Serbia 0-1 Albania Player Ratings: Strakosha Rated 9/10 as Manaj's Late First-Half Strike Secures Shock 1-0 Victory

What a result at the Gradski stadion Dubočica. A defiant Albania pulled off a stunning 1-0 upset against a frustrated Serbia side in a tense WC Qualification Europe clash. From our perspective, this was a classic smash-and-grab performance, built on defensive grit and a moment of clinical brilliance. The match was decided by a single goal, and what a goal it was. Rey Manaj found the net just before the halftime whistle, a blow from which the Serbians never truly recovered.

We noticed the game was incredibly physical from the first whistle. It was a stop-start affair, littered with fouls and yellow cards, which seemed to suit the Albanian game plan perfectly. Serbia huffed and puffed, dominating possession for long periods, but they found an absolute wall in the form of Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha. His performance, especially in the dying moments, was nothing short of heroic.

For Serbia, it was a tale of immense frustration and wasted opportunities. They created chances but lacked the final, decisive touch in front of goal. This loss will sting, raising serious questions about their ability to break down a well-organized, deep-lying defense. Albania, on the other hand, will be ecstatic; they executed their strategy flawlessly to secure a memorable victory.

Here are Albania Vs Serbia Player Ratings

Serbia Player Ratings vs Albania

Here are Serbia Player Ratings vs Albania

Goalkeeper

Djordje Petrovic - 6.0: Had very little to do for most of the game, a virtual spectator. He made a couple of routine saves but was left completely exposed for Manaj's goal. From our perspective, you can't really fault him for the loss. He was let down by the defenders in front of him on that one crucial play.

Defenders

Strahinja Pavlović - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the defender. He was caught between aggression and composure, losing possession a shocking 22 times. He tried to get forward and even had a late header saved, but his primary job was to defend, and his flank felt vulnerable at times. Not his best outing by any means.

Veljko Milosavljevic - 7.5: What stood out to us was his sheer volume of defensive work. He was Serbia's busiest defender, with an impressive 7 tackles and 8 clearances. He even made a last-man tackle, showing his commitment. Despite being on the losing team, he can hold his head high after that individual effort.

Milos Veljkovic - 7.0: A really solid performance that was overshadowed by the result. He was imperious in the air, winning most of his duels and distributing the ball well with 11 successful long balls. He even created a few chances, but a late yellow card and the single goal conceded tarnish an otherwise strong display. We noticed he was a commanding presence throughout.

Midfielders

Nemanja Maksimovic - 5.5: A quiet and ineffective performance in the middle of the park. He just couldn't impose himself on the game and was often bypassed by Albania's quick transitions. He was tidy in possession but offered little penetration before being substituted. We expected more influence from him.

Aleksandar Stanković - 6.5: A decent, hard-working display without any real magic. He won a good number of his duels and recovered the ball well, but he struggled to unlock the stubborn Albanian defense. He did his job defensively but couldn't provide the creative spark Serbia desperately needed. Solid, but unspectacular.

Filip Kostić - 7.0: Serbia's main creative threat, by a country mile. Everything positive seemed to come down his wing, as evidenced by the 14 crosses he whipped into the box. He created three chances, but his forwards just couldn't convert. He never stopped running but was ultimately let down by the lack of quality in the box.

Andrija Zivkovic - 6.5: Looked bright and created two big chances before being taken off. His crossing was a real asset, and he seemed to have the measure of the Albanian fullback. It was a surprise to see him substituted, as he was one of Serbia's more dangerous players in the first hour.

Forwards

Aleksandar Mitrović - 5.0: The captain was completely neutralized by the Albanian center-backs. He won a few aerial duels, as you'd expect, but he missed a big chance and looked isolated. From our perspective, he seemed frustrated before his substitution. A very quiet night for a player of his calibre.

Lazar Samardžić - 6.5: Showed some flashes of quality and had two shots on target. He tried to make things happen and looked comfortable on the ball. However, his final product wasn't quite there, and he faded a bit as the game wore on before being subbed off.

Dušan Vlahović - 4.0: A truly dreadful performance. What stood out to us was his wastefulness, as he missed two big chances that could have changed the game. He lost possession an incredible 20 times and seemed to lose every physical battle. It was a night to forget for the striker, a genuine shocker.

