Poland stun Germany in qualifier


(MENAFN- Arab Times) WARSAW Oct 11 (Agencies): Poland stunned world champions Germany 2-0 in Warsaw on Saturday to claim an historic first victory over their neighbours and leave the Germans third in their Euro 2016 qualifying group. Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik gave the hosts the lead on 51 minutes before substitute Sebastian Mila netted a late second to inflict Germany's first defeat in a qualifier for seven years.

The Republic of Ireland's 7-0 drubbing of minnows Gibraltar in Dublin earlier in the day means Germany are now third in Group D with Poland top and Ireland second.

Ireland 7 Gibraltar 0

In Dublin Robbie Keane scored a hat-trick as the Republic of Ireland made easy work of beating minnows Gibraltar 7-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on Saturday. Victory saw the Republic make it two wins from two in Group D although the contrast between this match and their next qualifier away to world champions Germany on Tuesday could scarcely be greater.

'It was nice to get the early goal in the game' Republic manager Martin O'Neill told Sky Sports. 'I thought we got a little sloppy in the last 20 minutes of the game but outside of that I am very very pleased. 'We have not got any serious injuries just a couple of knocks and bruises now we can concentrate on Germany.'

For Gibraltar European football governing body UEFA's 54th and youngest member nation it was their second straight 7-0 drubbing after they went down by the same scoreline against Poland in their first competitive match last month. Given Keane's quickfire treble put the Irish 3-0 up inside 18 minutes against a side with just two full-time players Gibraltar did relatively well to avoid a double-figure defeat.

'It is disappointing but we are all learning and eventually we will get there' said Gibraltar manager Allen Bula. 'Look at all the stats of other teams when they joined UEFA they lost 6-0 7-0. Everyone has taken a beating and we will learn.'

Gibraltar with a population of fewer than 30000 people and just 600 registered footballers were not expected to offer much in the way of resistance but did at least keep the score to 3-0 before half-time.

However the floodgates opened after the break as James McClean scored twice Gibraltar keeper Jordan Perez put through his own net and Wes Hoolahan made it 7-0 before the hour mark.

It took the Republic just six minutes to score their first goal when Hoolahan played in Aiden McGeady behind left-back Joseph Chipolina and his square ball set up Keane to strike his 63rd international goal.

McClean then saw a shot well-saved by Perez but the second goal was not long in coming when Keane ran on to Hoolahan's pass to make it 2-0 against a static defence.

Keane then scored his third goal in 12 minutes with a penalty after the hard-pressed Perez tripped Hoolahan.

Unsurprisingly some of the Republic's initial urgency waned at this point although Perez made a fine fingertip save to keep out McGeady's powerfully-struck shot and leave the score 3-0 at half-time.

But within 60 seconds of the re-start the Irish had their fourth goal with the 34-year-old Keane now playing for the LA Galaxy squaring to Wigan's McClean who duly tapped in.

Gibraltar struggling to adjust to the pace of international football were 5-0 down in the 51st minute with a goal that summed up their performance.

Keane tried to lob Perez but the keeper got a hand to the ball. Hoolahan's follow-up was blocked by Scott Wiseman but Perez then inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net.

McClean after more good work by Keane made it 6-0 with a 53rd minute tap-in.

Minutes later it was 7-0 when after McGeady and Keane combined in the build-up Norwich midfielder Hoolahan strolled past a couple of attempted challenges before shooting from close range.

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper David Forde had been a virtual spectator for most of the match but he then made an impressive save to deny Gibraltar a consolation goal when he turned Roy Chipolina's powerful header over the crossbar.

Now the only question was whether Ireland with Keane having been substituted to make sure he was not injured ahead of the Germany clash would equal their record 8-0 victory against Malta in a 1984 European Championship qualifier.

But the fact they did not match that feat was little consolation for Gibraltar.

Scotland 2 Georgia 1

In Glasgow Scotland dominated their Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia but ultimately were grateful to settle for a 28th-minute own goal to gift them their first victory of the campaign at Ibrox.

Gordon Strachan's improving team who gave world champions Germany a scare before succumbing to defeat last month opened their account in Group D thanks to a little bit of good fortune amid their monopoly of possession and territory.

