- Portugal first to Finals after draw in Italy
- Sweden stay in promotion race with win that relegates Turkey
- Scotland confirm promotion decider with Israel and send Albania down
- Serbia, Romania win in bids to move up, Lithuania relegated
- Kosovo and Azerbaijan set up Tuesday promotion decider
- Last fixtures in these groups on Tuesday; standings
League A
Group A3: Italy 0-0 Portugal
Portugal collected the point they required against Italy in Milan to book their Finals spot. The European champions defended stoutly against the vibrant hosts in the first half, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile coming closest for the Azzurri. Fernando Santos’s side grew into the game, though, and could even have stolen victory late on, Gianluigi Donnarumma producing an expert save to deny William Carvalho in the closing stages.
League B
Group B2: Turkey 0-1 Sweden
Sweden will be promoted on Tuesday if they win at home to Russia after a victory in Konya that relegated Turkey. With 20 minutes left Okay Yokuşlu brought down Marcus Berg in the Turkey box and Andreas Granqvist stepped up to convert the penalty and seal the points.
League C
Group C1: Albania 0-4 Scotland
Scotland will be promoted with a home win against Israel on Tuesday after a win that relegates Albania. The visitors went ahead in the 14th minute as Ryan Fraser picked up the ball, dribbled into the box and produced a superb finish for his first senior international goal. Shortly afterwards Albania captain Mërgim Mavraj was sent off before Rei Manaj handled in the area at the end of the first half and Steven Fletcher, returning after a 14-month international absence, doubled Scotland’s lead from the spot. James Forrest also opened his Scotland account with two second-half goals, the second an impressive volley.
Group C4: Serbia 2-1 Montenegro
Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first half from Adem Ljajić and Aleksandar Mitrović did the damage as unbeaten Serbia moved a step closer to promotion, ending Montenegro’s ambitions in the process. Mitrović has now scored 11 goals in 11 games for Serbia and could have made it 3-0 as he sent a penalty sailing over the bar. The visitors improved after the break, Stefan Mugoša pulling one back, but could yet be relegated while Serbia will go up with a win against Lithuania on Tuesday.
Group C4: Romania 3-0 Lithuania
The home side stayed in contention with a routine win in Ploiesti that relegated Lithuania. George Puşcaş and Claudiu Keșerü scored early in each half and Nicolae Stanciu’s free-kick from wide on the left made it three. Lithuania – still without a point – ended with ten men when Arvydas Novikovas collected a second yellow card late on. Romania will go up on Tuesday if they beat Montenegro and Serbia fail to win.
League D
Group D3: Malta 0-5 Kosovo
After running out comfortable winners in Malta, Kosovo will be promoted if they avoid defeat at home to Azerbaijan on Tuesday. Vedat Muriqi took advantage of a defensive mix-up for the first goal, and although Malta remained competitive, further confusion at the back allowed Benjamin Kololli to double the visitors’ lead 20 minutes from time. Substitute Donis Avdijaj then scored twice in as many minutes, before Milot Rashica completed the scoring from long range.
Group D3: Azerbaijan 2-0 Faroe Islands
First-half goals from Dmitri Nazarov, whose volley deflected in off Ragnar Nattestad, and Mahir Madatov, the latter a spectacular long-range effort, gave the home side a comfortable win in Baku. Azerbaijan had chances to add to their lead after half-time but ultimately claimed three points that ended the Faroe Islands’ promotion hopes and set up Tuesday’s decider in Kosovo.
Tagged with: betting news • eurpean football • football • footballnews • live sport channels • sport betting • sport odds • teams reviews
