Predictions Nations League - Kosovo vs Cyprus

Nations League - Kosovo vs Cyprus
Match Time: 16-10-2024 01:45 Wednesday (GMT+7)
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Kosovo left Kaunas with maximum points on Saturday, beating Lithuania 2-1 to post back-to-back wins in Group 2, with Lille winger Edon Zhegrova and Ermal Krasniqi of Sparta Prague scoring either side of half time.

The hosts reduced their advantage in the 84th minute, following a glaring error by goalkeeper Amir Saipi, who then redeemed himself by making a crucial late save.

As a result, Kosovo still occupy second place in the table, three points behind leaders Romania, leaving them on course for a promotion playoff when the group stage concludes next month.

Head coach Franco Foda has now posted three wins from six since his arrival in February, and with home games against the group's bottom two still to come, the Dardanians will be confident they can climb up into League B.

Ranked 104th in the world by FIFA, Kosovo were well beaten in their opening fixture - a 3-0 defeat to Romania - but then ended a three-game losing streak by winning 4-0 in Cyprus last month; now they seek a repeat result on home turf.

Following on from that dismal defeat in September - their third straight Nations League loss to Kosovo within the space of three years - Cyprus failed to bounce back when returning to action at the weekend.

Three goals down before half time against Romania, they were ultimately beaten 3-0 by the Euro 2024 finalists in Larnaca, meaning they have now lost each of their last six competitive home matches by an aggregate score of 19-1.

At the halfway stage of their latest Nations League campaign, the nation sitting 123rd in FIFA's latest world rankings are third in Group 2 and still in some danger of relegation.

Lithuania are yet to pick up a point, though, meaning Sofronis Avgousti's side have a buffer between themselves and last place; and with second spot earning entry to the playoffs, promotion is not entirely beyond them.

However, Cyprus have conceded 11 goals in three meetings with Kosovo to date, and current form suggests they could struggle to keep a clean sheet in Pristina.

Prediction: Kosovo 2-0 Cyprus