Scotland’s McTominay overtakes Ronaldo, Kane to top scoring in European qualifying
Scott McTominay moved forward of Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane because the joint main scorer in European Championship qualifying with Scotland getting ready to securing a spot at subsequent yr’s match.
McTominay continued his unlikely aim spree because the Scots prolonged their 100% file in Group A by beating Cyprus 3-0 Friday on an evening when Lamine Yamal grew to become the youngest participant to attain for Spain — and in addition the youngest participant to attain in a European qualifier — in a 7-1 win towards Georgia.
Manchester United midfielder McTominay claimed his sixth aim in qualifying for Euro 2024 as Scotland stayed forward of Spain within the group on a most 15 factors after 5 straight wins.
Scotland wants two extra factors to make sure its place on the match, which shall be held in Germany.
McTominay is degree on the high of the scoring charts with new United teammate, Rasmus Hojlund of Denmark and former membership mate, Romelu Lukaku of Belgium.
Ronaldo and Kane have 5 objectives every.
McTominay has additionally been concerned in additional objectives than some other participant throughout qualifying, having offered one help.
He credited Scotland coach Steve Clarke for his aim run.
“The manager gives me a lot of freedom to get in the box, and potentially make things happen,” McTominay mentioned. “He’s proven quite a lot of religion in me, and I simply wish to repay him.
“I just want to make people in Scotland happy, that’s my job, and the team’s job, and I think we’re doing it well at the minute.”
McTominay opened the scoring after six minutes at AEK Arena in Larnaca and Ryan Porteous doubled the lead within the sixteenth.
John McGinn added a 3rd within the thirtieth.
Scotland will qualify without having any extra factors if Norway and Georgia draw on Tuesday.
Spain, in second place, has performed two fewer video games than Scotland, however is on six factors having already misplaced to the group chief.
RECORD BREAKER
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Aged 16 years and 57 days, Yamal’s 74th-minute strike towards Georgia set two information.
He made historical past by overtaking Real Madrid and Wales nice Gareth Bale because the youngest scorer in European qualifying. Bale was 17 years and 83 days when he scored towards Slovakia in 2006.
Yamal can also be Spain’s youngest scorer. He broke the file set by Gavi, who was 17 years and 10 months when he scored for his nation.
And there have been no nerves when his huge second got here, with Yamal saying: “I just hit the ball where my body and soul told me to. That’s it.”
Yamal additionally grew to become the youngest participant to look for Spain, once more beating the benchmark set by Gavi in 2021 when he was 17 years and 62 days.
Yamal’s record-breaking evening overshadowed Alvaro Morata’s hat trick within the rout towards Georgia.
DOUBLE CELEBRATION
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On the day he turned 29, Bruno Fernandes celebrated in fashion by scoring in Portugal’s 1-0 win towards Slovakia.
It’s 5 wins from 5 for the Portuguese in Group J, which is the nation’s finest begin to a European qualifying marketing campaign and represents a formidable achievement early within the reign of latest coach Roberto Martinez.
Luxembourg’s 3-1 win over Iceland moved it onto 10 factors to equal its highest complete in European or World Cup qualifying with 5 video games nonetheless to play.
Liechtenstein stays pointless on the backside of the group after shedding 2-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
CROATIA RISING
Bruno Petković scored twice as Croatia moved as much as second in Group D with a 5-0 win towards Latvia.
The World Cup bronze medalist is now three factors behind chief Turkey with two video games in hand.
Turkey wanted a aim within the 88th from Bertug Yildirim to earn a 1-1 draw with Armenia.
