dinamo cruise past kaunas published: wednesday 24 july 2002, 23.40cet ks dinamo tirana 0-0 fbk kaunas(aggregate 3-2) dinamo went through as expected.
ks dinamo tirana 0-0 fbk kaunas (dinamo win 3-2 on aggregate) ks dinamo tirana failed to give the home fans a goal to cheer about but had done the hard work in the first leg to reach the second qualifying round.
no way through the albanian champions enjoyed the majority of the chances but could just not find a way to break the deadlock on the night. it was a far cry from last week’s five-goal thriller that ultimately sent dinamo through
stirring fightback dinamo performed heroics in lithuania when, trailing by two goals, they battled back to score three vital away goals in the second half. it was a stirring fightback, and kaunas never quite managed to recover in the return.
cruise control full of confidence, dinamo were always in cruise control tonight and the onus was on kaunas to take the game to the hosts but they just could not find a way through. in truth it was a dull display, with dinamo only stepping up a gear towards the end.
inspirational form the tirana-based team created several clear-cut chances in the closing stages only to find kaunas goalkeeper eduardas kurskis in inspirational form. kurskis was first on hand to deny an attempt from uljan ahmatj and then two minutes later he produced another miraculous save to thwart illir qorri. seconds later kurskis some how managed to keep out a stinging drive from luan pinari.
tricky tie victory means dinamo progress to the second qualifying round but they have a tricky tie in prospect. they travel to denmark to play brøndby if in the first round next wednesday, with the return following a week later.