Will Davies rescues point as York claim Oldham draw

By Sports Desk February 20, 2024

Will Davies rescued a much-needed point as York claimed a 1-1 National League draw with Oldham.

The play-off chasing visitors opened the scoring when Mike Fondop struck after an hour following a period of pressure.

But Davies levelled 10 minutes later to ensure the hosts took a point and dented Oldham’s play-off hopes.

They Latics dropped down to seventh to sit just a point ahead of Altrincham.

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  • England and Netherlands avoid last-16 clash as Georgia eliminate Hungary England and Netherlands avoid last-16 clash as Georgia eliminate Hungary

    England will face Slovakia as the Netherlands take on Romania in the last 16 at Euro 2024 after Hungary were eliminated on Wednesday.

    Both the Three Lions and the Oranje had already qualified for the knockout stage following their respective third matches on Tuesday, but the identity of their opponents in the next round was still awaited.

    And it had appeared likely two of Europe's heavyweights would meet in the round of 16, with the Netherlands third in their group and potentially paired with Group C winners England.

    However, Georgia's shock win against Portugal altered the draw, sending Hungary home at the debutants' expense.

    Spain, the only team with a 100 per cent record, will face Georgia, while Portugal play Slovenia.

    Instead of the Netherlands, England will meet Slovakia, with Ronald Koeman's men instead set for a clash with Group E winners Romania.

    The half of the draw involving England and the Netherlands appears wide open, with a number of heavyweights doing battle in the opposite side.

    Euro 2024 last 16 draw in full:

    Switzerland v Italy
    Germany v Denmark
    England v Slovakia
    Spain v Georgia
    France v Belgium
    Portugal v Slovenia
    Romania v Netherlands
    Austria v Turkiye

  • Georgia 2-0 Portugal: Crusaders crash landmark Ronaldo outing to make last 16 Georgia 2-0 Portugal: Crusaders crash landmark Ronaldo outing to make last 16

    Georges Mikautadze stole the show with a goal and an assist to send Georgia into the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a 2-0 upset against Portugal, tarnishing a landmark appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Portugal captain Ronaldo became the first European player to make 50 appearances across the World Cup and Euros on Wednesday, but this Group F meeting belonged to Georgia.

    Mikautadze teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's second-minute opener in Gelsenkirchen before himself coolly converting a penalty after the break, sealing Georgia's first ever win at a major tournament.

    Willy Sagnol's side will be rewarded with a last-16 meeting with Spain on Sunday, while Portugal must improve for Monday's clash with Slovenia in Frankfurt.

    Roberto Martinez's men were stunned almost immediately when Mikautadze slipped Kvaratskhelia through to hammer into the bottom-right corner with a left-footed drive.

    Timed at just one minute and 32 seconds, that was the quickest goal Portugal have ever conceded at the Euros, and Martinez's side were slow to respond.

    Ronaldo tested Giorgi Mamardashvili's hands with a thunderous long-range free-kick, while Francisco Conceicao angled wide from a tight angle and Joao Felix fired an optimistic effort over.

    Yet Georgia went close to doubling their lead as Kvaratskhelia's inviting free-kick narrowly evaded Giorgi Gvelesiani, before Joao Felix's fizzing effort was held by Mamardashvili at the other end.

    Ronaldo was thwarted at point-blank range shortly after half-time as Lasha Dvali produced a heroic diving block to deflect over from a prone position inside Georgia's six-yard box.

    Kvaratskhelia rushed a glorious chance near the penalty spot moments later and swiped at thin air, but Antonio Silva's clumsy hack on Luka Lochoshvili allowed Georgia to extend their advantage.

    Referee Sandro Scharer pointed to the spot after the VAR recommended an on-field review, and Mikautadze had no problem slotting past Diogo Costa's reach into the bottom-right corner after 57 minutes.

    A frustrated Ronaldo was substituted with over 20 minutes to play before Nelson Semedo and Conceicao went close in the dying stages of an unexpected defeat, as Portugal limped into the knockout rounds.

    Magic Mikautadze makes Georgian history

    Remarkably, Mikautadze now leads the Euro 2024 scoring charts after finding the net in each of his opening three games in Germany.

    Mikautadze is the ninth player to score in all three group matches at a single Euros, joining the likes of Michel Platini (1984), Ruud van Nistelrooy (2004) and Portugal's own Ronaldo (2021).

    The omens for the rest of the tournament are positive, too, considering Georgia are just the second European side, after Greece in 2004, to claim their first win at the World Cup or Euros against Portugal.

    Greece were 2-1 victors in the opening match 20 years ago against hosts Portugal before taking home the title by defeating the Selecao again in the final.

    Concerns for Martinez

    Much has been made of Portugal's star-studded attack, with Martinez boasting the likes of the record-breaking Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and dazzling Milan winger Rafael Leao.

    Yet there are defensive issues that need arresting before the knockout stage begins.

    Portugal have conceded the opening goal in two of their three group-stage matches at the Euros for just the second time, with Euro 2012 the other instance.

    This defeat also marked Portugal's joint-heaviest Euros loss, alongside their 4-2 reverse against Germany at Euro 2020 and a 2-0 surprise upset against Switzerland in 2008.

  • 'Very proud' Belgium stunned by fans' fury after setting up France clash 'Very proud' Belgium stunned by fans' fury after setting up France clash

    Belgium's players were surprised, confused and disappointed by the response of their supporters after scraping into the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a goalless draw against Ukraine on Wednesday.

    The Red Devils needed only a point from their final Group E match to be sure of a place in the knockout stage, but they could have topped the group with a win.

    Instead, having been held by Ukraine in another toothless display, Belgium will have to face France in the next round, thrust into what is widely considered the tougher half of the draw.

    Despite those permutations, Belgium opted to protect their point in the closing stages, rather than chase a winner.

    So, when the final whistle sounded, the travelling Belgian fans jeered their players instead of joining in the celebrations.

    Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgium captain, directed his team-mates back to the dressing room, and the players described their shock to the Belgian media.

    "We are qualified and very proud as a group," said Yannick Carrasco. "As a group, we do not understand the reaction of the fans. We find that disappointing.

    "We decided together to go to the dressing room, because we don't think the whistling is normal. You cannot forget where Belgium comes from, and now we participate in every tournament."

    Jan Vertonghen added: "I was one of the first to go to the fans, because I was genuinely happy with the qualification and wanted to greet them.

    "Yes, there is disappointment because we didn't win, but being booed after we qualified... it's the first time I've experienced that.

    "De Bruyne then decided to return to the dressing room and go in together. I understand that. He's the captain and can make that decision."

    Head coach Domenico Tedesco weighed in, saying: "I am surprised. All that mattered was qualifying.

    "We lost the first match, so the conditions were not easy. And after our win against Romania, everyone was happy.

    "My players do not understand that we are now being whistled at. This was a difficult opponent. We did everything we could to score. But hey, we have to accept this."

    De Bruyne skirted around the issue in his own interview with broadcasters, but he defended Belgium's approach.

    "If we go all out for a goal and we lose, what then? You can do that and concede a goal like against England [in March's friendly]," he said.

    "France are now waiting. We have to recover well and go all out for that match. We are underdogs there. But if you want to win a European Championship, you have to beat everyone, and now it is France."

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