Albania beats European champ Greece 2-1

TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- Albania beat European champion Greece 2-1 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

The upset sparked celebrations in the main Skanderbeg Square, where Albanian fans in red-and-black T-shirts and carrying national flags honked car horns and set off firecrackers.

"The victory was for them (fans)," said Albania midfielder Besnik Hasi.

Teammate Edvin Murati, who plays in Greece with Iraklis Thessaloniki, stunned the visitors with a scoring header in the second minute after a cross in error by Greece's Costas Katsouranis.

Another shock was in store in the 11th when a strong 30-meter free kick in the 11th by Albania defender Ardian Aliaj caught Greek goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis by surprise.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel, who had warned his players that the opponents were strongly motivated, immediately started a pressing game and his side replied in the 39th with Stelios Giannakopoulos heading in a cross by Vassilis Tsartas. Both substitutes played better than the teammates they replaced.

The Greeks continued their strong pressure in the second half. A Tsartas pass flew across the Albanian goal without being intercepted, and a hard 25-meter shot by Giorgos Karagounis went close.

The Albanians had four good chances from the 72nd to the 78th, when they also claimed a penalty after a shot from Murati touched Michalis Kapsis' left arm.

Albania coach Hans-Peter Briegel played a defensive game, much like Greece did in the European Championship in Portugal.

"The team's play increased a lot with the passing of minutes," he said.

The match was held under tight security from police, who had increased patrols on national roads and had barred parked cars near Tirana's downtown Qemal Stafa Stadium.

Cameras monitored access routes to the stadium, and fans were searched before entering.

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Lineups:

Albania: Foto Strakosha; Besnik Hasi, Elvin Beqiri, Ardian Aliaj, Altin Lala; Lorik Cana, Klodian Duro (Ardit Beqiri, 87), Edvin Murati, Ervin Skela; Igli Tare, Florian Myrtaj (Mehmet Dragusha, 76).

Greece: Antonis Nikopolidis; Yourkas Seitaridis, Takis Fyssas (Vassilis Tsartas, 33), Nikos Dabizas (Stelios Giannakopoulos, 17), Michalis Kapsis; Angelos Basinas, Theodoros Zagorakis, Costas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis; Angelos Haristeas, Zisis Vryzas (Dimitrios Papadopoulos, 66).\