GENEVA: Pablo Sarabia scored the only goal as Spain deservedly beat Switzerland for their first win of the Nations League.

Sarabia slid home Marcos Llorente’s cross in a goal which was allowed to stand after a video assistant referee review for offside.

The Swiss had two late chances in Geneva, with Breel Embolo lobbing wide and Djibril Sow’s last-second volley being blocked.

Spain are on five points from three games in Group A2.

Portugal lead

Portugal – who beat the Czech Republic 2-0 – are two points clear of their neighbours.

Joao Cancelo scored as Portugal beat the Czech Republic to maintain their good start to the Nations League.

The 2019 champions led in Lisbon when Bernardo Silva picked out Manchester City team-mate Cancelo, who rifled home from a tight angle.

Silva then played a good through ball to Goncalo Guedes, who found the bottom corner for Portugal’s second goal.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo failed to add to the two goals he scored in their 4-0 win over Switzerland last time out.

Unhappy 13

Northern Ireland’s Nations League misery as a 3-2 defeat by Kosovo means they have now gone 13 games without a win in the competition.

Striker Vedat Muriqi scored an early penalty for the hosts in Pristina, with Zymer Bytyqi doubling the lead moments later.

Shayne Lavery headed home for the visitors on the stroke of half-time before Muriqi grabbed his second soon after the break.

A header seven minutes from time by Daniel Ballard, Northern Ireland’s best player on the night, produced a late flurry from the visitors, with Conor McMenamin failing to connect with a great chance to snatch an equaliser.

The defeat continues a hugely disappointing start to Nations League Group C2 for Ian Baraclough’s much-changed side after they opened with an abject 1-0 loss at home to Greece and followed that with a flat 0-0 draw in Cyprus on Sunday.

It leaves the former Under-21 manager’s record in charge of the senior international team standing at just three wins and 10 defeats in 19 competitive outings.

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