KS Korabi Peshkopi booked their place in the next round of the Albanian Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Terbuni Puke at the Korabi Stadium on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. A late strike from substitute Erion Xhafa proved the difference in a tense first-round tie that was decided in the final minutes.

Match Overview

The first-round tie kicked off at 19:30 local time and both sides showed early nerves in a cagey opening. Korabi, playing in front of their home supporters, gradually took control of possession and created the first meaningful chance when Ardit Hoxha forced a smart save from the Terbuni goalkeeper. The pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when Hoxha latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted past the advancing keeper to make it 1-0. Terbuni responded well and began to find space on the counter, but Korabi's defence held firm until the break. The visitors came out with renewed purpose in the second half and equalised in the 58th minute when Blerim Mema rose highest to head home a corner. The game appeared to be heading for extra time, but Korabi pushed forward and found a winner in the 87th minute through Xhafa, who had been on the pitch for just six minutes. The substitute reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box and fired low into the bottom corner, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Key Moments

• 23' – Goal (Korabi): Ardit Hoxha opened the scoring with a composed finish after a defence-splitting pass.
• 58' – Goal (Terbuni): Blerim Mema powered a header past the Korabi goalkeeper from a corner.
• 74' – Chance (Korabi): Hoxha nearly restored the lead but his shot clipped the outside of the post.
• 87' – Goal (Korabi): Erion Xhafa pounced on a defensive mix-up to score the winner.

Tactical Story

Korabi set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to dominate the midfield and use width to stretch Terbuni's back line. The full-backs pushed high, and the wingers constantly cut inside to create overloads. Terbuni, meanwhile, deployed a 4-4-2 and sat deep, looking to hit on the break through their pacey forwards. For much of the first half, Korabi's pressing forced errors, but Terbuni's equaliser came from a set-piece, an area where Korabi had looked vulnerable. In the final 20 minutes, Korabi switched to a more direct approach, bringing on Xhafa to add fresh legs in the box. The move paid off as Terbuni's tired defence failed to clear their lines, allowing the substitute to seal the win.

Standout Players

Ardit Hoxha was Korabi's most dangerous outlet, scoring the opener and testing the keeper throughout. Erion Xhafa's impact from the bench was decisive, while captain Ledion Ruçi controlled the tempo in midfield. For Terbuni, Blerim Mema was a constant threat in the air and scored a fine header, while goalkeeper Endrit Basha made several important saves to keep his side in the game.

What It Means

The victory sends KS Korabi Peshkopi into the next round of the Albanian Cup, where they will face either a higher-division opponent or another lower-league side depending on the draw. For Terbuni Puke, the defeat ends their cup run, but they can take heart from a spirited performance against a team that finished strongly. Korabi will now look to build on this result as they continue their campaign on multiple fronts.