Kazakhstan 3-2 Denmark
Denmark completely handed over a second success in the European Championship qualification on Sunday. Twenty-year-old Rasmus Højlund was also on a roll against Kazakhstan, but the odds turned in the final phase.
Danish ‘sheriff’ strikes again, but Danish party is completely ruined
After his starring role against Finland ( 3-1 ), he was jokingly proclaimed the new sheriff in town. Højlund had not yet shot his powder in Copenhagen on Thursday, as it turned out in Astana.
The attacker of Atalanta, who played for Sturm Graz a year ago, added the following two hits to his total in his fourth international match. In four days he scored five goals in the Danish national team.
His production was not enough for the next three points. In fact, Denmark ended up empty-handed in Astana. Kazakhstan had taken courage from Bakhtiyor Zaynutdinov’s converted penalty kick to strike twice in the last minutes. After Askhat Tagybergen’s wonderful equalizer, Abat Aymbetov caused the unexpected turnaround in the last minute of regular time and a ruined Danish party with Højlund in the lead role; 3-2.
Malta 0-2 Italy
Italy has recovered from the false start of the European Championship qualifying series. Malta was treated to a defeat at home.
‘Argentina born’ Retegui puts Italy on track with a rare performance
The Italian Federation was founded on March 26, 1898. Time for a party. The 125th anniversary was given extra cachet with a video with the highlights from the past. The contrast with the present was a bit painful. The Azzurri were missing at the World Cup in Qatar and had a false start to the European Championship qualifying series in Naples on Thursday.
Malta had to be the medicine for the headache left over from the home defeat against England on Sunday. The team of the Italian Michele Marcelino caused a shock moment for the Azzurri in the fifth minute. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma prevented Alexander Satariano from putting the hosts 1-0 up.
After fifteen minutes it was hit on the other side. Mateo Retegui, of all people, once again made a name for himself with the Italians. The 23-year-old attacker did what he had done on his debut against England; to score. This made the first acquaintance of the born Argentinian with Italian ancestors with the Azzurri a success
Retegui also wrote history with his goal in Malta, with which he delivered a rare performance. Pierino Prati, in April 1968, had been the last Italian to score for the Azzurri in each of his first two competitive caps.
The opening goal turned out to be the basis for a success. Matteo Pessina gave the Italians more air on their way to a positive signal towards the European Championship in Germany with his goal halfway through the first half.
