Nedim Bajrami scores fastest goal in Euros HISTORY to give Albania shock lead over reigning champions Italy after just 23 SECONDS
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Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal in Euros history to give Albania a shock 1-0 lead over reigning champions Italy.
The forward blasted a shot into the roof of the net at the near post after 23 seconds to leave Italy shell-shocked in Dortmund.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was helpless against such a venemous strike and could only watch as Bajrami wheeled away to celebrate in front of a sea of red.
However, Albania's lead only lasted for 10 minutes as defender Alessandro Bastoni rose above the crowd to head home an equaliser, redeeming himself for an error that led to Bajrami's goal.
And soon Gli Azzurri had the lead when Nicolo Barella smashed in a first-time volley from the edge of the area after 17 minutes.
WHAT A START FOR ALBANIA! 😱#ITAALB #BBCEuros #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/iXhuMwPgcm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 15, 2024
Nedim Bajrami scored the fastest goal in Euros history when he struck after 23 seconds
Gianluigi Donnarumma was helpless as Bajrami blasted high and hard at the near post
Albania's fans erupted into chaos after seeing their team take an unexpected lead against Italy
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The previous fastest goal in Euros history was scored after 67 seconds when Dmitri Kirichenko fired Russia ahead against eventual champions Greece in 2004.
Bajrami had capitalised on a sloppy start from the opposition in blue.
Bastoni had hesitated after Federico Dimarco threw the ball back into the box and Bajrami seized the ball before unleashing a powerful strike.
Albania are seen as the weakest side in the group of death, consisting of themselves, Italy, Spain, and Croatia.
Earlier in the day, Spain thrashed Croatia 3-0 thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal.
Albania finished top of a tricky qualifying group consisting of Czechia, Poland, Moldova, and the Faroe Islands to reach Euro 2024, only losing once.
Alessandro Bastoni runined the party 10 minutes later as he equalised with a header
Nicolo Barella let loose with a stunning volley to give Italy the lead six minutes later
This is only their second appearance at the European Championship.
They qualified for the 2016 edition but were knocked out in the group stages after losing to Switzerland and France but beating Romania.