Besëlidhja Lezhë vs Otrant-Olympic

The hosts took the lead in the 27th minute through 18-year-old striker Flavio Fusha, who finished from close range to put Besëlidhja ahead. The advantage lasted only until first-half stoppage time, when Otrant-Olympic equalised just before the break to send the teams in level at 1-1.

Besëlidhja emerged with renewed purpose after the interval. Gersi Melakuqi restored the lead in the 54th minute, finishing a move that exposed gaps in the Otrant defence. The Albanian side then put the result beyond doubt in the 75th minute when E. Akansase added a third, making it 3-1.

Otrant-Olympic had played a friendly against Vllaznia the previous day — winning 2-1 at home — and rotated their squad for this fixture in Lezhë. That rotation, combined with Besëlidhja's sharper second-half display, flipped the match. Besëlidhja scored twice in the space of 21 second-half minutes, and Otrant could not find an answer.

• Flavio Fusha (Besëlidhja Lezhë) — The 18-year-old from Shkodër opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 27th minute, continuing a promising pre-season. He is among a cohort of young players pushing for a first-team role this season.
• Gersi Melakuqi (Besëlidhja Lezhë) — Scored the crucial second goal that swung momentum decisively back in Besëlidhja's favour.
• E. Akansase (Besëlidhja Lezhë) — Sealed the win with a well-taken third goal in the 75th minute.

The 3-1 scoreline — predicted with only a 2.3% likelihood by pre-match models, according to Sports Mole — understates the shift in control after the interval. Besëlidhja scored two goals in the second half after sharing one each in the first, suggesting improved fitness or tactical adjustments during the break. Otrant-Olympic, having played a day earlier, were unable to maintain their first-half intensity.

Besëlidhja continue to build positive momentum ahead of the new season. The club has reinforced during the summer transfer window and is targeting promotion to the Kategoria Superiore. This was their second pre-season outing after a 0-0 draw with Laçi on 18 July.

For Otrant-Olympic, this friendly followed a 2-1 win over Vllaznia the previous day and a 0-1 loss to Bokelj on 19 July. The Montenegrin-based Albanian club used the fixture to give minutes to squad players, with head coach rotation evident in the lineup.

Both sides continue their pre-season programmes ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

A straightforward pre-season friendly that swung on Besëlidhja's superior second-half energy and Otrant-Olympic's squad rotation. Fusha's early goal and the quickfire double after the break were the decisive moments in a game that served its purpose for both sides' preparations.