Wednesday, November 18, 2020

UEFA Nations League: Azzurri, Belgium Advance To Semifinal Round; Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Wales Promoted To League A; Armenia, Albania, Slovenia Gain Promotion To League B

Eighteen games were played on Wednesday as UEFA Nations League group-stage play came to a conclusion. 


LEAGUE A:


Group One:


At Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina:


Andrea Belotti (2') and Domenico Berardi (68') each scored once as Italy locked up top spot in Group One and a berth in next October's semifinal round by blanking Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on the road.


At Chorzow, Poland:


Memphis Depay (PK-77') and Georginio Wijnaldum (84') each scored once as the Netherlands upended Poland 2-1 on the road.


Final Group One Standings:


1. Italy (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 12)

2. Netherlands (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 11)

3. Poland (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 7)

4. Bosnia and Herzegovina (GP: 6; GD: -8; PTS: 2)


Italy advanced to the tournament's semifinal round; Bosnia and Herzegovina was relegated to League B.




  Group Two:


At Leuven, Belgium:


Romelu Lukaku scored twice (56', 69') as Belgium secured a berth in the semifinal round of the tournament after doubling up visiting Denmark 4-2.


At London:


Philip Foden scored twice (80', 84') as England demolished visiting Iceland 4-0.


Final Group Two Standings:


1. Belgium (GP: 6; GD: +10; PTS: 15)

2. Denmark (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 10)

3. England (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)

4. Iceland (GP: 6; GD: -14; PTS: 0)


Belgium advanced to the tournament's semifinal round; Denmark had a win and a draw in two games against England; Iceland was relegated to League B.




LEAGUE B:


Group One:


At Vienna, Austria:


Adrain Grbic's equalizer at the death (90'+1) lifted Austria to a 1-1 home draw with Norway----and promotion to League A for the 2022-23 tournament.


Ghayas Zahid scored for the guests in the 61st minute.


At Belfast, Northern Ireland:


Eric Bicfalvi's equalizer in the 81st minute carried Romania to a 1-1 road draw with Northern Ireland.


Liam Boyce scored at 56 minutes for the hosts, who were already relegated to League C.


Final Group One Standings:


1. Austria (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 13)

2. Norway (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 10)

3. Romania (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 8)

4. Northern Ireland (GP: 6; GD: -7; PTS: 2)


Austria was promoted to League A; Northern Ireland was relegated to League C.




Group Two:


At Plzen, Czech Republic:


Tomas Soucek (17') and Zdenk Ondrasek (55') each scored once as the Czech Republic gained safe passage to League A after blanking visiting Slovakia (newly relegated to League C) 2-0.


At Netanya, Israel:


Manor Solomon scored the game's only goal in the 44th minute as Israel ended visiting Scotland's chances of promotion to League A with a 1-0 victory.


Final Group Two Standings:


1. Czech Republic (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 12)

2. Scotland (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 10)

3. Israel (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 8)

4. Slovakia (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 4)


The Czech Republic gained promotion to League A while Slovakia was relegated to League C.




Group Three:


At Budapest, Hungary:


David Siger (57') and Kevin Varga (90'+5) each scored once to carry Hungary to a 2-0 home victory over Turkey and promotion to League A while the guests were relegated to League C.


At Belgrade, Serbia:


Luka Jovic scored twice (25', 45'+1) as Serbia destroyed Russia (and their hopes of promotion to League A) 5-0 to avoid relegation to League C.


Final Group Three Standings:


1. Hungary (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 11)

2. Russia (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 8)

3. Serbia (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 6)

4. Turkey (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 6)


Hungary was promoted League A while Turkey (by losing a tie-breaker to Serbia---outscored 2-0 on the road) was relegated to League C.




Group Four:


At Dublin, Ireland:


A 0-0 home stalemate with Bulgaria enabled the Republic of Ireland to avoid the fate that befell on their guests----relegation to League C.


At Cardiff, Wales:


Harry Wilson (29'), Daniel James (46'), and Kieffer Moore (84') each scored once as Wales dominated visiting Finland 3-0 to win the group and promotion to League A


Final Group Four Standings:


1. Wales (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 16)

2. Finland (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 12)

3. Republic of Ireland (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

4. Bulgaria (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 2)


Wales was promoted to League A while Bulgaria was relegated to League C.




LEAGUE C:


Group Two:


Hovhannes Hambardzumyan scored the only goal of the match in the 55th minute as Armenia locked up promotion to League B after defeating visiting North Macedonia 1-0.


At Tbilisi, Georgia:


Georgia and visiting Estonia played to a 0-0 stalemate.


Final Group Two Standings:


1. Armenia (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 11_

2. North Macedonia (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 9)

3. Georgia (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 7)

4. Estonia (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 3)


Armenia gained promotion to League B for the 2022-23 tournament; Estonia qualified for the relegation playoffs.




Group Three:


At Athens:


A 0-0 road stalemate with Greece gained promotion to League B for Slovakia.


At Pristina, Kosovo:


Lirim Kastrati scored the only goal of the match in the 31st minute as Kosovo defeated visiting Moldova 1-0.


Final Group Three Standings:


1. Slovakia (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 14)

2. Greece (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 12)

3. Kosovo (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 5)

4. Moldova (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 1)


Slovakia was promoted to League B while Moldova qualified for the relegation playoffs.




Group Four:


At Tirane, Albania:


Sokoi Cikalleshi scored twice (20', PK-27') while Rey Aldo Manaj scored the game winner at 44 minutes as Albania punched their ticket for promotion to League B after holding off visiting Belarus 3-2.


At Almaty, Kazakhstan:


Arvydas Novikovas scored the game winner at the death (90'+4) as Lithuania defeated Kazakhstan 2-1 on the road and shoved the hosts into the relegation playoffs.


Final Group Four Standings:


1. Albania (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 11)

2. Belarus (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 10)

3. Lithuania (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 8)

4. Kazakhstan (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 4)


Albania won promotion to League B while Kazakhstan qualified for the relegation playoffs.

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