[ad_1]
The Czech Republic beat neighboring Slovakia 2-0 to overtake Scotland for promotion to the top flight of the Nations League on Wednesday, while Russia’s hopes ended with a 5-0 humiliation in Serbia as Hungary moved up instead.
Wales also qualified, beating Finland 3-1 after the visitors sent off Jere Uronen after just 12 minutes, and Austria rounded out the quartet of promoted teams with a 1-1 draw at home to Norway.
Scotland started the night of League B matches a point clear at the top of Group B2, but paid for a series of missed opportunities in the first half when they lost 1-0 to Israel with Manor Solomon scoring the goal for the victory one minute before halftime.
The Czechs made the most of each half goals from Tomas Soucek and Zdenek Ondrasek gave them a 2-0 win over Slovakia which was relegated to the C League.
Russia also had a chance to qualify from Group B3, but was swept away when Serbia scored four goals before the break.
Luka Jovic helped himself to a double, while Nemanja Radonjic and Dusan Vlahovic also scored, and Filip Mladenovic added a fifth in the second half.
Still, Russian manager Stanislav Cherchesov didn’t seem to flinch after his worst loss since 2004.
“We started the campaign well, we did not end so well. We have a lot of new young players and it is not easy to be successful immediately, ”he said. “We have a team, that’s the most important thing.”
Hungary topped the group with 11 points, three ahead of Russia, after second-half goals from David Siger and Kevin Varga gave them a 2-0 win over Turkey, which fell.
Adrian Grbic scored in the last minute to give Austria a 1-1 draw at home to Norway, who had gone ahead through Ghayas Zahid shortly after the hour. Northern Ireland drew 1-1 at home to Romania in the other Group B1 game and were relegated.
Austria led the group with 13 points, three ahead of Norway who, shortly before kickoff, learned that they had lost Saturday’s game in Romania after their government prevented them from traveling due to a positive COVID-19 result.
UEFA gave Romania a 3-0 victory.
Wales only needed a draw against Finland to top Group B4 and that never seemed to waver after Uronen was sent off for knocking down Harry Wilson when Harry had failed to score in the 12th minute.
Wilson gave Wales the lead after a pass from Gareth Bale in the 29thth minute and Daniel James added another minute after the restart. Teemu Pukki slashed one and Kieffer Moore completed Wales’ victory with six minutes remaining.
Bulgaria fell after a 0-0 draw with Ireland. – Reuters
[ad_2]
