Scott McTominay passes Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane to top scoring in Euro 2024 qualifying

SPORTSAREENA.comSeptember 9, 2023

34 3 minutes read

Scott McTominay moved forward of Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane because the joint main scorer in European Championship qualifying with Scotland on the point of securing a spot at subsequent yr’s event.

McTominay continued his unlikely aim spree because the Scots prolonged their 100% report in Group A by beating Cyprus 3-0 Friday on an evening when Lamine Yamal turned the youngest participant to rating for Spain — and likewise the youngest participant to rating in a European qualifier — in a 7-1 win towards Georgia.

Manchester United midfielder McTominay claimed his sixth aim in qualifying for Euro 2024 as Scotland stayed forward of Spain in the group on a most 15 factors after 5 straight wins.

Scotland wants two extra factors to guarantee its place on the event, which might be held in Germany.

McTominay is stage on the top of the scoring charts with new United teammate, Rasmus Hojlund of Denmark and former membership mate, Romelu Lukaku of Belgium.

Ronaldo and Kane have 5 objectives every.

McTominay has additionally been concerned in extra objectives than every other participant throughout qualifying, having offered one help.

He credited Scotland coach Steve Clarke for his aim run.

“The manager gives me a lot of freedom to get in the box, and potentially make things happen,” McTominay mentioned. “He’s proven a number of religion in me, and I simply need to repay him.

“I simply need to make individuals in Scotland pleased, that’s my job, and the group’s job, and I feel we’re doing it effectively on the minute.”

McTominay opened the scoring after six minutes at AEK Arena in Larnaca and Ryan Porteous doubled the lead in the sixteenth.

John McGinn added a 3rd in the thirtieth.

Scotland will qualify while not having any extra factors if Norway and Georgia draw on Tuesday.

Spain, in second place, has played two fewer games than Scotland, but is on six points having already lost to the group leader.

RECORD BREAKER

Aged 16 years and 57 days, Yamal’s 74th-minute strike against Georgia set two records.

He made historical past by overtaking Real Madrid and Wales nice Gareth Bale as the youngest scorer in European qualifying. Bale was 17 years and 83 days when he scored against Slovakia in 2006.

Yamal is also Spain’s youngest scorer. He broke the record set by Gavi, who was 17 years and 10 months when he scored for his country.

And there were no nerves when his big moment came, with Yamal saying: “I simply hit the ball the place my physique and soul instructed me to. That’s it.”

Yamal also became the youngest player to appear for Spain, again beating the benchmark set by Gavi in 2021 when he was 17 years and 62 days.

Yamal’s record-breaking evening overshadowed Alvaro Morata’s hat trick in the rout towards Georgia.

DOUBLE CELEBRATION

On the day he turned 29, Bruno Fernandes celebrated in model by scoring in Portugal‘s 1-0 win towards Slovakia.

It’s five wins from five for the Portuguese in Group J, which is the country’s best start to a European qualifying campaign and represents an impressive achievement early in the reign of new coach Roberto Martinez.

Luxembourg‘s 3-1 win over Iceland moved it onto 10 factors to equal its highest whole in European or World Cup qualifying with 5 video games nonetheless to play.

Liechtenstein stays pointless on the backside of the group after shedding 2-1 to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CROATIA RISING

Bruno Petković scored twice as Croatia moved up to second in Group D with a 5-0 win towards Latvia.

The World Cup bronze medalist is now three factors behind chief Turkey with two video games in hand.

Turkey wanted a aim in the 88th from Bertug Yildirim to earn a 1-1 draw with Armenia.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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