Euro 2024 qualifying: Nika Kvekveskiri fires Georgia to first major ...

Published 26/03/2024 at 23:22 GMT

Georgia have qualified for a major international tournament for the first time in their history after edging past Greece in their play-off final to make Euro 2024.

Willy Sagnol's side, who qualified for the play-offs courtesy of their performance in the UEFA Nations League, beat Luxembourg 2-0 in the last four.

That set up a crunch clash with the Euro 2004 champions, but it looked like their dreams of reaching Germany would be dashed when Giorgi Loria was sent off just before half-time.

However, they managed to force a penalty shoot-out after the game finished 0-0 following extra-time.

And once Anastasios Bakasetas and Giorgos Giakoumakis had missed from the spot, Nika Kvekveskiri made history as he fired his side into Euro 2024.

The result, which sparked jubilant scenes in Tbilisi, means they will be only debutant nation in Germany this summer.

They now slot into Group F, alongside Turkey, Czech Republic and Portugal.

Elsewhere, Chelsea's Mykhailo Mudryk played a starring role for Ukraine as they overcame a potential banana skin against Iceland.

Albert Gudmundsson had given the 2016 quarter-finalists the lead on the half-hour mark in a game played on neutral territory in Poland.

However, Serhii Rebrov's side hit back after the break, equalising through midfielder Viktor Tsyhankov.

That gave the Blue and Yellows the momentum, and their fans were sent into delirium when Mudryk converted the winner with just six minutes remaining, brilliantly finding the far bottom corner from outside the area.

The 2-1 victory means Ukraine have qualified for a fourth successive European Championships.

Their opponents in Germany will be Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, after the result saw them placed in Group E.

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