Keeper Marshall takes Scotland to Euro
LONDON: Goalkeeper David Marshall was the hero as Scotland booked its spot at Euro 2020, the first major tournament it has reached in 23 years, by beating Serbia on penalties.
Slovakia needed extra time to defeat Northern Ireland 21 while Hungary completed a thrilling 21 comeback win over Iceland thanks to a late equaliser from Loic Nego and a stoppagetime winner by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Ryan Christie had put Scotland ahead, but Luka Jovic headed in a 90thminute equaliser for the Serbs.
Neither team could score a winner in extra time, and penalties were needed to separate the two sides. Marshall then stood up, saving Aleksandar
Mitrovic’s spotkick to earn the Tartan
Army a famous victory.
‘‘You have to be so proud of the way the players responded [to the equaliser]. That was a sore one. We were so close to where we wanted to be,’’ Scotland boss Steve Clarke said.
Slovakia did just enough to beat its opponent in Belfast. It looked to have sealed the victory through Juraj
Kucka, but Milan Skriniar put the the ball into his net to force another 30 minutes.
Substitute Michal Duris netted what proved to be the winner with 10 minutes left on the clock to break Northern Irish hearts.
Earlier, 37yearold veteran Goran Pandev sent North Macedonia to its first major tournament, scoring the decisive goal in a 10 victory over Georgia.
England beat Ireland for the first time since 1985 as goals by Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho and Dominic CalvertLewin secured a 30 win in a friendly at an empty Wembley Stadium yesterday. — DPA