Our Portuguese hitman Tomané bagged a goal that settled the nervous match in Albania's capital and saw our team progress to the Third qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League.
Ground: Arena Kombëtare
Referee: Kaspar Sjöberg (Sweden)
Goalscorer: Tomané 61'
KF Tirana: Lika, Toševski, Najdovski, Vangjeli, Hoxhallari, Torassa, Cobbina, Celhaka, Batha, Gomes, Muci.
Substitutes: Qirko, Muça, Avdijaj, Vrapi, Nuri, Halili, Toli.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić, Pynkov, Milunović, Degenek, Sanogo, Nikolić, Spiridonović, Kanga, Katai, Tomané.
Substitutes: Popović, Gajić, Ivanić, Boakye, Petrović, Rodić, Gavrić.
We struggled for long periods of time in this match and even allowed a few chances for the hosts, but it was one of those games that really needed that first goal.
Passes in the final third often went astray as the red and whites struggled to make their quality count in Tirana.
The hosts were motivated and they never stopped pushing the champions of Serbia, with young striker Ernest Muci testing Milan Borjan on a couple of occasions.
Dejan Stanković sent Mirko Ivanić and Milan Rodić on after the break to add some experience to the side and it showed.
The red and whites needed a wake-up call, however, as Milan Borjan pushed a Tirana shot onto his right goalpost and away. It was the best chance for the Albanian team who sensed that they may have got a shout in the match.
But Zvezda got the much-needed goal just after the hour mark as Tomané rose the highest to steer an Aleksandar Katai corner into the net. It was a huge moment and it was clear just by looking at the celebrations among the players and the staff on the touchline.
Zvezda took the control after the goal and were more secure on the ball, rarely allowing Tirana to get a sight of goal.
We are now ready to learn our opponents in the Champions League Third qualifying round.