The UEFA Nations League kept chugging along on Wednesday night, treating us to four midweek games that provided plenty of excitement.
Belgium rather stole the show by humiliating Poland but there was also late drama in Cardiff and a big win for Scotland. Oh yeah. And Ireland lost… again.
Here is a roundup of all of the action.
Belgium 6-1 Poland
Belgium came from behind to get their UEFA Nations League campaign back on track with an emphatic 6-1 win over Poland.
The visitors took the lead through Robert Lewandowski – who else? – just before the half-hour mark but could not hold onto their advantage as the Red Devils blitzed their goalmouth.
Axel Witsel smashed home an equaliser a few minutes prior to half time and Kevin De Bruyne then edged Belgium in front on the hour.
Leandro Trossard put the game beyond all doubt with a seven-minute brace near the end, with his second goal – a wonderful, bending effort – the pick of the seven strikes. However, there was still time for Leander Dendoncker and Lois Openda to get in on the act before full time.
Wales 1-2 Netherlands
Wales were brought back down to Earth following their World Cup qualification as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat to the Netherlands in dramatic circumstances.
A much-rotated Red Dragons side defended well in a game of few clear-cut chances, but a well-worked goal finished off by Teun Koopmeiners looked to have settled this one five minutes into the second half.
Rob Page’s team pushed for a goal in the closing stages and even threw Gareth Bale on for the final 13 minutes. Eventually, they found their equaliser, with Rhys Norrington-Davies nodding home in second-half stoppage time.
However, there was more drama to come when Wout Weghorst scored a header of his own at the other end seconds later to secure the Netherlands all three points.
Ireland 0-1 Ukraine
The Republic of Ireland slipped to another defeat under Stephen Kenny as Ukraine secured a 1-0 victory over the Boys in Green at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland were far from outplayed by their opponents – who fell at the last hurdle in World Cup qualifying on Sunday – but they still tasted defeat courtesy of a Viktor Tsygankov free kick.
Tsygankov did not look in any danger of converting the set piece – but his deep cross ended up deceiving everybody and bouncing past Irish goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The defeat means Kenny’s charges are bottom of the group with zero points from two Nations League games.
Scotland 2-0 Armenia
Scotland did what Ireland could not last week, easing past Armenia 2-0 to get their Nations League campaign off to a flying start.
Goals from Anthony Ralston and Scott McKenna settled the game, but Steve Clarke will be disappointed his side did not score more in a game they dominated.
Ralston got things going by nodding home Stuart Armstrong’s superb cross at the back post in the 28th minute. McKenna – who also had a goal disallowed for offside – doubled his side’s advantage before half time, showing great strength to convert John McGinn’s corner.
