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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
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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