Superliga
Tirana–Dinamo 1-1 in Durrës: 10-man Dinamo level through Hoxhallari as four are sent off in derby
Redon Xhixha put Tirana ahead in the 64th minute, but Erion Hoxhallari equalized for Dinamo in the 78th. Dinamo coach Ilir Daja was sent off before halftime and blamed the referee.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 29, 2026, 16:20 · Updated 18:43 · 2 min read
In brief
- The Week 9 derby at Niko Dovana Stadium ended 1-1, with goals from Xhixha and Hoxhallari.
- Dinamo played a man down from the 27th minute after Oresti Rifa was sent off; Ilir Daja, athletic trainer Dodaj and Basilio Ndong were also dismissed.
- Klafuriç said he was not satisfied, while Daja said “with this referee it is not fair.”
The capital derby between Tirana and Dinamo ended without a winner, 1-1, on Thursday at Niko Dovana Stadium in Durrës, in Week 9 of the Abissnet Superiore. The match, refereed by Enea Jorgji, was marked by tension, protests and four dismissals. The first half ended goalless.
Dinamo down to 10 from the 27th minute
Dinamo were reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute when Oresti Rifa was sent off. Before halftime, Dinamo coach Ilir Daja was also sent off, in the 40th minute, along with athletic trainer Dodaj. Tirana went ahead in the 64th minute through Redon Xhixha, but in the 78th Erion Hoxhallari equalized for Dinamo. Basilio Ndong was also sent off late on, while Dinamo hit the post in the closing minutes. With this result, Dinamo stay third and Tirana fourth, according to ATSH (the Albanian Telegraphic Agency).
Daja blasts the referee, Klafuriç unhappy
“Before the red card, we were superior,” Ilir Daja said after the match. “With this referee it is not fair,” he added, recalling that the same referee had also sent him off in the Cup final. Daja admitted his assistant's reaction toward the referee was wrong and said he asked the team to give 10% more to make up for the missing player.
Tirana coach Klafuriç said he was not satisfied and that the team did not play well, although the players wanted to win. He praised Dinamo for their performance with a man down and criticized TV analysts. Hoxhallari, named player of the match, said scoring against his former club was special for him. Week 9 closes in the evening with Egnatia–Teuta in Rrogozhina.
