FOOTBALL – Sweden's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were dented yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Kosovo, who had Lindon Emerllahu sent off in second-half stoppage time for picking up a second yellow card.
The Swedes, who conceded a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw away to Slovenia on Friday, went behind in the 26th minute as goalkeeper Robin Olsen blocked Elvis Rexhbecaj’s shot only for the rebound to fly off the midfielder’s shin into the net.
Vedat Muriqi made it 2-0 for Kosovo three minutes before the break and although Sweden brought on Alexander Isak, the most expensive player in Premier League history after moving to Liverpool, they could not find a way back into the game.
The victory moved Kosovo up to second place in Group B on three points, three behind Switzerland, who thumped Slovenia 3-0 to make it two wins out of two. The Swedes are third on one point, ahead of Slovenia on goal difference.
The top team in each group qualify directly for next year’s finals with the runners-up going into the playoffs.
Scotland secured a 2-0 win over Belarus, with Che Adams on target and Zakhar Volkov scoring an own goal in the match played behind closed doors in Hungary.
After a drab first half, the breakthrough came two minutes before the interval. Billy Gilmour rattled the post before Scott McTominay headed across goal for Adams to slide in the opener.
Scotland doubled their lead in the 65th when defender Volkov misjudged a cross and put a header into his own net.
Scotland now have four points in Group C after two matches, level with Denmark who claimed a 3-0 win away to Greece.
Italy prevailed in a whirlwind game to beat Israel 5-4 in Hungary after the Italians scored two own goals, twice came from behind and conceded a late equaliser but scrambled a win to stay in the hunt in Group I.
Italy fell behind in the 16th minute when Manuel Locatelli put the ball into his own net. Moise Kean levelled five minutes from the break but Israel went ahead again through Dor Peretz in the 52nd minute.
Kean equalised again within two minutes and Matteo Politano put Italy in front in the 58th. Giacomo Raspadori looked to have sealed the win nine minutes from time, but Alessandro Bastoni’s own goal after 87 minutes gave Israel a lifeline.
Peretz netted the equaliser in the 89th and Italy looked set to a draw before Sandro Tonali snatched a winner in added time.
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