UEFA Nations League: Portugal, Spain shut out opponents
The third edition of the UEFA Nations League continues Thursday in cities all over Europe, with featured matches broadcast across the FOX Sports family of networks (and streamed on the FOX Sports app).
Kicking things off on FS1, Portugal is took down Czech Republic 2-0 at Lisbon's Jose Alvalade. Elsewhere, Spain stopped Switzerland with a shutout of its own at Stade de Geneve.
Here are the top plays.
Portugal 2, Czech Republic 0 (League A)
We have liftoff!
If you blinked, you might've missed João Cancelo airlift a screaming rocket into the back of the net for Portugal's first conversion. Try to keep your eyes peeled.
João Cancelo fires a ball into the back of the net to give Portugal the 1-0 lead
Different play, same result
Like an ace pitcher does to big-league batters, Portugal switched speeds on its opponents' goalie for its second goal. Gonçalo Guedes followed up Cancelo's heater with a nasty curve to power his team ahead, 2-0.
Gonçalo Guedes doubles the Portugal lead quickly, 2-0
Clean slate
Meanwhile, Diogo Costa remained sturdy in goal, coming up with multiple plays like this one to keep his shutout intact.
Spain 1, Switzerland 0 (League A)
Slidin' for the score
Pablo Sarabia scored Spain's first goal of the match, streaking in from the middle of the pitch to finish off a fine pass from Marcos Llorente.
Marcos Llorente sets up Pablo Sarabia to give Spain a 1-0 lead over Switzerland
Can I get a redo?
The Swiss had an opportunity to even the score with an empty net, but misplayed their shot attempt.
Here's a look at the rest of Thursday's games across the UEFA Nations League:
Norway 0, Slovenia 0 (League B)
Serbia 1, Sweden 0 (League B)
Bend the corner
Serbia's chemistry showed beautifully on a late-half corner in additional time. After curling the initial pass into a slew of players, Luka Jovic powered in a perfect header pass for the lead.
Luka Jovic's strike helps Serbia grab a 1-0 lead vs. Sweden
Greece 3. Cyprus 0 (League C)
Slice it in
Greece began the affair with a stellar run, pushing its way inside the box, before Anastasios Bakasetas unleashed a pretty left-footed slicer to help his team go up 1-0.
Greece's Anastasios Bakasetas blasts an outrageous outside-the-box volley against Cyprus, 1-0
Turn it into points
Greece's defense was just as commendable as its offense in the game's early sledding, as it doubled its advantage after coming away with a turnover in minute 19.
Vangelis Pavlidis' goal doubles Greece's lead vs. Cyprus, 2-0
High and outside
Greece was after full control in this one, and upped the ante in the 47th minute with this lofty conversion that was impossible to stop.
Kosovo 3, Northern Ireland 2 (League C)
Stutter steppin'
Kosovo was awarded a penalty kick at the seven-minute mark. Vedat Muriqi stepped confidently up to the line for the squad, and hit the GK with a slippery fake before putting away his attempt.
Vedat Muriqi smashes in a penalty kick to give Kosovo the first goal vs. Northern Ireland
Convert the crosser!
Kosovo doubled its lead 10 minutes later, going up 2-0 after Zymer Bytyq capitalized on an exquisite dime from his teammate, who dropped a defender prior to the pass.
Zymer Bytyqi gives Kosovo an early 2-0 lead over Northern Ireland
Show off the hops
Northern Ireland wouldn't be held scoreless though and got its first goal of the matchup in the 44th minute, courtesy of a graceful levitation display from Shayne Lavery.
Shayne Lavery's goal puts Northern Ireland back in the game vs. Kosovo
Sea of blue
That's what the penalty box resembled as Kosovo put away a decisive goal in minute 51, and its swarming team play opened up Muriqi's second opportunity.
Vedat Muriqi scores his second against Northern Ireland, extends Kosovo's lead to 3-1
Inching closer
Daniel Ballard came up with a big late-game goal on a header to bring Northern Ireland within one, but it was too little too late, and Kosovo made off with a 3-2 victory.
Daniel Ballard's late goal gives Northern Ireland hope vs. Kosovo
Gibraltar 1, Bulgaria 1 (League C)
Pretty passing
Bulgaria didn't have much time to get off this attempt before halftime, but it didn't need much. The squad found the back of the net in the 45th minute on an attack that spanned less than 10 seconds after a string of well-placed passes.
Georgi Minchev's header gives Bulgaria a 1-0 lead over Gibraltar
Wrong way!
Gibraltar evened the tally on a penalty in the 60th minute, as Liam Walker went upper left corner to pull his team back into the match.
Gibraltar's Liam Walker evens the score against Bulgaria, 1-1
Georgia 3, North Macedonia 0 (League C)
Visionary passing
After a scoreless first half, Georgia broke through in the 51st minute when Budu Zivzivadze converted a remarkable pass from the left side of the field.
Georgia takes a 1-0 lead after a beautiful cross is put into the back of the net by Budu Zivzivadze
Archery
Georgia went up 2-0 on a bullseye from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, as he turned a defender around with some nifty ball-handling before delivering the strike
Georgia takes a 2-0 lead after a vicious strike by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Free goodies
Georgia made the most of a free-kick opportunity in minute 83, going up 3-0 on a tough sliding finish from Otar Kiteishvili.
Georgia takes a 3-0 lead after Otar Kiteishvili puts it into the back of the net
Estonia 2, Malta 1 (League D)
Line drive
Estonia turned defense to offense to get on the board first in this one, taking the lead on Konstantin Vassiljev's missile strike from outside the box.
Estonia takes a 1-0 lead on a Konstantin Vassiljev strike from outside the box
Malta drew even in the 55th minute, finding pay dirt on a dazzling curving corner from Jurgen Degabriele.
Jurgen Degabriele scores the equalizer goal for Malta, ties score at 1-1
Never too late!
With just a minute left in five minutes of stoppage time, Estonia came away with a miraculous conversion as Sergey Zenjov coaxed Malta's goalie out of position, before finding teammate Henri Anier for the clincher.
Henri Anier scores in stoppage time to give Estonia the 2-1 win over Malta
