Euro 2016 Review: Sigurdsson too good for Dutch, Pelle nets on Italy debut

Gylfi Sigurdsson s double extended Iceland s stunning Euro 2016 qualifying form as the Netherlands slipped to a shock 2-0 loss in Reykjavik.

The Swansea City midfielder converted a penalty and fired home a superb volley in the first half of Monday s Group A clash in Reykjavik as Guus Hiddink s men fell to a third defeat in four games since he retook the reins.

Iceland s win maintained their place as pool leaders on goal difference having begun the campaign with 3-0 wins over Turkey and Latvia.

They remain level on points with Czech Republic, who emerged from Kazakhstan with a 4-2 triumph.

Borek Dockal, David Lafata, Ladislav Krejci and Tomas Necid found the net to render Yuriy Logvinenko s late double irrelevant as the Czechs kept up their 100 per cent record.

In the group s other game, Valerijs Sabala s penalty earned Latvia a home 1-1 draw after Bilal Kisa had struck for Turkey.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men just before full-time, Gints Freimanis picking up a second yellow card for time wasting.

Radja Nainggolan s 51st-minute goal secured Belgium a 1-1 Group B draw at Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Edin Dzeko s powerful finish put the home side in front before Nainggolan s effort slid under goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as the spoils were shared.

Wales maintained their position at the top of the group after they clung on for a 2-1 victory over Cyprus despite being reduced to 10 men.

David Cotterill broke the deadlock in the 13th minute before Hal Robson-Kanu showed great composure in converting the second soon after.

But Vincent Laban halved the deficit from a set-piece before Andy King s red card ensured a nervous finish.

Wales hung on, however, and are one point above an Israel side who have now collected six points from two games following a 4-1 demolition of Andorra.

Omer Damari was the star, bagging a hat-trick that was added to by Tomer Hemed s late penalty.

Graziano Pelle netted on his international debut as Italy defeated Malta 1-0 in Ta Qali in a game that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

One of four changes from the 2-1 win over Azerbaijan, Southampton striker Pelle continued his fine form by settling the Group H clash with a close-range finish midway through the first half.

Michael Mifsud was sent on off soon after, but Italy could not capitalise. Antonio Conte s side struck the woodwork four times and saw Leonardo Bonucci dismissed late on for a professional foul.

Italy s win keeps them level on points with Croatia, who hammered Azerbaijan 6-0 as Ivan Perisic s double was supplemented by efforts from Andrej Kramaric, Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric and a Rashad Sadygov own goal.

A place further below are Norway, who beat Buglaria 2-1 in a game which saw Martin Odegaard become the youngest player to appear in a Euro qualifier at 15 years and 300 days old.

But Havard Nielsen was the hero, his 72nd-minute winner coming after Nikolay Bodurov had cancelled out Tarik Elyounoussi s opener.

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *