LITTLE GIBRALTAR ROUNDED off a memorable few days by beating Liechtenstein 2-1 on Tuesday to grab their second consecutive competitive win after a previous run of 22 defeats.
Having claimed their first-ever victory in a competitive international with a 1-0 success in Armenia on Saturday, the Gibraltans came from behind to edge out Liechtenstein.
Second-half strikes from George Cabrera and Joseph Chipolina cancelled out Dennis Salanovic’s early opener for the visitors on the Iberian Peninsula.
Since Gibraltar joined UEFA in 2013, they have suffered a series of heavy defeats, losing to Poland 8-1 and 7-0 and 7-0 against Germany and the Republic of Ireland in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Their worst defeat was a 9-0 hammering at the hands of Belgium in World Cup qualifying in 2017.
But now they will be dreaming of qualifying for Euro 2020 through the Nations League — they sit just three points behind leaders Macedonia in Group 4 of League D.
Elsewhere, Georgia secured promotion to League C, and a place in the play-offs for the European Championship, with a 3-0 victory in Latvia.
Ukraine also booked at least a play-off spot as Ruslan Malinovsky scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic which wrapped up promotion to League A.
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There’s hope for Ireland yet. All we need is to play Armemia and Leichenstein and the green army is back.
@Daire O’Reilly: or sink further
@Daire O’Reilly: I’m glad we’re not in Gibraltar’s group :-)
Won more games in the last 4 days than we have in a year…could be facing them in League C next time around
Was at the game in Gibraltar. Two decent headers for the goals. Fair play.
@Stephen Carthy: is that right Walter mitty
@Stephen Carthy: I think Gibraltar play their home games in Portugal.
@William T Smith: no they don’t
@Colm Connolly: you’re right, they used to play there before they sorted their own ground
Surely the losing streak was already behind them