Greece thrashed Kazakhstan 5-0 in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-final on Thursday to book a place in one of Tuesday’s three play-off finals and move closer to qualifying for the first time in 12 years.
Greece struck twice early on, with captain Anastasios Bakasetas scoring a powerful ninth-minute penalty after defender Bagdat Kairov fouled Dimitrios Pelkas, who doubled the lead six minutes later with a header that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
The struggling visitors were unable to find the back of the net and were again caught out when Giorgios Masouras broke quickly and crossed for Fotis Ioannidis to finish from close range in the 37th minute.
Dimitrios Kourbelis’s header added a fourth five minutes before the half-time break and a late own goal from Alexandr Marochkin in the second half made it five for Greece.
Greece now faces Georgia, Wednesday 27 March at 4:00am Australian time, for a qualifying spot in the EURO 2024.
