Brooks and Bednarek progress in EURO play-offs
Southampton's David Brooks scored and assisted for Wales during their win over Finland, setting up a meeting with teammate Jan Bednarek for a place at EURO 2024.
The Saints duo are both involved in Path A of the qualifying play-offs for this summer's European Championships, their respective victories meaning they will now face off against each other next Tuesday for a place in the tournament.
Brooks sent Wales well on their way to a spot in that qualifying final with a goal inside three minutes; the ball falling to the midfielder just inside the box, prompting an instinctive volley past a helpless Lukas Hradecky in the Finland goal.
After Neco Williams had doubled Wales' advantage on 38 minutes, Teemu Pukki looked to have handed Finland a lifeline just before the break but cutting the lead in half.
But Brooks was involved again at Cardiff City Stadium, assisting Brennan Johnson 120 seconds into the second half. He was substituted just past the hour mark with Wales going on to win 4-1.
Jan Bednarek celebrates the Poland rout (Credit: REUTERS)
Meanwhile an early double blow of going a goal down and seeing Maksim Paskotši sent off, both before the half hour mark, set the tone for visiting Estonia to Jan Bednarek's ruthless Poland.
The Saints centre-back played the duration as his nation scored five past their opponents with just one in reply at National Stadium Warsaw.
Tuesday's showdown will decide which of the Saints pairing will be at this summer's tournament, with the winners going into Group D alongside Netherlands, Austria, France.
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