Albania secured a shock 1-0 victory over Serbia in World Cup qualifying, exploiting defensive vulnerabilities despite being heavily outshot. Serbia dominated possession and created significantly more opportunities, registering 15 shots with 6 on target and an expected goals figure of 1.24, yet failed to convert their dominance into goals. Albania's defensive discipline proved decisive; they restricted Serbia to limited clear-cut chances whilst remaining clinical in attack, managing just 5 shots but placing 3 on target from an xG of 0.54. The visitors' goalkeeper made an impressive save percentage of 66.67 per cent, denying Serbia's attacking forays with crucial interventions. Serbia's 3-4-1-2 formation struggled to penetrate Albania's compact 4-3-3 setup, which prioritised defensive solidity over attacking ambition. Istvan Kovacs oversaw a match defined by Serbia's profligacy in front of goal rather than controversy. This result represents a significant upset in the qualifying campaign.