The Cup final opposed 17 Nentori to Vllaznia and the team from the capital rather easily won 3-1. Vllaznia (Shkoder) was weaker than few years back, 17 Nentori was in perfect form. Simple as that, if one discards the general charge established after 1990 that 17 Nentori was the ‘government’ club and supported behind the scene.
17 Nentori (Tirana) eventually lost the title, but still won the Cup and finished the season in high spirits. This was their 6th Cup, but who could tell at the moment of triumph that this was their last Cup victory? Or was it? After 1991 they changed their name to SK Tirana and continued to win trophies.
Albania
Albania. Two things call attention to this season: both first and second division were decided on goal-difference and rather curious penalties were imposed on 4 top league clubs, including the top three in the final table.
Second Division was dominated by the freshly relegated teams, which promptly returned to the First Division, but in a unusual manner: they finished equal in everything and the champion was decided on more scored goals.
Skenderbeu (Korce) took 2nd place with 15 wins, 5 ties, 6 losses, 35 points, and 35-14 goal-difference.
Besa (Kavaje) became champion of Second Division with exactly the same record, except their goal-difference was 43-22: +21 goals, just like their rivals, but since they scored 43 goals and Skenderbeu only 35, Besa got the title. But both teams returned to top flight after a single season in exile.
First Division was a battle between 3 teams for the title – the trio was way above the rest of the league. There was also one outsider – the freshly promoted Shkendija (Tirana). They finished last with 11 points.
The other relegated was Beselidhja (Lezhe) – 13th with 18 points.
Up the table, most teams were divided into two groups – some obviously weak and some fairly decent, but nothing special.
Tomori (Berat) exemplified the weak group – 10th with 21 points.
In the better group were some recently weakened teams like Partizani (Tirana) – 4th with 31 points – and Vllaznia (Shkoder) – 6th with 29 points, but the most curious team was Apollonia (Fier). They were just promoted to First Division and had strong season, finishing 7th with 26 points. But they were found guilty of ‘infringement of rules’ and ‘fined’ 6 points by FA disciplinary committee. The points were to be deducted from their next season record – that is, Apollonia was going to start it with -6 points.
The battle for the title was dramatic: 17 Nentori, Flamurtari, and Dinamo went together to the very end. 17 Nentori (Tirana) eventually lost the race by a point, ending 3rd with 37 points. Flamurtari and Dinamo finished with 38 points each, both having 15 wins, 8 ties, and 3 losses. Both teams recieved 20 goals each as well, so it was up to scored more goals. Flamurtari (Vlore) was unlucky: their goal-difference was 42-20: +22.
Dinamo (Tirana) finished with 49-20 goal-difference: +29 and thus clinched the title. It their first after 1979-80 and their 14th altogether. Lucky champions, no doubt, but there was still heavy price to be paid. They, along with Flamurtari and 17 Nentori were ‘fined’ 3 points each by the FA disciplinary committee. The crime? During the season every leading team collected more than 20 red/yellow cards. Looks like the top teams played vicious football, which probably was true, although hardly something new. It also looks like they were the only teams playing rough – nobody else was found guilty and that casts some doubts on the attempt for fair-play by the FA. The penalties were going to be consumed in the next season, so the three top teams were starting the 1986-87 with -3 points. Strange…