In the Group G match, Hungary played 2:2 (1:1) with Bulgaria, both teams finishing the match with ten players. The match in Sofia was played with empty stands as violence reigned on the city’s streets as football fans clashed with police.
Bulgaria’s dismal record – it has failed to qualify for a major tournament for almost two decades – and humiliating losses to Albania and Lithuania in October have angered fans across the country protesting the decline, blaming football union officials and calling for their resignations. In the past weeks, fans chanted “Stay away!” in the 18th minute of every championship match, aimed at the head of the Bulgarian Football Union, Borislav Mihailov, and his assistants, who have been in power for 18 years. Fearing riots, Mihailov asked UEFA to order the match to be played behind closed doors. Outraged fans took out their fury on Mihailov, claiming that there had never been another instance in football history of a local football association voluntarily asking for a home game to be played behind closed doors. The visiting Hungarian fans also took part in the protest actions, reports the state news agency BTA.
In the tenth minute, Martins Adams put the visitors in the lead, but 14 minutes later, Spass Delevs equalized. In the 37th minute, Valentins Antovs left the home team in the minority after two yellow cards, but in the 57th minute, Milos Kerkezs answered the same for the guests.
In the 79th minute, Kirill Despodovs put the Bulgarians in the lead with a penalty kick, punishing Atila Salaji for a violation of the rules against himself.
The Hungarians achieved a draw and a ticket to the final tournament with the help of the home team, when Alex Petkov headed the ball into his own goal after Dominik Soboslaji’s free kick in the seventh minute of the match’s compensatory time.
In the second group game on Thursday, Montenegro defeated Lithuania 2:0 (1:0) at home.
Lithuania lost a goal in the third minute of both halves, when Edvin Kučas stood out at the beginning of the match, and in the 48th minute – Stevan Jovetić.
With 15 points from seven games, Hungary have secured a place in the final tournament, while Serbia have amassed 13 points. Montenegro has 11 points, Lithuania has six points from eight matches and Bulgaria has three points from seven games.
On the other hand, the players of Slovakia beat Iceland 4:2 (2:1) in the game of group J and also entered the final tournament of the European Championship.
The first goal was scored by the Icelanders, who before the game still had a theoretical chance to win a ticket to the final tournament, when Orri Ouskarsson scored in the 17th minute.
The home team responded with a “goal” by Juraj Kuckas in the 30th minute, a 11-meter penalty shot by Ondrej Dudas in the 36th minute, making it 2:1 with a shot that the goalkeeper couldn’t catch in the bottom left corner of the goal.
Lukašas Haraslin scored two goals in the 47th and 55th minutes. Andri Gudjonsen made it 2:4 in the 74th minute.
On the other hand, Portugal defeated Liechtenstein away with 2:0 (0:0) only in the second half.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 46th minute, first hitting the right goal post, but following a pass from Diogo Jota, he put the ball into the lower right corner of the goal and scored his 128th goal in 204 national team matches. In the 57th minute, Juan Cancela made it 2:0.
In another match, Luxembourg defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 4:1 (2:0) at home.
Matias Olesen scored a goal for the Luxembourgers, who are having their best ever European Championship and World Cup qualifying tournament, in the 6th minute, Jerson Rodriguez in the 30th minute with a penalty kick, and in the 55th minute Nihad Mujakic sent the ball into his own goal.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, the visitors managed to get one goal back, Renato Gojković headed the ball into the left side of the goal after a corner kick from the goalkeeper’s area, but Rodrigues scored his second goal of the game a minute later.
After nine rounds, 27 points have been collected by Portugal, 19 points by Slovakia, 14 by Luxembourg, ten by Iceland, nine by Bosnia and Herzegovina, but Liechtenstein has no points.
Georgian footballers made a surprise, as they drew 2:2 (1:0) with Scotland in Group A on Thursday.
The home side were in the lead for 70 minutes, twice taking the lead through Hvica Kvarachelia’s accurate strikes, but the Scots equalized with Scott McTominay’s goal in the 49th minute and Lorenz Shankland’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time.
In another group game, the Spaniards beat Cyprus 3-1 (3-0) away.
Lamin Jamals scored in the fifth minute, Mikel Ojarzabal in the 22nd minute and Joselu in the 28th minute. In the 75th minute, the home team also scored a goal, Kostas Pilea excelling.
In Group A, after seven games, Spain with 18 points and Scotland with 16 points have already secured a place in the final tournament. Norway is in the third position with ten points, Georgia has eight points, and Cyprus has already finished the tournament without scoring any points.
Azerbaijani football players unexpectedly defeated Sweden 3:0 (2:0) in the minority game of Group F in Baku on Thursday.
The home team took the lead within the first six minutes. In the third minute, Emin Mahmudov stood out, sending the ball into the middle of the goal, but Renat Dadashov, who assisted in the first goal, made it 2-0, sending the ball into the lower right corner of the goal.
In the 57th minute, however, the hosts remained in the minority, defender Bahlul Mustafazadas received a red card for tripping, but the result became 3-0 in the 89th minute, as Mahmudov hit the bottom left corner of the goal with a shot from about 60 meters.
In another match, Austria defeated Estonia 2:0 (2:0) in Tallinn. The goal was scored by Konrads Laimers in the 26th minute, and Filips Leinharts in the 40th minute.
Austria and Belgium have already secured a place in the final tournament in Group F. Austria has 19 points in eight games, Belgium has 17 points in seven matches, Sweden and Azerbaijan have seven points each, and Estonia has one point.
The winners of the first two places of the ten groups will enter the final tournament, while three more participants of the final tournament will be determined in March 2024 in the “play-off” games of the A, B and C leagues of the Nations League.
The European Championship will be held in ten German cities from June 14 to July 14, 2024.
In addition to Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Turkey, Austria, England and Hungary have already secured a place in the final tournament.
The current European champion is Italy, who in 2021 beat England in the final in London in penalty kicks.
2023-11-16 22:30:16
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