Winners and Losers from Euro 2016 Qualifiers on October 14

Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland continued their impressive starts to Euro 2016 qualifying on Tuesday.

Playing in Poland, Shaun Maloney and Steven Naismith both found the back of the net as Scotland earned an impressive 2-2 draw, while elsewhere in Group D John O’Shea scored a last-gasp equaliser for the Republic of Ireland away to Germany.

Northern Ireland, meanwhile, won 2-0 in Greece to stay atop Group F after three matches—all wins.

Elsewhere, Georgia were comfortable 3-0 winners in Gibraltar, while Switzerland drubbed San Marino 4-0 in Serravalle.

Hungary and Romania beat the Faroe Islands and Finland respectively, and Portugal edged Denmark 1-0.

Finally, the Group I contest between Serbia and Albania was abandoned after crowd trouble in Belgrade, as per Eurosport.

Following are some of the winners and losers from Tuesday’s matches.

Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo, Who Scored a Late Winner for Portugal

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

Cristiano Ronaldo had scored just three international goals in 2014 coming into Tuesday’s Group I showdown with Denmark, and given Portugal’s previous defeat to Albania his side were in desperate need for him to find the back of the net in Copenhagen.

He didn’t let them down.

In the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, the Real Madrid superstar got his head to Ricardo Quaresma’s cross and directed the ball past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The goal sealed a vital win for Portugal, who finally moved off the bottom of the standings.

Loser: Greece, Who Have Yet to Win in Qualifying

Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press

They may have overachieved at the 2014 World Cup, but since their round of 16 exit in Brazil—and the subsequent departure of manager Fernando Santos—Greece have struggled against each opponent they’ve faced.

Last month they kicked off their Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a 1-0 defeat at home to Romania, and on Saturday they played to a 1-1 draw in Finland despite taking a first-half lead.

On Tuesday it was Northern Ireland who got the better of them—Jamie Ward scoring after only nine minutes and Kyle Lafferty adding a measure of insurance early in the second half.

Lafferty has now scored three goals in three qualification matches.

Winner: John O’Shea, Who Scored a Late Equaliser for the Republic of Ireland

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

As the final minutes ticked off the clock in Gelsenkirchen, it looked as though the Republic of Ireland would lose 1-0 to World Cup-winners Germany.

It would hardly have been an embarrassing scoreline.

But in the fourth and final minute of second-half stoppage time, John O’Shea bundled the ball into the back of the Germany goal following a Wes Hoolahan cross.

It was the Sunderland defender’s third tally for his country, and it happened to come on the occasion of his 100th appearance for the Republic.

"It was a very special moment because the group has a fantastic spirit and we didn't want to come off this pitch with just a 1-0 defeat," O'Shea said, per Sky Sports. "But that makes it a bit more special—we got something from the game."

Winner: Steven Naismith, Who Continued His Terrific Start to the Season

Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images

Steven Naismith had come off the boil in recent weeks, but the Scotland attacker’s goal against Poland gave him two in his last three matches and brought his total to five for club and country this season.

Shortly before the hour mark in Warsaw and with Scotland and Poland level at a goal apiece, the 28-year-old managed to get a touch to James Morrison’s free-kick and restore his side’s lead.

Arkadiusz Milik would end up equalising for the hosts, but Naismith’s goal helped his side earn a vital draw in a difficult venue—one where Germany had lost just three days prior.

Loser: The Intersect of Geopolitics and Football

Tuesday’s Group I showdown between Serbia and Albania was abandoned shortly before the half-hour mark following crowd trouble that ended up involving the players.

As reported by Eurosport, referee Martin Atkinson suspended the match after a drone dropped an Albanian flag onto the Belgrade pitch.

Given the tensions in the region it’s curious why UEFA even allowed the two countries to be grouped together in qualifying, and following the riot that ensued the governing body will no doubt be forced to re-examine the issue.

Bleacher Report has more coverage of the incident here.

Winner: Bogdan Stancu, Who Bagged a Brace for Romania vs. Finland

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Romania have yet to lose in three Euro 2016 qualification matches, and in each they’ve been able to rely on someone else to do the business in front of goal.

On Tuesday it was Bogdan Stancu who rose to the occasion.

The first of his two goals came early in the second half when he headed Lucian Sanmartean’s corner into the back of the net.

Then, with seven minutes remaining, he put the finishing touches on a 2-0 Romania win when his side-footer from Sanmartean’s pass beat goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa.