Spain’s Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his sides first aim throughout an Euro 2024 group A qualifying soccer match between Cyprus and Spain, on the Alphamega Stadium stadium in Limassol, Cyprus
| Photo Credit: AP
Hungary and Slovakia booked their tickets for Euro 2024 on Thursday while 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal scored once more for already-qualified Spain.
The Hungarians assured their place on the finals in Germany when an personal aim from Bulgaria’s Alex Petkov deep in stoppage time gave them a 2-2 attract Sofia.
The guests solely wanted some extent to qualify however have been 2-1 down earlier than Petkov allowed a cross to skid off the highest of his head and into his personal internet within the 97th minute in essentially the most dramatic of finishes.
The Hungarian gamers exploded in pleasure on the finish of a match performed in an empty stadium due to fears of protests towards the top of the Bulgarian soccer federation.
Instead, Bulgarian followers mounted protests exterior the bottom.
Ten supporters and 5 cops have been injured in clashes and police additionally used water cannon to disperse crowds of followers offended on the lack of their nationwide crew’s progress.
The draw gave Hungary 15 factors from seven video games in Group G of European qualifying, two forward of Serbia.
Haraslin double
In Bratislava, Slovakia cruised previous Iceland 4-2, with two targets from Lukas Haraslin serving to them qualify for the finals for the third time in a row.
Hungary and Slovakia be a part of host nation Germany, Austria, Belgium, England, France, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Turkey because the groups certified up to now.
In different video games, Spain, who’ve additionally already secured their qualification, comfortably beat Cyprus 3-1 with starlet Yamal opening the scoring within the fifth minute.
Yamal had grow to be Spain’s youngest participant and scorer in a 7-1 qualifying win towards Georgia in September and on Thursday he rounded the goalkeeper and scored with a strong end.
Already-qualified Scotland got here from behind to attract 2-2 with Georgia in Tbilisi due to Lawrence Shankland’s 93rd minute equaliser.
Serbia have to attend to qualify from Group G as Montenegro beat Lithuania 2-0 to maintain their hopes alive.
Portugal opened up an eight-point lead over Slovakia in Group J by beating Liechtenstein 2-0 in Vaduz with targets from Cristiano Ronaldo — his 128th worldwide strike to increase his world report — and Joao Cancelo.
Ronaldo’s probability was created by Diogo Jota’s superbly weighted move by the defence, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner firing the ball into the roof of the online.
Luxembourg thrashed Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 and will enter the playoffs in a bid for qualification after a marketing campaign that has defied expectations.
Azerbaijan eased previous a woeful Sweden 3-0 in Baku in Group F, from which Austria and Belgium have already certified. Austria beat backside crew Estonia 2-0.
