Euro 2000 Group C - Spain 4 Yugoslavia 3

Spain won the first great match of Euro 2000 as they came from behind to beat Yugoslavia 4-3 at Bruges with two goals in injury time.

Alfonso hit the 95th minute winner that took Spain to the top of Group C and ensured their place in the quarter finals.

Just seconds earlier a Mendieta penalty kick had drawn Jose Camacho's team level at 3-3 in an extraordinary encounter that saw Yugoslavia try to defend a well earned lead with ten men after a red card for Jokanovic in the 63rd minute.

Spain kept pressing in waves of attacks and finally they got the reward their patience deserved.

In the dying seconds Guardiola let the ball run away from him on the half way line but recovered to swing a long ball to the far post where substitute Urzaiz headed back to Alfonso. Alfonso went to ground and volleyed wide into the net to set off wild scenes of celebration as Spain booked their place in the quarter finals.

In the 92nd minute Urzaiz had crossed for Alfonso to head at goal but Abelardo was fouled as Mendieta sent the fumbled save from Kralj back across goal.

Mendieta steeped up and hit a low side foot shot with his left foot into the corner of goal.

Yugoslavia had taken the lead in the 74th minute when down to ten men. Komljenovic was on hand at the far post to clip the ball into the net with the outside of his right foot as it came across goal from Govedarica.

Two minutes later Guardiola had forced a save by Kralj who had to step back four paces and tip a chip from the edge of the area away from goal. Alfonso also saw a shot saved by Kralj in the 78th minute when he was put clear on the left hand side as Spain took control of the game with their numerical advantage.

Jokanovic was red carded for his second booking after tripping substitute Munitis on a run. A Yugoslav fan ran onto the pitch towards the referee to protest against the decision but Guardiola protected the official and the Yugoslavs may be fined.

At that stage the score was 2-2 as the game started to increase in drama and excitement with the players building an eventual classic of the modern era with Spain chasing the win they needed to get through to the last eight.

Pedro Munitis had created Spain's second goal from nothing as he curled in a left foot shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 52nd minute.

Seconds earlier substitute Govedarica has put Yugoslavia back in the lead by sweeping a shot from the edge of the area into the roof of the net after Drulovic had passed the ball inside to the tall midfielder.

Yugoslavia had taken a 29th minute lead as Michel Salgado was inured and out of position in midfield.

Jugovic had swept the ball onto the left for Drulovic to attack Salgado's absence and the winger crossed straight to Savo Milosevic to head down into the net.

It was the striker's fourth goal of the tournament and he is now top scorer at Euro 2000.

Spain responded with Raul running into the centre of the Yugoslav defence after a great turn inside in the 39th minute. Raul stumbled but the ball ran on to Alfonso who dug a left foot shot wide of Kralj into the net.

Spain ended the half with heavy pressure.from that point.

Drulovic blocked a Mendieta shot after Kralj had saved a low drive from Raul but let the shot rebound away from him into danger. Mendieta volleyed to the far post in the 41st minute but Raul fell and miskicked as he tried to reach the delivery and Raul volleyed a 42nd minute cross by Sergi wide of the target.

With the score at 1-1 at half time there was little hint of the heights this game was to scale as Spain chased survival in Euro 2000.

In the end both camps were happy. Spain had achieved what looked impossible and Yugoslavia were through to the last eight after Norway had drawn 0-0 with Slovenia.

In Bruges today there were no losers as both sides produced a special match of real thrills and an amazing finish.