Euro 2024: Tournaments Fastest Goal Ever Scored by Albania's Bajrami After 23 Seconds

• Albania registered quickest goal ever in the history of the European Championship against Italy on Saturday evening
• Attacking midfielder Nedim Bajrami, who plays his club football for Sassuolo in Italy, broke the deadlock after 23 seconds
• However, defending Champions, Italy, equalised just ten minutes later, before taking the lead thanks to Nicolò Barella's strike

Nedim Bajrami made history by scoring the fastest goal ever in the European Championship, finding the net just 23 seconds into their group stage clash with Italy.

Italy were the favourites for the Saturday evening match at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion.

However, Albania, participating in only their second major tournament, delivered a huge blow by taking an immediate lead right from the kick-off.

The goal was the result of a misjudged throw-in by Italy's left-back Federico Dimarco, who aimed for centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.

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Bastoni was caught off guard, allowing Bajrami to intercept and, with a single touch, fire a powerful shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma at the near post, per Sky Sports.

The 80,000-strong crowd, largely composed of Albanian supporters, erupted in celebration as their team scored only their second-ever goal in the Euros, setting a new record in the process.

Despite the early jubilation, Albania's lead was short-lived. Italy equalised ten minutes later when Bastoni redeemed his earlier mistake by heading in a Lorenzo Pellegrini cross. Nicolo Barella then put Italy ahead shortly after, turning Albania's promising start into an uphill battle.

Following this match, Albania will face Croatia on Wednesday in Hamburg, while Italy is set to play against Spain in Gelsenkirchen the next day.

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Sports Brief earlier reported that Italy recovered from conceding the fastest goal in the competition's history to get their defence of the European Championship title off to a winning start on Saturday as they came back to beat Albania 2-1 in front of a partisan crowd.

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Nedim Bajrami stunned the Italians and delighted a huge Albanian support in Dortmund as he smashed in the opener after just 23 seconds, his strike pulverising the previous record for the quickest goal at the Euros of 67 seconds by Dmitri Kirichenko of Russia in 2004.

Yet Italy's response to falling behind was quick too, as Alessandro Bastoni headed the Azzurri level on 11 minutes and Nicolo Barella's glorious effort put them ahead just past the quarter-hour mark.