Scotland stun Spain 2-0 in Euro qualifier

March 29, 2023
Scotland’s Scott McTominay (left) celebrates with his teammate Kieran Tierney after scoring his side’s second goal during the Euro 2024 Group A qualifying  match between Scotland and Spain at the Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow, Scotland yesterday.
Scotland’s Scott McTominay (left) celebrates with his teammate Kieran Tierney after scoring his side’s second goal during the Euro 2024 Group A qualifying match between Scotland and Spain at the Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow, Scotland yesterday.

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP):

Scott McTominay scored twice as Scotland upset Spain 2-0 in qualifying for the European Championship on Tuesday, its first win in 39 years over one of soccer's biggest heavyweights.

McTominay's goals came after he also scored two in a 3-0 win over Cyprus on Saturday and ended Spain's 19-game unbeaten run in European qualifiers. The result also puts Scotland top of Group A with six points from two games.

Mateo Kovacic also scored twice as Croatia defeated Turkey 2-0 away for its first win in Group D.

Romania and Switzerland both won in Group I, continuing their perfect starts.

A look at the Euro 2024 qualifying games across Europe yesterday:

GROUP A

Spain's players were warned after McTominay scored two late goals in Scotland's opening win over Cyprus.

But few expected him to do it again Tuesday against a team that had not lost a European qualifying game since a 2-1 loss to Slovakia ahead of the 2016 tournament. Spain had not lost to Scotland since Maurice Johnston scored two and Kenny Dalglish added another in a 3-1 World Cup qualifier in November 1984.

New Spain coach Luis de la Fuente made eight changes to the line-up to the team that started Euro 2024 qualifying with a 3-0 win over Norway. Joselu went closest for the visitors when his header hit the crossbar midway through the first half.

GROUP D

Croatia were forced to rely on goalkeeper Livakovic to deny Turkey's Cengiz Under and Kerem Akturkoglu early on in Bursa.

Kovacic opened the scoring from close range in the 20th and nabbed the second just before the break.

Kieffer Moore scored just before halftime for Wales to beat 1-0 in the other group game.

GROUP I

Switzerland earned a 3-0 win at home over Israel, giving coach Murat Yakin his second qualifying victory from two games after their 5-0 win over Belarus in Serbia on Saturday.

Romania defeated Belarus 2-1 to maintain their winning start, while Kosovo and Andorra drew 1-1.

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