Albania scores fastest goal ever at UEFA European Championship

DORTMUND, Germany –

Albania has scored the fastest ever goal at a European Championship – after just 23 seconds.

Nedim Bajrami pounced on an errant throw-in by Italy left back Federico Dimarco, took a touch, then smashed a rising shot inside the near post in Dortmund on Saturday.

The previous quickest goal in the competition was by Dmitri Kirichenko of Russia after 67 seconds against Greece in 2004.

Bajrami became just the second Albanian to score at a European Championship, after Armando Sadiku in 2016. That was the western Balkan country’s only other appearance at a major tournament.