Albania qualified for the Euro 2024 football championship with a 1-1 draw away against Moldova in Group E, as the home side kept their hopes alive for reaching the finals with a late equalizer on Friday. Albania opened the scoring with a penalty in the 25th minute after Iwan Kalin Revenco fouled Tolan Sferi, and Sokoll Cikaleshi successfully converted the penalty.
The home side pushed hard for an equalizer in the second half, with Albania's goalkeeper saving several attempts, but Vladislav Babuglu's low strike from close range in the 87th minute gave Moldova's fans a reason to celebrate. Albania started their qualification campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Poland last March but has gone unbeaten since then, winning four matches and drawing twice to reach 14 points, and they can secure the top spot in the group if they win at home against the modest Faroe Islands next Monday.
Moldova is now in third place with 10 points, tied with Poland and one point behind the Czech Republic, and they still have a chance to qualify. Moldova will face the Czech Republic next, but if the Czech Republic wins their other group match on Friday against Poland in Warsaw, Moldova's hopes of qualification will end.
