The football match at Arena Kombetare was charged with tension as fans anxiously watched Rey Manaj take a penalty, hoping for a football hero to emerge. The atmosphere reflected a turbulent history between Serbia and Albania, marked by past hostilities. Manaj's penalty was a failure, leading to a goalless draw that ultimately maintained peace without major disturbances. The match concluded without incidents, indicating a tentative success amid heightened security, especially given previous violent encounters between the teams. Uefa officials monitored the event, assessing the security measures that ensured the game progressed without serious conflict.
Albania had been awarded a penalty, and if Manaj kept his nerve then maybe a football hero could finally be born... The shot was low, far too close to Djordje Petrovic and firmly pawed to safety.
A goalless draw was always likely to keep the peace and, given these sides' catastrophic meeting in Belgrade almost 11 years ago, the real measure of success was in its smooth completion.
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