The key moment came midway through the first half when Georgia's goalkeeper Giorgi Loria failed to deal with a teasing cross from Andrew Roberston only succeeding in pushing the ball out to Shaun Maloney on the right edge of the box.

Loria did well to stop the Wigan Athletic midfielder's sweetly-struck shot but was left roaring in exasperation as the ball rebounded off the back of Akaki Khubutia's legs and trickled into the net.

It seemed that the rejuvenated Scots who had been on a six-match unbeaten streak before the Germany defeat must add to the tally as they marauded towards the Georgians' goal for much of the game.

In between their best chances spurned by James Morrison and Steven Naismith the home side seemed increasingly nervy as the game became stretched in the dying minutes and relief filled the Glasgow stadium as Irakli Dzaria struck Georgia's only clear-cut chance of the game way wide in the 79th minute.

Armenia 1 Serbia 1

In Armenia a late Zoran Tosic piledriver gave Serbia a 1-1 draw away to an injury-hit Armenia after the home side took the lead against the run of play in a lively Euro 2016 Group I qualifier on Saturday.

The Armenians went ahead in the 73rd minute thanks to a Robert Arzumanyan header after Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic failed to deal with a corner and Taron Voskanyan delivered a perfect cross from the left for the central defender.

Stojkovic redeemed himself several minutes later after he saved Marcos Pizzelli's penalty and the Brazilian-born striker's close-range rebound before Tosic blasted home after 89 minutes. The result left both sides on one point after Armenia were beaten 2-1 in their opener in Denmark last month while it spared the blushes of Serbia's Dutch coach Dick Advocaat on his competitive debut for the Balkan nation.

The home team without injured Borussia Dortmund forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan stayed afloat thanks to some rugged defending and a string of superb saves from their 40-year old goalkeeper Roman Berezovski. 'We are disappointed not to have taken all three points as we are surely the better side but having salvaged a last-gasp draw we really can't complain' Tosic told Serbian television. 'Now we have to look ahead with a positive approach and beat Albania in our next match on Tuesday.' Advocaat said: 'We have plenty of attacking talent but didn't really show that today and we will have to improve. 'It was a difficult match and Armenia showed that they are a well-organised team but we really should have done better with all the possession we had.'

Hungary 1 Romania 1

In Bucharest Balazs Dzsudzsak's perfectly executed free kick gave Hungary welcome relief as they fought back to draw 1-1 at neighbours Romania amid a feverish feisty affair both on and off the pitch in their Euro 2016 Group F qualifier on Saturday.

In a game which witnessed crowd trouble and 12 yellow cards brandished Raul Rusescu gave the hosts a deserved lead on the stroke of halftime putting the Hungarians who were beaten 2-1 at home by Northern Ireland in their group opener under even more pressure.

Yet the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when Dzsudzsak gave keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu no chance with his precise shot eight minutes from time. Romania who began their campaign with a 1-0 win at Greece are top with four points from two matches but Finland and Greece who have three points each play their matches later on Saturday.

There was an electric feel at the National Arena with both teams' vociferous fans creating a deafening roar and letting off dozens of firecrackers and flares shortly before kick off.

Following their shock opening defeat Hungary's players had decided to make it up to their fans by buying them 1200 tickets to the match in Bucharest. Tempers boiled over in the stadium throughout the eagerly-anticipated encounter with fans warned by the stadium announcer about their behaviour on several occasions and riot police spraying tear gas to dampen crowd trouble.

Scottish referee William Collum also had a busy night policing affairs on the pitch needing to show 12 yellow cards. The home team's 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Rusescu up front took the early initiative and enjoyed more possession with Lucian Sanmartean working hard to pull the strings in midfield. However Romania coach Victor Piturca already without injured striker Ciprian Marica was forced to make an early substitution with centre back Dorin Goian replaced by Florin Gardos after four minutes.

Hungary's Adam Szalai had a goal disallowed for offside six minutes before the break causing visiting fans to set several seats on fire. Rusescu put the home side in front with his first international goal with an easy finish after some good work by captain Razvan Rat playing his 99th match for Romania on the left flank. Rusescu also had a penalty shout waved away and a goal disallowed for offside in the second half though Hungary almost stole the win soon after Dzsudzsak's strike when substitute Nemanja Nikolic sent a shot just wide.


Arab Times

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