single moment. A clumsy handball from Latvia's Deniss Melniks gifted Albania a crucial penalty in the first half. A well-deserved win for the home side. They dominated possession and created far better opportunities throughout the contest. However, a distinct lack of clinical finishing will surely be a concern for manager S. Campos Junior. Albania squandered several clear chances to put the game to bed much earlier.

The lone goal of the match came from the spot, coolly dispatched by Kristjan Asllani in the 25th minute. Despite their control, Albania struggled to find a way through from open play. This left the result precariously in the balance until the final whistle, much to the frustration of the home fans. Latvia fought with spirit but offered little sustained threat, relying mostly on set-pieces for their rare sights of goal. Here are the Albania vs Latvia player ratings.

Albania Player Ratings vs Latvia

Here are the Albania player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Thomas Strakosha - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He was only called upon to make a single save all game. His distribution was solid enough, but he was largely a spectator for the 90 minutes. A clean sheet is a clean sheet, though.

Defenders

Mario Mitaj - 8.0: An outstanding performance from the left-back. He was a constant presence, with over 100 touches and an incredible 95% pass accuracy. Defensively, he was superb, winning most of his duels and making three key tackles. He even got forward to create a chance and made a goal-line clearance.

Elseid Hysaj - 8.0: What an attacking outlet he was. From our perspective, he was one of the most creative players on the pitch, creating a staggering five chances, including one big one. He was a menace down the right flank and his delivery was consistently dangerous. A fantastic all-around display.

Arlind Ajeti - 7.0: A really solid and commanding performance at the back. He was almost perfect with his passing, which helped build attacks from deep. Ajeti made four crucial clearances and was strong in his duels. He did miss a headed chance but his defensive contribution was invaluable.

Berat Djimsiti - 6.5: The captain led with his distribution, boasting a 97% pass completion rate. However, he will be kicking himself for missing a big chance to score. He looked a little vulnerable in the air at times, losing more aerial duels than he won, but was generally solid.

Midfielders

Kristjan Asllani - 8.5: Without a doubt, the Man of the Match. He showed immense composure to slot home the winning penalty. Beyond the goal, he was the engine of the team, dictating play with over 100 touches and a brilliant range of passing. He was the highest-rated player for a reason, a class above everyone else.

Nedim Bajrami - 6.0: A busy but ultimately frustrating evening for the midfielder. He got into some good areas and had three shots, but his final product was lacking. His passing was tidy, but he struggled to make a decisive impact before being substituted. We expected a little more from him.

Qazim Laci - 6.5: A tireless worker in the midfield, but he'll be haunted by the big chance he missed. He battled hard, won his tackles, and made some good dribbles. However, his shooting was wayward, and that crucial miss brings his rating down a touch.

Juljan Shehu - 7.5: The unsung hero in midfield. He did the simple things exceptionally well, breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. His passing was crisp and kept Albania ticking over. A disciplined and effective performance that provided great balance to the side.

Armando Broja - 6.0: It just wasn't his night. He worked hard and his movement was decent, but he was completely ineffective in front of the goal, failing to register a single shot on target. He lost the ball too often and seemed to be trying a bit too hard. A disappointing outing.

Forwards

Rey Manaj - 6.0: He got into a great position to score but fluffed his lines, missing a key opportunity. Like Broja, he worked hard and contested duels, but you need your main striker to be more clinical. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Substitutes

Arbër Hoxha - 6.5: Looked bright after coming on, forcing a good save with a shot from distance.

Mirlind Daku - N/A: Came on too late to have any real impact on the game.

Adrion Pajaziti - N/A: Not enough time to influence the proceedings.

Marash Kumbulla - N/A: A late defensive change to see out the win.

Manager

S. Campos Junior - 7.0: His team secured the win and the three points, which is the most important metric. The tactical setup ensured dominance in possession and territory. However, he will need to work on his team's profligacy in front of goal, as better opponents would have punished them.

Latvia Player Ratings vs Albania

Here are the Latvia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Krisjanis Zviedris - 7.0: He couldn't do a thing about the penalty, but he made two important saves to keep his team in the contest. He was decisive in claiming high balls and his handling was secure. A decent performance despite the loss.

Defenders

Deniss Melniks - 4.5: A disastrous performance. He gave away the penalty with a ridiculous handball, a moment of sheer panic that cost his team the game. He struggled throughout the first half and was deservedly hooked at the break. A night he will want to forget immediately.

Daniels Balodis - 5.5: He will be having nightmares about the big chance he missed, heading over from close range. Defensively, he was part of a backline that was under constant pressure. He made a few clearances but looked shaky for large parts of the game.

Antonijs Cernomordijs - 6.5: The captain fought bravely at the heart of the defence. He made some important blocks and tackles, and even forced a save with a header late on. He did get a yellow card and was caught out of position a couple of times, but he led by example with his effort.

Raivis Jurkovskis - 6.0: A battling, if unspectacular, display. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul but was solid in his one-on-one duels. He didn't offer much going forward but stuck to his defensive tasks diligently before being subbed.

Midfielders

Eduards Daskevics - 5.0: Almost completely anonymous. He struggled to get on the ball, lost all of his duels, and was a passenger for much of his time on the pitch. It was a relief for his team when he was substituted just after the hour mark.

Renars Varslavans - 6.5: One of the few Latvian players who can hold their head high. He worked his socks off in midfield, winning tackles and recovering the ball frequently. His use of the ball was simple but effective. A disciplined performance.

Andrejs Ciganiks - 7.0: Latvia's best player on the night. He was a constant threat from the left, creating three chances, including a big one for his teammates. He also tracked back well, making four tackles. A really impressive and energetic display.

Dmitrijs Zelenkovs - 6.0: A tidy performance in possession, but he lacked the cutting edge to hurt Albania. He worked hard and made some good defensive interventions. His shooting from distance was poor, though.

Lukass Vapne - 5.5: He saw a decent amount of the ball but did very little with it. He was too passive and failed to contribute in either an attacking or defensive sense. An unremarkable 61 minutes of football.

Forwards

Dario Sits - 5.0: A thankless task leading the line on his own. He was physically dominated by the Albanian defenders and starved of service. Picked up an early yellow card and never looked like scoring. A tough night at the office.

Substitutes

Roberts Savalnieks - 6.0: Brought some stability after replacing the calamitous Melniks.

Aleksejs Saveljevs - 5.5: Failed to make an impact after coming on.

Vladislavs Gutkovskis - 6.0: Looked a bit more threatening than Sits but missed a half-chance.

Marko Regza - N/A: Not enough time to make a difference.

Manager

P. Nicolato - 5.5: His team was set up to frustrate and defend, but that plan went out the window after a moment of individual stupidity. His side never looked capable of scoring from open play. The substitutions were logical but failed to change the course of the game.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Kristjan Asllani