Belarus striker Artem Shumanski scores fastest goal in Nations League history after 10 seconds against Finland
Shumanski struck after ten seconds as Belarus beat Finland 1-0, while Slovakia won 4-0 in Moldova and Albania took top spot in League C.
Belarus forward Artem Shumanski wrote his name into the UEFA Nations League record books on Tuesday night, scoring after just ten seconds against Finland. UEFA confirmed it as the fastest goal in the competition's history, and it turned out to be the only goal of the game as Belarus won 1-0.
It was one of several eye-catching results in League C, where Slovakia ran riot in Moldova and Albania snatched top spot with a stoppage-time penalty. The matches kicked off in the early hours of Wednesday Malaysia time.
A record start in Budapest
Belarus played the match at the Illovszky Rudolf Stadion in Budapest, Hungary, where they host their home games. Shumanski's goal came straight from the opening moments, before Finland had settled.
The early strike was enough. Belarus defended their lead for the remaining 89-plus minutes to claim a first win over Finland in this campaign, having drawn 0-0 with the same opponents in the reverse fixture a week earlier.
Finland had arrived as group leaders, so the defeat was a significant setback in their bid for promotion to League B.
Albania go top
In the same group, Albania beat San Marino 2-1, but they needed a late intervention. Kristjan Asllani converted a penalty in added time to secure the three points and lift Albania to the top of the table, according to UEFA.
San Marino, the lowest-ranked side in the group, came close to a famous result before Asllani's spot-kick.
Slovakia pull clear
Slovakia produced the most emphatic win of the night in League C, beating Moldova 4-0 at the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau. David Strelec opened the scoring in the eighth minute and Slovakia added three more to dominate the game.
UEFA said the result puts Slovakia six points clear with two matches left in Group C3. In the other game in that group, Kazakhstan and the Faroe Islands drew 2-2.
Elsewhere in League C
In Group C4, Estonia and Iceland played out a goalless draw, while Bulgaria won 2-0 away to Luxembourg.
With four rounds of group games now completed, the League C picture is taking shape. Group winners earn promotion to League B, so the November round will be important for Albania, Belarus, Finland and Slovakia.
Why the record matters
The Nations League began in 2018 and is now in its fifth edition. Fast goals are rare in international football because teams often start cautiously, which makes a ten-second strike all the more unusual. For Belarus, who have spent several years playing home matches away from Minsk, it was a memorable moment.
Key takeaways
- Artem Shumanski scored after ten seconds, the fastest goal in Nations League history.
- Belarus beat Finland 1-0 in Budapest, a week after a 0-0 draw between the sides.
- Kristjan Asllani's added-time penalty gave Albania a 2-1 win over San Marino and top spot.
- Slovakia won 4-0 in Moldova and are six points clear in Group C3.
FAQ What is the fastest goal in Nations League history? Artem Shumanski's goal for Belarus against Finland on 6 October 2026, scored after ten seconds, according to UEFA. Where did Belarus play Finland? The match was played at the Illovszky Rudolf Stadion in Budapest, Hungary. Who leads Group C3? Slovakia, who are six points clear after their 4-0 win in Moldova.
Sources: UEFA, ESPN, 112 Ukraine, World Soccer Data