Pandev, 37, seals North Macedonia’s qualification for Euros
T h e 3 7- y e a r - o l d G o r a n Pandev sent Nor th Macedonia to their first major tournament, scoring the decisive goal last night in a 1-0 victory over Georgia to secure a spot at next year's European Championship finals.
Pa n d e v d e f t l y f i n i s h e d o f f a n e a t p a s s i n g move t h r o u g h t h e G e o r g i a defence in the 56th minute in the play-off clash to decide who advanced to the postponed Euro 2020 tournament.
The game was perhaps t h e b i g g e s t i n t h e h i s t o - r y of t wo young fo otball nations, but no fans were allowed into the 54,000 - seat national stadium in Tbilisi because of coronavirus restrictions in Georgia.
P a n d e v ' s 3 6 t h g o a l f o r North Macedonia extended his record for a national team who joined Fifa and Ue f a a s a n i n d e p e n d e n t nation only 26 years ago. T h e f o r m e r Y u g o s l a v republic will now face Austria and Ukraine in Bucharest in Group C before taking on the top-seeded Netherlands in Amsterdam at the finals next summer.
In friendly action, Wales we r e h e l d t o a g o a l l e s s d r aw i n t h e a b s e n c e o f ma n a g e r Rya n G i g g s a s the United States shared the honours in Swansea. There was plenty of youthful vigour on show and no little intensity, but neither side carried a cutting edge to break the deadlock.
E n g l a n d , m e a n w h i l e , c r u i s e d t o a 3 - 0 v i c t o r y against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley.
G o a l s f r o m M a n c h e s - ter United captain Harr y Maguire and Jadon S anc h o p u t t h e h o s t s 2 - 0 i n f r o n t a t h a l f- t i me a n d a D o m i n i c C a l ve r t- L e w i n penalty secured a comfortable win for Gareth Southgate’s side.