Mitrovica was the sensation and the headline of UEFA Women’s Champions League football on Wednesday.
The team from the Kosovo city on the banks of the Ibar River recorded the biggest win in the first qualifying round, defeating Moldova’s Zimbru Chisinau by no less than 10-0.
It was not only the most convincing result of the day, but also one of the biggest wins recorded in the qualifying stages of European club competitions.
The match, played at the Hajvalia National Camp, also produced the highest number of goals among the 10 matches played on Wednesday. In fact, Mitrovica won both halves 5-0.
Another remarkable feat was Edona Kryeziu scoring four goals in the first half. She found the back of the Moldovan net in the 13th, 17th, 42nd and 44th minutes.
Ambra Gjegji scored Mitrovica’s fifth goal of the first half in the 24th minute.
Aurora Mulliqi was also highly productive, scoring a hat-trick in the second half, beating the visiting goalkeeper in the 48th, 58th and 61st minutes.
Blerta Shala scored in the 65th minute, while Bardha Mahmuti found the net in the 88th minute.
The Mitrovica side recorded 20 shots on target against the Moldovan team, while they were also caught offside on nine occasions.
Mitrovica are part of a four-team mini-tournament in what is known as the Champions Path (CP), alongside the Moldovan club, Bulgaria’s Ludogorets and KI Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands. The match between the latter two ended in a 3-0 victory for the Bulgarian side.
The Kosovo team will face Ludogorets in the final of the group, with the winner advancing to the next round.
KF Mitrovica president Hajrullah Haxhiu said he expects a positive result in Saturday’s match, which will also be played at the Hajvalia National Camp.
“The chances are 50-50, but I think we have more experience in international competitions,” he told KosovaPress. “I believe we have a good team and I expect us to qualify for the next round.”
Haxhiu said that a large turnout of fans at Saturday’s match would be a major boost for the Mitrovica players, as it would motivate them even more to secure a major victory over Bulgaria’s Ludogorets.
The Mitrovica women’s impressive performance was also welcomed by the Football Federation of Kosovo, which wrote in a post, “Proud of our champions,” congratulating the girls from the miners’ city on what it described as a fantastic start to their European campaign.
“This victory is proof of the work, dedication and quality being built every day in women’s football in Kosovo, as well as the good organization of the Mitrovica club,” the FFK said. “Supporting the development of women’s football remains one of our main priorities, while the achievements of our clubs on the international stage always make us proud.” /KosovaPress/
