Retrospective of 1978 | Vllaznia vs Austria Wien for the European Champions Cup!
The Miracle of Shkodra Football, which surprised the European sports media of the time, who thought the result was a printing error!
The older generation of Shkodra, and those who witnessed this miracle, were left with the roar, the cheering for their team, as every citizen of Shkodra can remember, that great cheer, the echoes of the fans that came from the stadium, spreading to every street, neighborhood and entering every house of this ancient city, of art and sports enthusiasts, where almost every resident stood out for their sense of humor, the city after all where football itself, the “top kamba” game in Albania, had been born, especially on that day, when the extremely crowded steps of the stadium felt, along with the weight of time, that of the fans.
The rest of the others who were not lucky enough to be provided with a ticket for this match, remaining outside the stadium or on the city streets, without the possibility of having a radio nearby, could orient themselves very well according to the cheering, the booing when a goal was scored, when there were clear scoring chances, or even who was dominating the game.
This was Shkodra that day in early autumn 1978!
* * *
The most notable event in the history of the Vllaznia club will be that of September 13, 1978, when at the “Vojo Kushi” stadium for the 1978/79 Champions Cup, the Albanian champion took to the field in the presence of 14,000 ardent Shkodra fans, alongside the Austrian champion and one of the most popular teams in Europe at the time, Austria Wien. The Austrians were finalists of the 1978 Cup Winners’ Cup and semi-finalists of the Champions Cup a year later, 1979.
A day before, the meteorological bulletin records heavy rainfall, in fact it is not something unusual in Shkoder where the rain does not stop most of the time during the 365 days of the year.
The situation, on the green field of the “Vojo Kushi” stadium, seems to have some similarity to that of the semi-final match FRG vs. Poland, so-called “water battle” because it took place on a difficult terrain!
However, a colossal work is being done to bring the terrain into a practical condition for the development of this very important competition for Albanian football.
It is the first match of the first round in this Trophy that has in its fold with an elimination system all the champion clubs of Europe!! The trio of judges headed by the Romanian Otto Anderco were led forward…….
Vllaznia, which apparently played this match with a 4-5-1 formation (with only Zhega in attack), revealed all its values, starting off briskly on the wings of the enthusiasm of the start that immediately led to Zhega’s goal in the 8th minute and that continued throughout the match, seriously putting the Austrians, who have big names like Prohaska, Obermayer, Robert Sara and the one who would be best known of all, Walter Shakner, in a difficult position.
The Austrians show signs of nervousness, after failing to come out to their style of playing. Prohaska uses force to stop the momentum of the Shkodran team and in the 16th minute receives a yellow card.
The audience is excited and whistles! Everyone in one chorus shouts “Vllazni” , “Vllazni” (which it means in English “Brotherhood”) accompanied by the rhythm of hand clapping.
Nothing seems to be able to stop the momentum of the Vllaznia players supported by an extremely passionate fan base. It is a beautifully woven ensemble, where the technique of Hafizi stands out in the midfield, the class of Bizi as a conductor, the technique of two players like Vukatana and Axhani, the intuition of Sh. Ballgjini to connect with the attack where maestro Zhega is located!
Without forgetting, the outstanding goalkeeper Jani Kaci, although few chances, knew how to show his skills, together with the defense composed of the center “pillars” Safet Berisha, e Suad Duraj, alongside with the wings, Sait Canga and Lutfi Basha, who are unbeatable!
In the second half again in the first minutes, goal.
Shyqyri Ballgjini !!
2 – 0!!
The score will not change until the end of this challenge!!
Austria Wien does not believe it.
“The Albanian team was very prepared. It played football, technical and modern with great mobility on the field” – Prohaska will say later!
Vllaznia`s action to deepen the result
The victory of Vllaznia, even though its composition included “foreign” players from another albanian clubs, such as Kaci, Berisha or Sh. Ballgjini, in no way diminishes the merit of the Shkodra team in this success.
With this sensational result, it is clear that to qualify for the second round of the Champions Cup, Austria has a very difficult time, it needs to win by three goals difference. However, the Austrians achieve this success, mainly by taking advantage of the “anemic” game of Vllaznia in the second match that was played by a completely different team, losing it 1-4, at a time when they could have lost at least with a narrower result and qualified for the next round.
Shkoder: November 3, 1978
“Vojo Kushi” Stadium
Vllaznia – Austra Wien 2-0 (1-0)
8` Zhega
56` Sh. Ballgjini
VLLAZNIA: Jani Kaçi – Suat Duraj; Seit Çanga; Safet Berisha; Lutfi Basha – Astrit Hafizi; Sabah Bizi; Shyqyri Ballgjini; Fatmir Axhani; Luan Vukatana – Medin Zhega;
AUSTRIA WIEN : Hubert Baumgartner – Erich Obermayer; Robert Sara’; Günther Pospischil – Herbert Prohaska; Felix Gasselich; Ernst Baumeister; Thomas Parits – Heinrich Horvath; Franz Weiss (78`Harald Gmauff); Walter Schachner;
Referee: Otto Anderco (Romania)
(C) Copyright Pjerin Bj
New York: April 25, 2025
______________
Sport Vision + Plus / Champions Hour in activity since 2013
Discover more from Sports Vision +
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
