Albania U17 started well in terms of hosting, but not on the pitch, in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship. In the opening match of Group A, played on Monday at the “National Arena” in Tirana, the Red and Blacks suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat to Portugal, Rks News reports.
The visiting team dominated the match, scoring one goal in the first half and three more in the second. The first goal came in the 36th minute from Rafael Jose Mestre Quintas, giving Portugal the lead before halftime.
In the second half, the Portuguese extended their lead. Mateus Souto Mide scored from the penalty spot in the 68th minute to make it 2–0. Just 13 minutes later, Anisio Claudio Fernandes Reis Cabral netted the third goal, and Tomas Alves Soares sealed the final result in stoppage time (92′).
As the host nation, Albania hopes to capitalize on home advantage to make an impact in this tournament. The team will play two more group stage matches, hoping to secure a place in the semifinals.
The semifinals are scheduled for May 29 in Elbasan and Tirana, with the final set for June 1 in the capital.