The Gibraltar team have finally won a competitive game
The Gibraltar team have finally won a competitive game

Nations League review: Gibraltar win first ever competitive match with victory over Armenia


The Republic of Ireland played out a 0-0 draw with Denmark in Dublin while Gibraltar won their first ever competitive match in Saturday's Nations League.

Minnows Gibraltar, who had lost all their previous 22 competitive matches since becoming a UEFA-affiliated nation in 2013, defeated Armenia 1-0 in Yerevan in a League D clash.

The historic moment was secured thanks to a 50th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul by Hrayr Mkoyan on Lee Casciaro and converted by Joseph Chipolina. Kyle Goldwin made a string of saves to secure the three points.

It was a bad night all round for Armenia, who had to apologise to Gibraltar after mistakenly playing the Liechtenstein national anthem ahead of the match.

In League B, the Czech Republic beat neighbours Slovakia for the sixth time in 11 meetings to give new coach Jaroslav Silhavy a debut win.

All the goals came in the second half, with Michael Krmencik giving the Czechs a 52nd-minute lead in Trnava. Marek Hamsik marked his record 108th cap with an equaliser 10 minutes later, but Patrik Schick netted the winner 14 minutes from time.

Both teams had lost their opening match against Ukraine.

The Republic of Ireland claimed their first point of the competition in a goalless draw with Denmark in Dublin.

In League C, Bulgaria made it three wins from three matches with a 2-1 victory over Cyprus. Grigoris Kastanos gave the visitors a 41st-minute lead in Sofia but goals from Kiril Despodov and Todor Nedelev turned the game around.

Norway claimed their second victory of the competition, beating pointless Slovenia 1-0 thanks to an excellent strike from Ole Selnaes in first-half injury time.

Georgia maintained their perfect record in League D, Group 1 by defeating Andorra 3-0. All the other teams in the group are on two points after Latvia and Kazakhstan drew 1-1.

Macedonia lead Group 4 on nine points from three games after beating Liechtenstein 4-1.

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