The match between Portugal and Croatia (2-1) acquired a historic character at the start of the Nations League.
In this match, Pepe was honored for his long-standing contributions, as he “hung up his boots” at the age of 41. At the same time, his companion all these years, Cristiano Ronaldo, scored the 900th goal of his career when he made it 2-0 in the 34th minute.
The remaining goals were scored by Diogo Dalot, one for each team! The Manchester United defender opened the scoring in the 7th minute, while he reduced the lead for Croatia with an own goal in the 41st minute.
Also, in the same group (1st) of League A, Poland won 3-2 against Scotland in Glasgow in a thrilling match that was decided by Zalewski’s penalty in the 7th minute of stoppage time.
In the 4th group, the title holder, Spain, drew 0-0 against Serbia in Belgrade, while at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, 20-year-old Patrick Dorgu secured a 1-0 victory for Denmark over Switzerland in the 82nd minute. It was an eventful match, and the visitors finished with 9 players due to the red cards for Elvedi (52’) and Xhaka (87’).
Historic event: San Marino won
The moment the national team of San Marino had been waiting for 34 years, since its first official match in November 1990, has finally arrived.
The team from the independent microstate of 35,000 residents achieved its first victory in official competition today, winning 1-0 against Liechtenstein in the opener of the Nations League (D4 Category).
A 19-year-old, Niko Sensoli, wrote his name in golden letters in history by scoring in the 53rd minute to bring absolute relief to his compatriots!
In more than 200 matches, San Marino recorded 194 defeats (!), 10 draws, and only one victory, but in a friendly match.
That was 20 years ago, in April 2004, when they again defeated Liechtenstein 1-0.
Sensoli wasn’t even born then! Perhaps today’s victory will be enough for San Marino to rise from the last (210th) position in the FIFA rankings, which it has held for about a year now.
The results and scorers of the 1st matchday in the Nations League:
LEAGUE A
========
GROUP A
———
1st matchday
Portugal – Croatia 2-1
(7′ Dalot, 34′ Ronaldo – 41′ own goal Dalot)
Scotland – Poland 2-3
(46′ Gilmour, 76′ McTominay – 8′ Szymanski, 44′ pen. Lewandowski, 90+7′ pen. Zalewski)
2nd matchday
Croatia – Poland 8/9
Portugal – Scotland 8/9
GROUP B
———
1st matchday
Belgium – Israel 6/9
France – Italy 6/9
2nd matchday
France – Belgium 9/9
Israel – Italy 9/9
GROUP C
———
1st matchday
Germany – Hungary 7/9
Netherlands – Bosnia 7/9
2nd matchday
Hungary – Bosnia 10/9
Netherlands – Germany 10/9
GROUP D
———
Denmark – Switzerland 2-0
(82′ Dorgu, 90+2′ Hojbjerg)
Serbia – Spain 0-0
2nd matchday
Denmark – Serbia 8/9
Switzerland – Spain 8/9
LEAGUE B
========
GROUP A
———
1st matchday
Georgia – Czech Republic 7/9
Ukraine – Albania 7/9
2nd matchday
Albania – Georgia 10/9
Czech Republic – Ukraine 10/9
GROUP B
———
1st matchday
Ireland – England 7/9 (19:00)
Greece – Finland 7/9
2nd matchday
England – Finland 10/9
Ireland – Greece 10/9
GROUP C
———
1st matchday
Kazakhstan – Norway 6/9
Slovenia – Austria 6/9
2nd matchday
Norway – Austria 9/9
Slovenia – Kazakhstan 9/9
GROUP D
———
1st matchday
Iceland – Montenegro 6/9
Wales – Turkey 6/9
2nd matchday
Montenegro – Wales 9/9
Turkey – Iceland 9/9
LEAGUE C
========
GROUP A
———
1st matchday
Azerbaijan – Sweden 1-3
(65′, 71′ Isak, 80′ Gyokeres)
Estonia – Slovakia 0-1
(70′ Suslov)
2nd matchday
Slovakia – Azerbaijan 8/9
Sweden – Estonia 8/9
GROUP B
———
1st matchday
Kosovo – Romania 6/9
Lithuania – Cyprus 6/9
2nd matchday
Cyprus – Kosovo 9/9
Romania – Lithuania 9/9
GROUP C
———
1st matchday
Belarus – Bulgaria
(
N. Ireland – Luxembourg
(11′ McNair, 16′ Ballard)
2nd matchday
Luxembourg – Belarus 8/9
Bulgaria – N. Ireland 8/9
GROUP D
———
1st matchday
Faroe Islands – N. Macedonia 7/9
Armenia – Latvia 7/9
2nd matchday
Latvia – Faroe Islands 10/9
N. Macedonia – Armenia 10/9
LEAGUE D
========
GROUP A
———
1st matchday
San Marino – Liechtenstein 1-0
(52′ Sensoli)
2nd matchday
Gibraltar – Liechtenstein 8/9
GROUP B
———
1st matchday
Moldova – Malta 7/9
2nd matchday
Andorra – Malta 10/9
Source: APE-MPE