Abel Ruiz scores quickest goal in U21 Euros history as Spain and Ukraine reach quarter-finals

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Published 24/06/2023 at 21:31 GMT

Abel Ruiz needed just 20 seconds to find the net as Spain beat Croatia 1-0 to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the U21 Euros with a game to spare. Ruiz's strike was the fastest in tournament history and proved decisive. Ukraine are also through to the knockouts after beating Romania, while Georgia produced a thrilling comeback against Belgium, and Portugal drew with the Netherlands.

Spain qualified for the knockout stages of the European Under-21 Championship after Abel Ruiz scored the quickest goal in tournament history to seal a 1-0 win over Croatia.

The Spanish captain latched onto a cross from Manchester City's Sergio Gomez to sweep home a finish with just 20 seconds on the clock in Bucharest.

It shaved nine seconds off the previous record for the fastest tournament goal - Florian Wirtz’s effort for Germany against the Netherlands in 2021 - and proved enough to earn Spain a place in the quarter-finals.

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Santi Denia’s side dominated possession and restricted their opponents to few opportunities in the first half.

But Spain keeper Arnau Tenas was called into action late on to stop a Matija Frigan volley and protect his side’s lead.

Spain will be joined in the last eight by Ukraine, who also booked themselves a top-two finish in Group B with a game to spare by beating Romania 1-0.

All the drama came late on as a Victor Dican own goal opened the scoring before Vladyslav Vanat was sent off for Ukraine.

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The Ukrainians and Spain, who will face off for top spot next, have a perfect record of two wins from two, while Croatia and Romania are yet to pick up a point.

Hosts Georgia are sitting two points clear on top of Group A after the first two rounds of action.

The Georgians produced a superb second-half fightback in Tbilisi to recover from two goals down and take a 2-2 draw.

Belgium were on top at the break thanks to headers from Maxim De Cuyper and Largie Ramazani, but a triple change brought the hosts to life as substitute Griogi Tsitaishvili soon pulled one back.

Another replacement, Giorgi Guliashvili, then netted an 87th-minute equaliser to put his side on the verge of the knockout stage.

Portugal and the Netherlands were both in need of a victory when they met after failing to win their openers, but their clash ended 1-1.

Abel Ruiz of Spain during the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2023 Group Bmatch between Romania and Spain at the Steua Stadium at 2023 on June 21, 2023 in Bucharest, Romania

Image credit: Getty Images

Andre Almeida volleyed home the opener midway through the first half, but the Oranje drew level through Bryan Brobbey with 12 minutes to go.

The Dutch sit third with two points and Portugal are bottom on one point going into their final games against Georgia and Belgium respectively.

England take on Israel at 17:00 UK time tomorrow 25 June, in their second game of the tournament.

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