Shkëndija of Tetovo, the proudly Albanian football club from North Macedonia, made history tonight by eliminating Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest and securing a place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. With this victory, Shkëndija has guaranteed at least a spot in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League — a milestone never before reached by the club.
In the second leg played in Bucharest, the home side went ahead through Cisotti in the 28th minute. However, the Tetovo-based side reacted quickly: just five minutes later, Latifi equalized, restoring balance and reaffirming Shkëndija’s control of the tie. As the match neared its end, Krstevski scored in the 87th minute, sealing a memorable 1–3 victory for the Albanians.
This win marks Shkëndija’s second triumph over Steaua in the tie and underlines their growing reputation in European competitions. While they now move on to the third round of Champions League qualifiers, even a potential elimination in the next round would still ensure their presence in the Conference League group stage — a historic first for the club.
Though based in North Macedonia, Shkëndija is widely recognized as an Albanian club, both in its identity and community. This result not only celebrates sporting success, but also symbolizes pride and achievement for Albanians everywhere. The dream of reaching the Champions League group stage is still alive — but regardless of the outcome, Shkëndija will march proudly into Europe this autumn.