Gyokeres leads Sweden to Nations League win and the Dutch reach the knockout rounds

Viktor Gyokeres led Sweden to a 2-1 win over Slovakia while the Netherlands qualified for the Nations League quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over Hungary on Saturday.

Germany also set a single-game scoring record for the relatively new competition — this is its fourth edition — by routing Bosnia and Herzegovina 7-0.

Gyokeres took his nation’s opening goal in the third minute. After Slovakia's David Hancko leveled in the 19th, the Sporting Lisbon striker set up Aleksander Isak to put Sweden back in front for good in the 31st.

Gyokeres is the joint leading scorer of the Nations League with five along with Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko. Gyokeres recently upstaged Erling Haaland by scoring a hat trick as Sporting beat Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League.

Sweden is trying to earn promotion from League C to League B. Estonia finished at Azerbaijan 0-0 in the same group.

The Netherlands joined Germany as the two teams from League A, Group 3 to advance to the quarterfinals in March.

The Dutch easily won their game in Amsterdam, which was briefly suspended in the first half for the medical evacuation of Hungary assistant coach Adam Szalai. The Hungarian Football Federation said the former player was in “stable” condition after being taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Wout Weghorst converted a penalty in the 21st and Cody Gapko added a second spot kick in first-half injury time. Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners added second-half goals.

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz scored twice, including from a superb free kick, to help fuel the Germans' demolition of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Forward Tim Kleindienst also got his first two international goals, while Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane all added to the lopsided scoreline in Freiburg.

Wales escaped with a scoreless draw from Turkey after the host's top scorer Kerem Akturkoglu missed an 89th-minute penalty. Akturkoglu, who leads Turkey with four goals in the Nations League, sent his spot kick off the post.

Iceland won at Montenegro 2-0 after late goals by Orri Oskarsson and Isak Bergmann. The loss meant Montenegro will be relegated to League C.

A goal by Georges Mikautadze got Georgia a 1-1 draw at home with Ukraine after an own goal by Solomon Kverkvelia put the visitors ahead.

The Czech Republic missed the chance to earn promotion from League B after drawing at Albania 0-0.

Virgiliu Postolachi scored in injury time to give Moldova a 1-0 win in Andorra.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Germany's Tim Kleindienst celebrates with Kai Havertz after scoring his side's seventh goal during the Nations League group soccer match between Germany and Bosnia in Freiburg, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates with Jonathan Tah, left, after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Nations League group soccer match between Germany and Bosnia in Freiburg, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Nations League group soccer match between Germany and Bosnia in Freiburg, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai, left, duels for the ball with Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Netherlands and Hungary, at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

Medics carry Hungary's assistant coach Adam Szalai from the pitch during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Netherlands and Hungary, at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

Ronald Koeman, head coach of the Netherlands, right shakes hands with Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands at the end of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Netherlands and Hungary, at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)

Sweden's Viktor Gyökeres, 17, celebrates with his teammates after scoring their side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League group C1 soccer match between Sweden and Slovakia at Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Pontus Lundahl/TT News Agency via AP)

Sweden's Viktor Gyökeres, centre, in action against Slovakia's Dávid Hancko, left, and Milan Škriniar during the UEFA Nations League group C1 soccer match between Sweden and Slovakia at Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jakob Åkersten Brodén/TT News Agency via AP)

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. Find the AP’s top photos of the day in Today’s Photo Collection. For up-to-the-minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan in AP Newsroom.

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WEEKEND COVERAGE

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For weekend stories, please click here for the Weekend Lookahead digest.

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NEW & DEVELOPING

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ADDS: CONGRESS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-EXPLAINER

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TOP STORIES

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TRUMP-ENERGY SECRETARY — President-elect Donald Trump has selected Chris Wright, a campaign donor and fossil fuel executive, to serve as energy secretary in his upcoming, second administration. Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking, a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. By Colleen Long and Matthew Daly. SENT: 460 words, photo.

ELECTION-2024-BLUE-STATES — Donald Trump made inroads in surprising places in his path to the White House, from the suburbs of New Jersey to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s New York City congressional district and reliably liberal Hawaii. By Mike Catalini, Philip Marcelo and Audrey McAvoy. SENT: 1,180 words, photos.

TRUMP-ATTORNEY-GENERAL — Donald Trump’s choice of Matt Gaetz to be attorney general has many Justice Department employees reeling, worried not only about their own jobs but the future of the agency that the Trump loyalist has railed against. The names of well-regarded veteran lawyers had circulated as possible contenders for the job, but Gaetz’s selection was broadly interpreted as an indication of the premium that Trump places on personal loyalty and Trump’s desire to have a disruptor lead a department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. By Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker. SENT: 1,060 words, photos.

