Georgia's U-21 Euros dream goes on as they reach the last-eight
Georgia’s U-21 Euros dream continues as the debutant hosts top Group A with a draw against Netherlands… as Portugal take second spot after late penalty hands them victory over Belgium
- Georgia had never qualified for the U-21 European Championship before 2023
- Tiago Dantas’ spot-kick consigned 2007 semi-finalists Belgium to bitter defeat
- Spain and Ukraine drew 2-2 with dramatic late goals as both sides went through
Under-21 European Championship hosts Georgie sealed a historic qualification tot he second round after drawing 1-1 with Netherlands on Tuesday night.
The host nation sealed a place in the last-eight with a draw against Netherlands, with the two-time winners only able to tie the game after Zuriko Davitashvili’s 42nd minute opener.
Ajax star Kenneth Taylor was able to pull the The Oranje back on level pegging in the second added minute of the first period, but Georgia managed to stave off their advances in the second to seal the point.
As a result, Georgia advanced through the group stage in top spot in Group A on five points, having beaten Portugal 2-0 in their opener and drawn 2-2 with Belgium in their second fixture.
Joining them in the last-eight will be the three-time runners-up Portugal, who slipped past Netherlands with a crucial three points against Belgium to take second spot.
Zuriko Davitashvili sealed qualification to the last-eight for the debutant hosts Georgia
His first half opener was cancelled out by Kenneth Taylor but a point put Georgia through in top spot
A last minute penalty from Portugal sent them through in second place, beating Belgium 2-1
But they left it late to get past the Belgians, with Tiago Dantas opening his account for the tournament from the spot in the 89th minute.
The Benfica youngster – on loan at Greek outfit PAOK Thessaloniki – sealed the victory after Yorbe Vertessen had cancelled out Joao Neves’ 54th minute strike to ensure that Portugal made the second phase of the competition.
It had been a rough start to Portugal’s campaign as the U-21s look to win their first European Championship title, after a shock defeat to the Georgians and a draw with Holland.
As a result, two sides expected to mount more of a challenge in neighbours Netherlands and Belgium fall at the first hurdle.
Spain and Ukraine finished their qualifying campaigns with a 2-2 draw, after both sides had already confirmed their progression after the second round of group games.
The two went into their meeting both on six points in the top two spots, with La Roja ahead on goal difference by a single strike, with Ukraine needing a win to go top.
Ivan Zhelizko’s 49th-minute own goal handed the five-time champions a route back into the game, after team-mate Bohdan Viunnyk opened the scoring just before half-time.
Ukraine then looked set to pip Spain to top spot, after Heorhii Sudakov’s penalty in the 81st minute put his side on nine points in total, before a late Abel Ruiz strike from inside the box restored parity in a dramatic climax.
Bohdan Viunnyk bundled home the opener just before the break to put Ukraine 1-0 up on the night
Ivan Zhelizko then handed the five-time champions a route back into the game with an own goal
Croatia and Romania – already out the tournament – played out a bland 0-0 draw in the other match, with the co-hosts unable to find a way past the Vatreni and end their campaign on a high.
Both Croatia and the Tricolorii end their dire campaigns with just the one point, failing to win a single game and losing twice to Spain and Ukraine.
Georgia, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine will be joined by England, with France top of Group D on six points, but unsure of qualification just yet with just a point likely required to qualify in pole position.
Czech Republic (Group C) and Italy (Group D) are sat in second spot, but will likely need wins to reach the next round, with Germany and Switzerland respectively breathing down their necks.
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