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Ball Stories | Interesting episodes from the Albanian Cup through the years!

July 9, 2026

151

1952 edition.
In the quarter-finals with a single match, on Sunday October 5, Dinamo and Partizan met: the match ended 0-0 after a full 3 extra periods of 15 minutes each.

In those days there were no penalties, but only coin tosses. The only problem was the fact that the Albanian Football Federation considered this kind of “technical” solution unfair.

The match was played again in Tirana just two days later. Dinamo defeated Partizan with a score of 3-2 at the end of a very tiring game, which ended after two extra periods: a total of 255 minutes of marathon play!

The following year’s cup was won by Dinamo in the final against Tirana.

1963 Edition
1/8 of the finals, first leg Apolonia of Fier – Korabi of Peshkopia 2-1; second leg Korabi – Apolonia 2-1:
after two additional periods of 15 minutes each, it came to penalties.

Meanwhile, a cluster of black clouds gathered at the foot of Mount Korabi, in the suggestive region of Dibra.

This cluster of clouds darkened the day so much that it was impossible to see. The referee stopped the match due to darkness, while the players were taking penalties.

The players had dinner and went to bed early. The next morning, the positions were regained, continuing the penalty shootout endlessly;

Apolonia won 25 penalties against 24 scored by the home team.

The cup was won by “17 Nentori” against “Besa”; the “kavajas” won 3-2 in Tirana (Sunday, March 31), while the “tiranas” won 1-0 in Kavaje (Wednesday, April 17), after penalties the capital club won the trophy: 5-2!

1965 Edition
Unlike the 1963 edition, this match ended within regular time. 1/8 of the finals with a single match: June 20 in Tirana, Partizani-Flamurtari 1:1;

It goes to penalties without extra time: after ten shots from the penalty spot, 9 of them were taken out or were saved by the goalkeepers.

Flamurtari passes the round one penalty against zero!

The final is played in Tirana and was won by Vllaznia of Shkodra against Skenderbeu of Korca with the score 1:0.

1972 Edition
Return final in Shkoder: “Vllaznia” – “Besa” Kavaja.

The first leg ended “Besa” winning 2:0.
In the return leg, regular time ended 2:0 for the Shkoder team, thanks to two penalties scored by Ramazan Rragami.

Extra time was played and then it was the penalties that decided the winner, and all seven penalties were scored by Ramazan Ragami; at that time, there was no rule of changing the players who took the penalties.
Ragami scored all seven, setting a world record…at least for composure.