TIRANË, Albania (Interstat) — Partizani Tirana edged Flamurtari 2-1 in a tightly contested Albanian 1st Division match on Saturday, defying a pregame statistical projection that heavily favored a home victory.

The match at Arena e Demave saw the hosts secure a comeback win, improving their league record to three wins, three losses and three draws. Flamurtari’s difficult season continued, as the loss left them with two wins, eight losses and one draw in domestic league play.

Against the expectations of Interstat’s game simulator, which had projected a 1-1 draw, and despite an Elo rating system giving Partizani Tirana a 76.10 percent probability to win, the visitors struck first. Flamurtari’s Vüsal İsgəndərli found the net in the 33rd minute, silencing the home supporters and putting his side in position for an upset.

The goal underscored Flamurtari’s recent pattern of competitive performances despite their lowly league position. Coming into the match, Flamurtari had secured a 1-0 victory over Egnatia Rrogozhinë and fought to a draw with KF Tirana in recent weeks. Their last meeting with Partizani, a 1-0 loss on Oct. 19, was also a narrow defeat.

Partizani Tirana, however, demonstrated the resilience that has characterized their inconsistent campaign. After a sluggish first half, the home side regrouped and found an equalizer in the second period. The goal shifted momentum decisively in favor of the hosts, who pressed for a winner.

The decisive strike came later in the half, completing the turnaround and securing all three points for Partizani. The victory builds on a positive recent run of form for the club, which included a 2-0 win over KF Tirana and a 1-0 victory against Bylis in its two previous league matches.

The result leaves both teams in mid-table uncertainty as the season approaches its winter break. Partizani Tirana will look to build momentum in its next fixture, a trip to face Egnatia Rrogozhinë on Friday, Dec. 19. Flamurtari, seeking to climb from the lower reaches of the division, faces another challenge when it hosts Teuta Durrës on the same date.

The match offered a snapshot of a competitive Albanian top flight, where pregame analytics and season records often provide little indication of the balance of play on the pitch. For Partizani, the three points were a hard-earned step toward stability, while for Flamurtari, it was another frustratingly narrow loss in a season already filled with them.