VIktor Gyokeres was Sweden’s hero once again as he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Romania in the UEFA Nations League.
Having helped guide Sweden to the World Cup this summer, Viktor was at it again for Graham Potter’s side.
Our striker pounced on an error from Romania goalkeeper Radu to fire home. Liverpool’s Alexander Isak had given Sweden the lead in Solna before Dennis Man equalised for the visitors.
The goal was Gyokeres’ 22nd in just 38 caps for his country. Viktor will be hoping for more of the same on Monday when Sweden take on Poland in the second match of their League B, Group 4, campaign – the same country he scored the winner against to send Sweden to the World Cup.
There was no winning start for Riccardo Calafiori’s Italy as they lost 2-0 to Belgium in Rome.
Richy played the full 90 minutes of Roberto Mancini’s return to the Italy dugout, but he could not prevent the Red Devils from taking all three points.
Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio netted the goals for Mark van Bommel’s team. The Azzurri will go again Monday, September 28, when they head to Turkiye.
Away from the Nations League action and Bruno Guimaraes was starting for Brazil in their international friendly against Australia.
In the first of two matches against the Socceroos, Bruno played 62 minutes, which saw Australia take the lead through a Nestory Irankunda free-kick.
Bruno was replaced by Douglas Luiz before the Australians opened the scoring, with Bournemouth’s Rayan snatching an equaliser deep into stoppage time. Gabriel Magalhaes was an unused substitute by Carlo Ancelotti. The sides will do battle again on Tuesday, September 29, in Brisbane.
Finally, Ceadach O’Neill came off the bench for his first competitive appearance for Northern Ireland in a dramatic 1-0 victory over Georgia.
Our Hale End winger, who had previously played two friendlies for the senior national team, was introduced by Michael O’Neill in the 86th minute with the score at 0-0 in Tbilisi. Fulham’s summer signing Shea Charles netted the winning goal for Northern Ireland in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Their next match is against Hungary, who kicked off their Nations League campaign with a home defeat to Ukraine. The match will take place in Belfast on Monday, September 28.
Gibraltar 0-0 Sao Tome & Principe – Scanlon played 45 minutesNetherlands 1-1 Germany – Havertz started, subbed after 30 minutes, Timber not in squadSerbia 1-2 Greece – Tzolis started, scored equaliser in comeback winNorway 3-2 Denmark – Odegaard started, provided two assistsAustralia 1-1 Brazil – Bruno stars, plays 62 minutes. Gabriel an unused subGeorgia 0-1 Northern Ireland – O’Neill plays the final 10 minutes from the benchItaly 0-2 Belgium – Calafiori starts, plays full 90 minutesSweden 2-1 Romania – Gyokeres starts, scores winning goalEngland (Lewis-Skelly, Eze, Saka, Konsa) v Spain (Raya, Merino, Zubimendi) | 7.45pm | Nations League | WembleyGibraltar (Scanlon) v Andorra | 5pm | Nations League | Europa PointSerbia v Netherlands (Timber) | 5pm | Nations League | BelgradeGermany (Havertz) v Greece (Tzolis) | 7.45pm | Nations League | AugsburgNorway (Odegaard) v Portugal | 7.45pm | Nations League | OsloTurkey v Italy (Calafiori) | 7.45pm | Nations League | BursaNorthern Ireland (O’Neill) v Hungary | 7.45pm | Nations League | BelfastSweden (Gyokeres) v Poland | 7.45pm Nations League | SolnaAustralia v Brazil (Guimaraes, Gabriel) | 11am | Friendly | BrisbaneCzechia v England (Eze, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Konsa) | 7.45pm | Nations League | PragueSpain (Merino, Raya, Zubimendi) v Croatia | 7.45pm Nations League | SevilleMalta v Gibraltar (Scanlon) | 5pm | Nations League | Ta’ QaliGreece (Tzolis) v Netherlands (Timber) | 7.45pm | Nations League | ThessalonikiWales v Norway (Odegaard) | 7.45pm | Nations League | CardiffFrance v Italy (Calafiori) | 7.45pm | Nations League | ParisUkraine v Northern Ireland (O’Neill) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Trnava (Slovakia)Bosnia & Herzegovina v Sweden (Gyokeres) | 7.45pm | Nations League | ZenicaIndia v Brazil (Guimaraes, Gabriel) | 3pm | Friendly | KolkataCroatia v England (Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Eze, Konsa) | 5pm | Nations League | RijekaSpain (Merino, Raya, Zubimendi) v Czech Republic | 7.45pm | Nations League | OviedoGreece (Tzolis) v Germany | 7.45pm | Nations League | ThessalonikiNetherlands (Timber) v Serbia | 7.45pm | Nations League | EindhovenPortugal v Norway (Odegaard) | 7.45pm | Nations League | PortoLiechtenstein v Gibraltar (Scanlon) | 7.45pm | Friendly | VaduzItaly (Calafiori) v Turkey| 7.45pm | Nations League | BolognaNorthern Ireland (O’Neill) v Georgia | 7.45pm | Nations League | BelfastRomania v Sweden (Gyokeres) | 7.45pm | Nations League | BucharestEngland (Konsa, Saka, Eze, Lewis-Skelly) v Czech Republic | 7.45pm | Nations League | WembleyCroatia v Spain (Zubimendi, Raya, Merino) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Split