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Kazakhstan national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Mar 28, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Iceland national football team

0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Gudjohnsen (20'), Bjarnason (32', 91')

Eidur Gudjohnsen, Birkir Bjarnason down Kazakhstan

An opening goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen and a brace by Birkir Bjarnason seal a 3-0 win for Iceland over Kazakhstan.

Bolton Wanderers striker Eidur Gudjohnsen was among the goals as Iceland boosted their chances of qualifying for Euro 2016 thanks to a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan this afternoon.

The visiting Scandinavians dominated the opening exchanges at the Astana Arena, but it wasn't until the 20th minute that they were able to break the deadlock.

Iceland's players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Kazakhstan and Iceland in Astana on March 28, 2015© Getty Images

Johann Gudmundsson picked out veteran frontman Gudjohnsen, who was able to squeeze his effort inside Andrei Sidelnikov's right-hand post from 12 yards out.

It was the former Chelsea and Barcelona frontman's first international goal since 2009 and at the age of 36, he also became the fourth-oldest goalscorer in Euro qualifiers behind Jari Litmanen, John Aldridge and Krasimir Balakov.

Twelve minutes later it was 2-0 to Iceland as midfielder Birkir Bjarnason took his international goal tally to five when he rose highest to head in Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross.

During what was a largely uneventful second half, Kazakhstan defender Rinat Abdulin thought that he had reduced the arrears in the 63rd minute, but his headed effort struck the post before the ball was hacked to safety.

It proved to be the only nervy moment of note for Lars Lagerback's Iceland, who added a third goal in stoppage time courtesy of Bjarnason's second strike of the contest.

The victory means that Iceland sit six points clear of the Netherlands in second spot in Group A, having won four of their five qualification encounters.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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