Albania turns the tide in Tirana: Second-half surge overpowers Jordan in six-goal friendly

By the final whistle at Arena Kombëtare, what had begun as another tense, tactical friendly was transformed into a thrilling showcase of Albanian resolve and firepower—a night when the hosts reversed an early deficit with a whirlwind second-half display, defeating Jordan 4-2 in Tirana.

On a crisp October evening, Albania arrived buoyed by their steely recent form. Fresh off consecutive 1-0 wins in competitive and friendly fixtures, most recently silencing Serbia in Belgrade just three days prior, the Red and Blacks entered the break trailing but left the pitch with their confidence vindicated: four goals scored—more in 90 minutes than in their previous three outings combined.

Jordan, for their part, looked determined to shake off the disappointment of a 0-1 loss at Bolivia that had continued a run of mixed friendlies. The visitors, who had failed to score in two of their last three matches, found an early breakthrough in Tirana and threatened to turn the tables on a team that, on paper, had looked impenetrable for weeks.

It was Jordan who struck first, silencing the home crowd in the 27th minute. Nizar Mahmoud Al-Rashdan capitalized on a rare moment of Albanian disarray at the back, finding enough space at the top of the box to drive home a low shot beyond the reach of the diving Etrit Berisha. Suddenly, Albania’s three-match shutout streak was broken, and the friendly took on a sharper edge.

For much of the opening hour, Albania’s familiar attacking anxiety resurfaced. Their build-up was measured, but the final ball often eluded them as Jordan’s disciplined lines absorbed wave after wave of probing runs. The visitors nearly doubled their advantage just before halftime, with Yazan Abdallah Al-Naimat forcing Berisha into action again, though the Albanian keeper stood tall to limit the damage.

Change arrived after the interval. Emboldened by adjustments from the touchline and buoyed by a swelling crowd, Albania’s attack finally ignited. The pivotal moment arrived in the 65th minute: Armando Broja, who had been isolated in the first half, burst onto a clever through ball from Arber Hoxha, took one deft touch to open his angle, and rifled a shot into the bottom corner. The roar from the Arena Kombëtare was cathartic, both relief and anticipation rolled into one.

The match, once cautious, now opened wide. Ten minutes later, Arber Hoxha shed his role as creator and took up that of finisher, latching onto a loose ball at the edge of the area and driving a curling effort past Jordan’s Yazeed Abulaila for a 2-1 Albanian lead. Momentum had shifted decisively; the Jordanian back line, so compact early, now looked vulnerable with each Albanian surge.

Just four minutes later, the hosts struck again. This time it was Nedim Bajrami, ghosting into the channel between defenders and meeting a low cross with a tidy finish to put Albania 3-1 ahead. In the space of 14 frenzied minutes, Albania had scored three and effectively put the contest to bed.

With Jordan pressing forward in search of a lifeline, Albania were ruthless on the counter. In the dying moments, they added a fourth, capping their most prolific spell in months and offering a tantalizing glimpse of attacking options as the next phase of European qualifying approaches.

Still, Jordan showed fight to the end. Deep into stoppage time, Ali Olwan slotted home a consolation goal, reacting quickest after a goalmouth scramble to make it 4-2. The final scoreline reflected a match both open and, in phases, fiercely contested—a departure from both teams’ recent, defense-first tendencies.

For Albania, tonight’s result continues a remarkable surge: a fourth straight win and a rare offensive explosion for a side that has relied heavily on narrow margins and defensive discipline. The Red and Blacks remain unbeaten in their last four and, crucially, will take valuable momentum—and newfound confidence in front of goal—into the upcoming World Cup qualification matches.

For Jordan, the defeat lays bare both promise and persistent shortcomings. The early goal showed they can strike against well-organized opposition, but the fragility exposed in the final half-hour will be a concern as they prepare for a competitive calendar where defensive lapses have proven costly in the past.

There were no red cards or major disciplinary incidents to mar the spectacle, but plenty for both managers to dissect. In a series that, prior to today, included a 0-0 draw in their last meeting back in 2018, tonight’s clash offered more goals, more drama—and perhaps, for Albania, a glimpse of a team learning to thrive with the weight of expectation.

Both squads now turn their attention to the road ahead, carrying with them lessons from an October evening that began with unease and ended in exuberance. For Albania, the path forward is now lit by four second-half goals and a belief that their ceiling keeps rising. Jordan, meanwhile, will look to regroup, searching for the balance between enterprising attack and the defensive mettle needed to compete at the highest level.