Ljubljana (AFP) – Slovenia temporarily took the lead in Group H when it defeated its host Finland 3-0 on Saturday in Ljubljana in the seventh round of the European Football Cup qualifiers, the finals of which are scheduled for next summer in Germany.
Published on: 10/14/2023 – 20:03 Last updated: 10/14/2023 – 20:01
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Slovenia decided the result of the match in the first half with a brace by Leipzig’s German striker Benjamin Shishko in the 16th minute from a penalty kick and 28th minute, raising his score to four goals in six matches in the qualifiers, before Erik Jansa added the third goal in the second minute of stoppage time.
It is Slovenia’s fifth victory in the qualifiers, compared to a draw and a loss, raising its score to 16 points, temporarily in first place, three points ahead of its former partner, Denmark, which will host Kazakhstan later.
Slovenia scored early, specifically in the 16th minute, when they won a penalty kick, successfully converted by Shsko.
Shishko added the second goal when he received a ball behind the defense from Greek Panathinaikos striker Andras Sporar, so he started from the middle of the field before shooting it from outside the area to the left of Bayer Leverkusen’s German goalkeeper Lukasz Hradecki (28).
Janša scored the third goal in stoppage time with a shot from close range (90+2).
In the same group, Northern Ireland achieved its second victory in the qualifiers and the first after five consecutive defeats when it honored its guest San Marino with a clean hat-trick scored by Paul Smith (5), Josh Magennis (11) and Connor McMenamin (81).
Northern Ireland raised its score to six points in fifth-to-last place against San Marino without a score.
© 2023 AFP
2023-10-14 18:03:05
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