Already certain of its spot at Euro 2024, Spain beat Cyprus 3-1 to stay high of Group A on Thursday, with Lamine Yamal, 16, scoring once more for his nation.
Yamal, who turned Spain’s youngest participant and scorer in a 7-1 qualifying win towards Georgia in September, was on course to open the scoring in Cyprus, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Joselu additionally netting first-half targets to offer Spain a two-point lead over second-place Scotland after their 2-2 attract Georgia, who keep in fourth place, two factors behind Norway.
Additionally on Thursday, Hungary certified for its third straight European Championship because of a stoppage-time personal objective in a recreation marred by violent clashes exterior an empty stadium in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian followers threw makeshift bombs, stones and plastic bottles on the police, who responded with a water cannon after trash cans have been set on hearth within the capital of Sofia. Native media reported a number of protesters have been injured.
1000’s of Bulgarian supporters have been protesting the administration of the Bulgarian soccer federation, which they blame for the nationwide staff’s poor outcomes. Followers have been made extra upset with the choice to play the match towards Hungary in an empty stadium.
The Bulgarian nationwide staff hasn’t certified for a significant match in almost twenty years. It was coming off humiliating losses to Albania in a pleasant and to Lithuania in qualifying, prompting followers to name for a nationwide protest and demand for the resignation of officers.
Bulgaria appeared set to earn its first qualifying victory till defender Alex Petkov put the ball into his personal internet seven minutes into added time within the 2-2 draw. The purpose gave Hungary what it wanted to safe its spot at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Martin Adam had put Hungary forward within the tenth minute, earlier than the hosts rallied with targets by Spas Delev 14 minutes later and Kiril Despodov from the penalty kick 11 minutes from time.
Each groups completed the match with 10 males after Bulgaria’s Valentin Antov and Hungary’s Milos Kerkez noticed purple in every half.
The consequence left Hungary two factors forward of Serbia after seven matches in Group G, whereas Montenegro secured a 2-0 win at residence to Lithuania in a while Thursday because of targets from Edvin Kuc and Stevan Jovetic. Hungary host Montenegro on Sunday.
Serbia will even safe its spot at subsequent 12 months’s match if Montenegro fail to beat already eradicated Lithuania. Nonetheless, last-placed Bulgaria keep on simply two factors.
Elsewhere, Austria opened up a two-point lead over Belgium in Group F by beating last-placed Estonia 2-0. Konrad Laimer and Philipp Lienhart scored first-half targets for the Austrians, who’ve performed a recreation greater than Belgium, with either side having already certified for Euro 2024.
Third-placed Sweden misplaced 3-0 at fourth-in-the-table Azerbaijan, who had Bahlul Mustafazade despatched off simply earlier than the hour mark, with captain Emin Makhmudov scoring in every half for the hosts.
And Luxembourg thumped Bosnia 4-1 on Thursday night time, however fell wanting a top-two end in Group J after Slovakia beat Iceland 4-2, leaving each groups within the hunt for a spot for Euro 2024 through the playoffs.
The house facet took the lead after six minutes when Mathias Olesen’s header flew into the highest righthand nook of Nikola Vasilj’s objective.
Luxembourg prolonged the lead 20 minutes later because of a penalty from Gerson Rodrigues following a foul by Amir Hadziahmetovic on Leandro Barreiro following a VAR evaluate that triggered the away crowd to throw flares on to the pitch.
The hosts’ third got here 10 minutes after the break because of a Nihad Mujakic personal objective. A late Renato Gojkovic objective gave the Bosnians some respiratory house in added time, earlier than Rodrigues scored his second objective two minutes later.
Ronaldo scored his fifth objective in his final three matches for Portugal, who he has now scored 128 targets for, in a 2-0 win in Liechtenstein.
The ahead can be the joint main scorer in qualifying with 10 targets, together with Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku. Joo Cancelo additionally scored for Portugal, who’ve outscored opponents 34-2 to this point in qualifying, whereas France are the one nation with an ideal report en path to Germany 2024.
Already-qualified Portugal high Group J with 25 factors after 9 matches, whereas Slovakia are second with 19 factors. Luxembourg and Bosnia each nonetheless have an opportunity to undergo through the playoffs.
In the meantime, in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, Mohamed Salah scored 4 occasions and took his objective tally for Egypt previous 50 as they started their marketing campaign with an anticipated victory over tiny Djibouti, whereas Nigeria have been held to a shock residence draw by Lesotho.
Salah’s efficiency ensured a 6-0 win for Egypt of their opening Group A match in Cairo, with the striker grabbing the primary 4 targets and rising his total tally for Egypt to 53 in 93 appearances as they search for a spot on the 2026 finals, having missed out on the Qatar World Cup final 12 months.
Nigeria, with out injured Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, have been held to a 1-1 draw at a wet Uyo by the small mountain kingdom of Lesotho, who’re 113 locations under them within the FIFA rankings.
Defender Motlomelo Mkhwanazi put Lesotho right into a shock lead after 56 minutes of the Group C encounter and so they stored their benefit for 11 minutes earlier than London-born centre-back Semi Ajayi headed residence the equaliser from Kelechi Iheanacho’s nook.
However regardless of strain on the guests’ objective for the rest of the sport, Nigeria couldn’t trend a winner and the consequence will put heavy strain on coach Jose Peserio, simply two months out from their participation on the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
In the meantime, Mozambique claimed the primary away victory of the African qualifying marketing campaign, which obtained below means this week, beating Botswana 3-2 in Group G, with Jonathan Muiomo, who performs within the fourth tier of German membership soccer, scoring the winner in solely his second look.