Both Italy and Spain claimed all three points in their Euro 2020 qualifiers on Thursday despite both sides finishing with 10-men.
Italy 3-1 Armenia
Italy scored twice in the final 15 minutes to beat 10-man Armenia 3-1 and maintain their 100 per cent record in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Roberto Mancini’s side came from behind to make it five wins from as many games at the top of Group J thanks to Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Pellegrini and an own goal from Armenia goalkeeper Aram Hayrapetyan.
Spain 2-1 Romania
Spain began life without Luis Enrique by clinging on for a tense 2-1 victory over Romania to maintain their perfect record in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Sergio Ramos’ penalty and a strike from Paco Alcacer put the three-time European champions on course for a comfortable success in their first match since Robert Moreno permanently replaced Enrique as head coach.
But they were forced to survive an anxious finish in Bucharest after substitute Florin Andone halved the deficit with an hour played and defender Diego Llorente was dismissed 11 minutes from time.
Spain, who wasted a string of chances during a dominant first half, were ultimately indebted to goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after he pulled off two superb late stops to help move his side on to 15 points from five games at the top of Group F.
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Switzerland
David McGoldrick chose the perfect moment to score his first international goal as the Republic of Ireland hit back to snatch a priceless 1-1 Euro 2020 qualifier draw against Switzerland.
The Sheffield United striker powered home an 85th-minute header seconds after Glenn Whelan had rattled the crossbar just when it look as though Fabian Schar’s earlier effort had handed the Group D favourites victory in Dublin.
In truth, the Swiss would have been good value for the win having dominated much of the game at the Aviva Stadium, but Ireland’s tenacity once again proved invaluable as they emerged with tangible reward from a game in which they were largely second-best.
Switzerland, who are ranked 21 placed higher than Mick McCarthy’s men by FIFA, remain six points adrift having played two games fewer, and while the Republic face a difficult double-header in Georgia and the return in Geneva next month, hopes of qualification remain very much alive.
Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg
A horror own goal from Kevin Malget was enough to give an experimental Northern Ireland side a 1-0 victory over Luxembourg in their Windsor Park friendly.
Malget inexplicably headed into his own net eight minutes before half-time to settle a match short on quality as both sides looked to more important challenges to come on Monday.