Italy, Spain still setting the pace

Italy and Spain maintained their 100 per cent records in the Euro 2020 qualifiers with wins yesterday that left them comfortably at the top of their respective groups.

Italy snatched a 2-1 win in Finland while Spain thrashed the Faroe Islands 4-0, leaving both European giants on six wins from six.

Finland looked to be heading for a shock point when Teemu Pukki scored from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute, cancelling out Ciro Immobile’s 59th minute opener.

But the Italians hit back and claimed the points eight minutes later when Jorginho converted his own spot-kick after Sauli Vaisanen was penalised for handball in the box.

Also in group J, Dennis Salanovic scored four minutes from time to claim a rare point for Liechtenstein in a 1-1 draw against Greece in Athens.

A much-changed Spain lineup extended their 100 per cent record in group F with a 4-0 stroll against the Faroe Islands.

Rodrigo slid home the opener in the 13th minute but the visitors put up some sterling resistance until the same player extended the lead six minutes into the second half.

Substitute Paco Alcacer put some gloss on an underwhelming Spain by doubling the tally with two goals in added time.

Sweden held on to second place after Emil Forsber’s 58th-minute strike salvaged a 1-1 draw against Norway in Solna.

The Norwegians had gone ahead on the stroke of halftime when Josh King pounced on a desperate mistake by Sweden defender Andreas Granqvist and squared for captain Stefan Johansen to fire home.

A George Puscas header early in the second half proved just enough for Romania to cling onto their qualification hopes with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Malta in Ploiesti.

Third-placed Switzerland pulled themselves one point behind second-placed Denmark in group D as they crushed Gibraltar 4-0.

Denmark stumbled to a 0-0 draw in Georgia and have played one more match than the Swiss, who also have a game in hand on group leaders Ireland, who are three points ahead.

In group F, Romania beat Malta 1-0, the hosts dominating the first half but only striking after the interval, with George Puscas powering home a header.

Armenia beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-2 to leapfrog their opponents and move to third in group J.

Skipper Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored two goals and set up two more for the hosts, while Bosnia coach Robert Prosinecki resigned after the game.