NATIONS LEAGUE: GREECE SECURE PROMOTION

Onetime European champions Greece have been promoted from League C to League B in the UEFA Nations League after maintaining their winning run in Group C2. The 2004 Euro tournament winners secured League B promotion by beating Kosovo 2-0 at home to make it four straight wins at the start of their campaign in Group C2. The Greek team scored twice in the last quarter to seal the win thus confirming promotion to the second tier of the Nation League after a record of four wins from four group games.

Greece broke the deadlock during their home game with Kosovo through Celtic striker GiorgiosGiakoumakison 71 minutes before AEK Athens attacking midfielder PedrosMantalos sealed the win with the second Greece goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Apart from Kosovo, Greece are in the same group with Northern Ireland and Cyprus. Earlier in the group, hosts Northern Ireland came from behind to draw at home to Cyprus. Middlebrough midfielder Paddy McNair and Leicester City defender Jonny Evans score the goals for Northern Ireland in the final quarter of the gamewhich ended in a four-goal thriller. Cyprus had taken a two-nil lead through the brace from AndronikosKakoullis with a goal in each half before McNair and Evans responded for the hosts. The two teams are still looking for their first win in the group.

The Greeks were able to see off Kosovo to open an unassailable six-point lead at the top of their group thanks to a better head-to-head against their latest opponents. AnastasiosBakasetas scored the only goal of the game to give Greece a 1-0 away win when the two teams met in Pristina, Kosovo last week.

After the fourth round of games in their group, Greece are first with twelve points, while Kosovo have six points. Northern Ireland and Cyprus are third and fourth respectively with two points each.