Substitutes

Luka Jovic - 6.0: Came on and immediately provided more of a threat than Mitrović. He forced a good save from the keeper but also picked up a needless yellow card.

Stefan Mitrovic - 5.5: Added some energy but failed to make a significant impact on the game.

Vasilije Kostov - 5.5: Had one decent chance that he missed shortly after coming on but was largely anonymous otherwise.

Dejan Zukic - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to make a meaningful contribution.

Andrej Ilic - N/A: Brought on late to add another body up front, but had no time to influence the play.

Manager

D. Stojković - 5.0: His team looked devoid of ideas against a packed defense. The substitutions didn't have the desired effect, and the decision to take off Zivkovic was questionable. He failed to find a tactical solution to break Albania down, and his star forwards had an off day. A frustrating night for the coach.

Albania Player Ratings vs Serbia

Here are Albania Player Ratings vs Serbia

Goalkeeper

Thomas Strakosha - 9.0 (MOTM): An absolutely colossal performance and the undisputed man of the match. He was a giant in goal, making six crucial saves, including a couple of heart-stoppers in stoppage time. What stood out to us was his command of the penalty area and his calming influence on the defense. He single-handedly won his team the match. Simply sensational.

Defenders

Mario Mitaj - 7.5: A fantastic defensive shift from the left-back. He won 7 duels and made 4 crucial interceptions, completely shutting down his side of the pitch. He was tenacious in the tackle and intelligent with his positioning. The late yellow card was the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant display.

Elseid Hysaj - 7.0: A solid and experienced performance from the right-back. He made 6 clearances and was a steadying presence. While he didn't offer as much going forward, his defensive discipline was vital to keeping Serbia at bay. A thoroughly professional job.

Arlind Ajeti - 8.0: What a game. He grabbed the crucial assist for the winning goal with a clever header from a set piece. Defensively, he was a rock, making a staggering 10 clearances. He was in the right place at the right time, over and over again. An immense contribution at both ends of the pitch.

Berat Djimsiti - 7.5: The captain led by example with a powerful defensive performance. He was dominant in his duels and made two vital blocked shots. He organized the backline superbly, ensuring they never panicked under pressure. A true leader's performance when his team needed it most.

Midfielders

Kristjan Asllani - 7.0: The engine room of the Albanian midfield. He kept the ball moving with his neat passing and delivered some dangerous set-pieces. He also forced a good save with a long-range shot. A tireless display, linking the defense and attack effectively.

Qazim Laci - 6.5: A hard-working, if unspectacular, performance. He did a lot of the dirty work in midfield, helping to break up Serbia's rhythm. He kept it simple on the ball and played his role in the defensive structure perfectly before being substituted.

Juljan Shehu - 7.0: A proper midfield destroyer. He was a thorn in Serbia's side all night, winning a massive 11 duels and drawing 5 fouls. Yes, he picked up a yellow card and lived on the edge, but his aggression was exactly what Albania needed to disrupt the opposition. He was a nightmare to play against.

Forwards

Rey Manaj - 8.5: The match-winner. He was an absolute handful for the Serbian defense, winning a remarkable 16 duels. He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned finisher, providing the one moment of true quality that decided the game. His relentless work rate and physicality set the tone for Albania's attack. What a performance.

Myrto Uzuni - 6.0: He worked incredibly hard for the team, tracking back and putting in a real defensive shift. From our perspective, he sacrificed his attacking game for the good of the team. He didn't offer much of a threat going forward but his work rate was invaluable.

Armando Broja - 5.0: A difficult night for the young forward. Nothing seemed to come off for him. He was dispossessed multiple times and lost the majority of his duels. He showed a few flashes of his dribbling ability but ultimately couldn't make an impact on the game.

Substitutes

Mirlind Daku - 6.0: Came on for the injured Manaj and continued to make a nuisance of himself, winning free kicks to relieve pressure.

Nedim Bajrami - 6.0: Added fresh legs and helped see out the game with some tidy possession.

Enea Mihaj - N/A: A late defensive substitution to help run down the clock and secure the historic win.

Manager

S. Campos Junior - 9.0: A tactical masterclass. He set his team up perfectly to frustrate Serbia and hit them on the counter. His game plan worked to perfection, and his players executed it with incredible discipline and heart. A famous and thoroughly deserved victory for the manager and his team.

Sportsdunia's Player of the match is Strakosha