gak take command in style published: wednesday 30 july 2003, 22.00cet kf tirana 1-5 grazer ak gak overcome early scare to gain convincing victory in albanian capital.
grazer ak ran out comfortable 5-1 winners against albania's kf tirana in their uefa champions league second qualifying round first-leg match - but the austrians had to overcome an early scare before recording their victory.
tirana lead fjodor xhafa put the home side ahead when he lobbed the ball past andreas schranz in the gak goal after five minutes following a quick break by the albanian champions.
bazina levels scores however, the early strike failed to undermine the austrians as they took control with three goals before the interval. mario bazina capitalised on a mistake in the tirana defence to put gak on level terms after 14 minutes.
gak move ahead rené aufhauser then sent the visitors ahead in the 32nd minute with a header from a corner shortly after indrit fortuzi had rattled the crossbar for the home side with a shot from 20 metres, and they extended their lead four minutes before the break when ilco naumoski scored with a high shot from the edge of the penalty area.
naumoski's second gak continued to dominate in the second half as tirana's counterattacks became ever rarer, with joachim standfest nodding in from close range after 56 minutes and naumoski adding his second eight minutes from time with a low shot from 16 metres.
ajax await tirana will visit graz next wednesday for the return, with a place to play 2002/03 quarter-finalists and four-time winners afc ajax at stake.
