UEFA.com, 30 November 2002

Tirana extend advantage

SK Tirana increased their lead at the top of the Liga e Pare table to two points thanks to a 4-0 away win at KS Bylis on Saturday.

Vata double
Rudi Vata struck in the 45th and 79th minutes, before Eldorado Merkoçi scored two goals in the last ten minutes to secure victory inside the Ballsh stadium. Bylis's cause was not helped by a red card for Muça. Meanwhile, second-placed KF Partizani were unable to keep pace with the leaders as they were held to a goalless draw at home to KS Dinamo Tirana.

Begeja hat-trick
Gentian Begeja scored a 17-minute hat-trick as lowly KS Teuta claimed only their second home victory of the season with a 3-1 win against KS Flamurtari. Begeja struck on 12, 20 and 29 minutes meaning Bashkim Abilaj's goal midway through the second half was no more than a consolation.

Lushnja on the up
Dritan Cuko scored twice as KF Lushnja defeated KS Elbasani 3-0, with Arben Hysko also on target. The win sees Lushnja climb to eighth place while Elbasani slip to tenth.

Lika the difference
Elton Lika found the target with a 51st-minute penalty as KS Besëlidhja ran out 2-0 winners at home to bottom club KS Apolonia. Kreshnik Ivanaj then raced clear a minute from time to wrap up the points and move Besëlidhja into eleventh spot.

Surprise for Vllaznia
Paris Xhihani's tenth-minute goal was enough to give sixth-placed KS Besa a surprise three points against high-flying KS Vllaznia, while lowly KF Erzeni grabbed a 1-1 draw at KS Shkumbini in the day's other game.

UEFA.com, 23 November 2002

Derby delight for Partizani

KF Partizani leapfrogged SK Tirana into top spot with a 2-0 away win over their rivals in the match of the day in Albania this afternoon.

Level on points
Partizani moved level on points and on goal difference but their goals scored column lifts them to the summit. After a tense first half, Guy Ijiebor Ativie Prince broke the deadlock in the 61st minute before Geraldinho secured the victory for the visitors nine minutes from time.

Vllaznia victorious
KS Vllaznia stay in third place, just two points behind the Tirana sides, after their easy 3-0 win against KF Lushnja. Skerdi Bejzade struck in the 17th minute before Albert Kaçi (50) and Vioresin Sinani (82) wrapped up the three points.

Joy for Bylis
Elsewhere, KS Bylis beat hosts KS Apolonia 2-1, while Gentjan Stokju and Burhan Emurlai gave KS Elbasani a 2-0 victory against visiting KS Besëlidhja. KS Flamurtari replace KS Shkumbini in fourth place after Artan Sakaj's solitary goal gave them victory in the meeting between the sides, while KS Besa won 2-1 at KF Erzeni. KS Dinamo Tirana won 2-1 against KS Teuta in Friday’s game.

UEFA.com, 9 November 2002

Tirana increase advantage

SK Tirana moved five points clear at the top of the Liga e Pare as they continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 weekend win against KS Shkumbini.

Xhafas on target
However, they left it late as Fjodor Xhafa opened the scoring in the 75th minute before Devi Mukaj sealed the points three minutes later. Defending champions KS Dinamo Tirana claimed their second successive win at home to KS Besa, Daniel Xhafa and Ulian Ahmataj the men on target.

Late leveller
Edmond Kappllani struck a last-minute goal to secure a vital point for second-placed KF Partizani at KS Elbasani. Aleksander Karioka put Partizani in front in the 14th minute but Dorian Bylykbashi (20) and Shkelqim Hajdari (58) put the home team further ahead before Kappllani's late leveller.

Early lead
KS Vllaznia were made to fight hard for their 3-2 win against KS Besëlidhja. Vllaznia found themselves 3-0 up within 32 minutes as Edi Martini and two goals from Arbri put them firmly in the driving seat. But they took their foot of the pedal and Gasper Ndoja and Alban Bruka both hit the net to ensure a nervy finish.

Other games
KS Apolonia claimed a 2-0 home win against KS Teuta thanks to a 60th minute penalty from Artion Poci and Vasko Ruko's strike ten minutes from time. Elsewhere, KS Flamurtari defeated KF Erzeni 2-1 and KF Lushnja drew 1-1 with KS Bylis.

UEFA.com, 2 November 2002

Besa hold off Tirana

SK Tirana saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just three points at the weekend after they were held to a goalless draw at lowly KS Besa.

Determined display
Besa, who are fourth from bottom of the table, put in a determined display to pinch a point from their clash with the capital club, while second-placed KS Shkumbini beat KS Apolonia 3-0. The result leaves Apolonia bottom of the table with four points from six games.

Partizani in third
KF Partizani hung on to third spot after claiming a 3-1 home win against Lushnja thanks to goals from Edmond Kapllani, Dhembi and Neves Dos Reis Abilio, while a penalty from Vito ensured fourth-placed KS Flamurtari recorded their third win of the season with a 1-0 success against KS Vllaznia.

More misery for Dinamo
In other matches, KF Erzeni beat KS Dinamo Tirana courtesy of Artan Karapici's second-half penalty, KS Bylis beat KS Besëlidhja 2-0 and KS Teuta slumped to a 3-1 home defeat to KS Elbasani.