Veteran Pandev's goal sends North Macedonia to Euro 2020

The 37-year-old Goran Pandev sent North Macedonia to its first major tournament, scoring the decisive goal yesterday in a 1-0 victory over Georgia to secure a spot at next year's European Championship.

Pandev deftly finished off a neat passing move through the Georgia defense in the 56th minute in the single-game playoff to decide who advanced to the postponed Euro 2020 tournament.

The game was perhaps the biggest in the history of two young soccer nations, but no fans were allowed into the 54,000seat national stadium in Tbilisi because of coronavirus restrictions in Georgia.

Three more playoffs were kicking off later Thursday to complete the 24-nation Euro 2020 lineup: Hungary vs. Iceland, Northern Ireland vs. Slovakia and Serbia vs. Scotland. Only Northern Ireland was to let some fans attend.

Pandev's 36th goal for North Macedonia extended his record for a national team which joined FIFA and UEFA as an independent nation only 26 years ago.

The former Yugoslav republic will face Austria and Ukraine in Bucharest in Group C before taking on the top-seeded Netherlands in Amsterdam.

The qualifying format guaranteed a tournament place for a low-ranked country that won a group in the bottom tier of the inaugural Nations League played two years ago.

Currently No. 65 in FIFA's world rankings, North Macedonia will be the biggest outsider at Euro 2020 and the second newcomer, joining Finland.

The four playoffs were originally scheduled for March but were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic which also forced UEFA to push Euro 2020 into next year.

With two late goals Hungary also made it to the final pahase eliminating Iceland 2-1 in Budapest.

Iceland were the surprise teamof the competition four years ago even eliminating mighty England, but now they have to miss European showpiece.

Iceland took the lead on eleven minutes through Sigurdsson, and held on to their lead till the 88th minute when Nego obtained the equaliser.

Deep in stoppage time Hungary clinched a place in the finals with a Szoboszlai goal.

In Belfast Slovakia beat North Ireland 2-1 with the match going to extra time.

Kucka gave Slovakia a half-time lead but the Irish came back two minutes from time with a Skriniar own goal.

In extra time Duris scored the winner for Slovakia.

Scotland also made it to the finals after a penalty shoot-off victory over Serbia in Belgrade.

Christie gave the Scots the lead on 52 minutes but Jovic saved the match on 90 minutes.

The match went to extra time and penalties as the score remained locked at 1-1.

Mitrovic missed the fifth and final penalty to put Scotland in the finals.