LYON: It was a celebration worthy of marking any country's first goal at an international tournament. No sooner had Armando Sadiku put Albania in front with a smartly steered header, the FC Zurich striker was wheeling away in a state of unbridled joy.
He had one intention, though, and no one was going to prevent him from realising it. Charging back down the pitch towards the halfway line, Sadiku waved frantically to one team-mate hopeful of an embrace on the touchline to step aside, with the path being cleared for Albania's hero to slide to his knees in front of a delirious bench, where he was duly mobbed.
It was a historic goal and it might end up being an important one, too, should Albania qualify for the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams. Having lost to Switzerland and France in their opening two games, it remains to be seen if three points is enough but it would be cruel if Albania's remarkable -adventure ends here.
As Romania, bowing out of the tournament with just a point to their name, discovered to their cost on a lively night in Lyon, the Albanians are about a lot more than endeavour; there is plenty of enterprise and expression to their football as well.
Albania's goal arrived two minutes before half-time but -Romania, who had started the brightest, could not say they had not been warned.
Ledjan Memushaj had an effort saved, Migjen Basha should have done better with a first-time shot from a well-worked corner routine and a sumptuous move in the 23rd minute had deserved better than for Ermir Lenjani to stray into an offside position at its climax.
Lenjani ballooned his shot over from six yards anyway, but it was proof that Spain do not have the monopoly on intricate passing interchanges. Albania were not the most free-scoring team in qualifying and the question was whether they could demonstrate the composure in front of goal to match their diligent and disciplined build-up play. To relief and rapture, they showed they could when Memushaj speared a cross to the far post. Sadiku peeled away from Vlad Chiriches and as Ciprian Tatarusanu, the Romania goalkeeper, came unsuccessfully for the ball, Albania's No?10 guided a fine header into the net, prompting that outpouring of emotion.
Albania were not content with one goal, and Mergim Mavraj headed over from a corner soon after the restart. Romania introduced Gabriel Torje and later Florin Andone in the hope of clawing their way back into the game, but everywhere they looked, they ran into roadblocks.
Albania's midfield five worked tirelessly, harassing and haranguing, and when Romania did break, Albania's strong centre-half pairing of Mavraj and Arlind Ajeti were usually there to mop up.