Albania pulled off a major shock by downing Portugal as world champions Germany denied battling Scotland and minnows Gibraltar were demolished by Poland in the opening salvoes of Euro 2016 qualifying on Sunday (Sep 7). Scotland’s goalkeeper David Marshall (C) fails to save a ball scored by Germany’s Thomas Mueller (not in picture) during the UEFA Euro 2016 Group D qualifying match in Dortmund, western Germany. (AFP/JOHN MACDOUGALL) PARIS: Albania pulled off a major shock by downing Portugal as world champions Germany denied battling Scotland and minnows Gibraltar were demolished by Poland in the opening salvoes of Euro 2016 qualifying on Sunday (Sep 7). Portugal, first round casualties at the World Cup, were sorely missing their skipper Cristiano Ronaldo but despite the Real Madrid star’s absence the 1-0 loss to a team ranked 71st in the world was a major embarrassment for Paulo Bento’s side. Albania, who have failed to qualify for a European Championships in half a century, humbled the mighty Portuguese in their own back yard. Slavia Prague forward Bekim Balaj struck the killer blow shortly after the restart, with the home side walking off the pitch in Aveiro at the final whistle to boos from their supporters. Down on Portugal’s Algarve coast, minnows Gibraltar were given a lesson on their introduction to competitive internationals as a UEFA member by Poland as Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scored four times in a 7-0 romp. In Dortmund, Germany, beaten last week in a friendly by Argentina, got their qualifying campaign up and running with a 2-1 defeat of a spirited Scotland. A goal in each half from Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Mueller ensured they won their first competitive fixture since the World Cup. Scotland were rewarded for a positive second-half approach when winger Ikechi Anya raced clear to equalise on 66 minutes. But the visitors failed to clear a corner four minutes later and Mueller capitalised to thump home his 24th international goal. MISERABLE NOTE Mueller’s winner denied Gordon Strachan’s side what would have been a precious point in a group that also includes the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Georgia and Gibraltar. Scotland were unable to fashion a second equaliser and the night ended on a miserable note when Mulgrew was sent off for dissent in stoppage time. Everton winger Aiden McGeady got the Republic of Ireland’s Euro bid off to a flying start with a 2-1 win over Georgia in Tbilisi. Manager Martin O’Neill and his assistant Roy Keane’s first competitive game in charge appeared to be heading for a draw, after Tornike Okriashvili cancelled out McGeady’s 24th minute opener. But McGeady bagged a crucial three points away from home with a magical 90th minute winner, curling home a precious winner. Captain Robbie Keane lauded McGeady’s skill. “If you score a goal like that, you deserve to win the game. If anyone else did that, the top players in the world, you would be talking about it for a long time. “The turn, the touch, the finish – only he could do that. No one else on that field would have been able to do that.” O’Neill suggested there was better to come from his men. “I think there’s improvement in the team – we’ve won away from home, which is terrific – but there’s definitely improvement in the team.” Next month O’Neill’s men face Gibraltar and Germany. Northern Ireland also came out of the blocks brightly – Kyle Lafferty and Niall McGinn providing the late goals for a 2-1 win over Hungary in Budapest. Michael O’Neill’s side’s hopes of registering a first away success in four years looked unlikely when former Watford striker Tamas Priskin headed home a 74th-minute corner. But with 10 minutes remaining, McGinn’s tap-in after a great run from Lafferty put the visitors back in the game. Then on 87 minutes McGinn turned provider who managed to scramble the ball over the line. Euro 2016 qualifying results: At Tbilisi Georgia 1 Republic of Ireland 2 At Dortmund, Germany Germany 2 Scotland 1 At Faro, Portugal Gibraltar 0 Poland 7 At Budapest Hungary 1 Northern Ireland 2 At Torshavn Faroe Islands 1 Finland 3 At Piraeus Greece 0 Romania 1 At Copenhagen Denmark 2 Armenia 1 At Aveiro, Portugal Portugal 0 Albania 1 Source AFP
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 04:39:06 +0000
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