Highlights: Portugal in sight of Nations League Finals
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Article summary
Portugal prevailed 3-2 in Poland to open up a five-point lead in their group while Russia could not find a way past Sweden.
Article top media content
Article body
- Portugal open up five-point lead with win in Poland
- Sweden hold Russia
- Wns for Israel, Serbia, Romania, Azerbaijan, Kosovo
- Group standings
- Next games in these groups on Sunday; friendlies
League A
Group A3: Poland 2-3 Portugal
Portugal are now five points clear of Poland and Italy (and will reach the Finals if those two teams draw on Sunday) even though Krzysztof Piątek headed in his first international goal for an early home lead. By half-time Portugal led 2-1 as André Silva sidefooted in Pizzi's cross, and then Kamil Glik slid the ball into his own goal as Rafa Silva was about to tap in. Bernardo Silva's run and finish increased the lead and although Jakub Błaszczykowski reduced arrears after coming off the bench to set an outright Poland caps record of 103, Portugal held on.
League B
Group B2: Russia 0-0 Sweden
Sweden got off the mark in Kaliningrad to ensure Russia were not able to follow their opening win in Turkey with another victory. Still, Russia could be four points clear if they win at home to Turkey on Sunday.
League C
Group C1: Israel 2-1 Scotland
Israel joined Albania and Scotland on three points although the visitors took the lead, Charlie Mulgrew confidently dispatching a 25th-minute penalty. The home team levelled when Dor Peretz prodded in Taleb Twatha's pass and Scotland had John Souttar sent off just past the hour. Israel took advantage with 15 minutes left, Beram Kayal's cross sliced into own net by Kieran Tierney.
Group C4: Lithuania 1-2 Romania
Alexandru Maxim won the game for Romania with some fine footwork deep into added time just as it seemed Artūras Žulpa had got Lithuania off the mark in the group with a 90th-minute equaliser to cancel out Alexandru Chipciu's early goal.
Group C4: Montenegro 0-2 Serbia
Serbia are two points ahead of Romania, with Montenegro down to third, thanks to a pair of Aleksandar Mitrović goals in the first meeting between these nations since they split in 2006. A first-half penalty was followed with nine minutes left as Mitrović finished from Dušan Tadić's low right-wing cross.
League D
Group D3: Faroe Islands 0-3 Azerbaijan
Richard Almeida drilled in after the hosts could not clear Araz Abdullayev's teasing low cross to give them a first-half lead and Azerbaijan pulled away after the break. Dmitri Nazarov swept in Rüfat Dadaşov's cross before Almeida completed the scoring from the penalty spot as Azerbaijan overtook their hosts to go second.
Group D3: Kosovo 3-1 Malta
Benjami Kololli opening the scoring for his first international goal as he combined with Valon Berisha and slid the ball under Andrew Hogg. In the 51st minute a bullet header from Andrei Agius after a corner drew Malta level but Vedat Muriqi restored the lead and, after home captain Michael Mifsud was sent off, Kolilli struck again to leave leaders Kosovo two points clear of Azerbaijan.
Friendlies
France 2-2 Iceland
Turkey 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Wales 1-4 Spain
Wednesday
Albania 0-0 Jordan
Italy 1-1 Ukraine