ELECTION 2024-CONGRESS-HOUSE — After one of the most chaotic and least productive House sessions in modern history, voters made a surprising choice on Election Day, overwhelmingly sticking with the status quo. Republicans and Democrats have each flipped seven seats, and just eight incumbents nationwide have lost. By Stephen Groves. SENT: 860 words, photos.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-DRONE-FACTORY — At a secretive factory in Russia’s central grasslands, engineers are manufacturing hundreds of decoy drones meant to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses as they try to protect against a horrific new weapon, an Associated Press investigation has found. The plant at Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone recently started churning out thermobaric drones alongside the decoys. By Emma Burrows, Hanna Arhirova and Lori Hinnant. SENT: 1,560 words, photos. WITH: RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-DRONE-FACTORY-TAKEAWAYS — Takeaways from AP investigation; RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR-1000-DAYS-PHOTO-GALLERY — A thousand days of war in Ukraine captured; RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR — Japan’s foreign minister arrived in Kyiv to discuss North Korea’s deepening military alliance with Russia. (all sent).

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-HOSTAGE-FAMILY — Some families of the 101 hostages held in Gaza are hoping a drastically different political landscape will reignite the momentum to bring their loved ones home, though the impacts of Donald Trump’s election victory, a new defense minister in Israel, Qatar’s exit from negotiations and the ongoing war in Lebanon remain unknown. The family of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander has met with President Biden and president-elect Trump to plead with them to work together to bring home the hostages. By Melanie Lidman. SENT: 940 words, photos.

REL-MOVIES-RELIGIOUS-HORROR – Religion is well-suited for terrifying and entertaining thrill-seeking moviegoers. In the new horror movie, “Heretic,” Hugh Grant plays a diabolical religious skeptic who traps two scared missionaries in his house and tries to violently shake their faith. What starts more as a religious studies lecture slowly morphs into a gory escape room. Horror has had a decades-long attraction to religion, Christianity especially, with the 1970s “The Exorcist” and “The Omen” being prime examples. One expert says religions and horror tackle similar questions about what it means to be human. By Holly Meyer. SENT: 1,160 words, photos.

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SPOTLIGHTING VOICES

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CHAD-SUDAN-REFUGEES-AND-EXPLOITATION — Some women who fled the war in Sudan say they face sexual exploitation as refugees in Chad. They say men in displacement sites including humanitarian workers and local security forces have offered them money, easier access to assistance and jobs. Such sexual exploitation during large humanitarian crises is not uncommon as vulnerable women and girls struggle to support themselves. Women and girls say they fear the possible repercussions of reporting the exploitation, which is a crime in Chad. By Sam Mednick. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.

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MIDEAST-WARS

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MIDEAST WARS — Israeli ground forces reached their deepest point in Lebanon since they invaded six weeks ago before pulling back after battles with Hezbollah militants, Lebanese state media reported. Elsewhere in Lebanon, a strike killed a couple and their four children. In Israel, the military says a Hezbollah rocket struck a synagogue and hurt two civilians. SENT: 800 words, photos, audio.

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MORE NEWS

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BETTY-WHITE-STAMP — The United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month’s election: It’s releasing a Betty White stamp. SENT: 310 words, photo, audio.

BULLET-HITS-PLANE-DALLAS -- A bullet has struck the body of a Southwest Airlines airplane preparing for departure from a Dallas airport, forcing the cancellation of the evening flight. SENT: 160 words, photo, video.

TROPICAL-WEATHER — Tropical Storm Sara has started moving slightly faster after stalling over Honduras, drenching the northern coast of the Central American nation, swelling rivers and trapping some people at home. SENT: 440 words, photos.

MCDONALD'S-OUTBREAK — McDonald’s is investing $100 million to bring customers back to stores after an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning tied to onions on the fast-food giant’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. SENT: 190 words, photos.

NORWAY-OBIT-THON -- Olav Thon, billionaire Norwegian real estate developer, dies at 101. SENT: 260 words, photo.

BOEING-LAYOFFS -- Boeing has delivered layoff notices to more than 400 members of its professional aerospace labor union, part of thousands of cuts planned as the company struggles to recover from financial and regulatory trouble as well as an eight-week strike by its machinists’ union. SENT: 300 words.

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WASHINGTON/ POLITICS

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TRUMP — President-elect Donald Trump made his selection for energy secretary even as a key ally, billionaire Elon Musk, called for more direct public input into the decision-making process for another top post: the head of the Treasury Department. Besides Cabinet-making, Trump plans to return to Madison Square Garden on Saturday night for the UFC heavyweight championship fight. SENT: 790 words, photos. UFC fight is scheduled for 10 p.m.

TRUMP-ALASKA-EXPLAINER — Donald Trump’s pledge to expand oil drilling is good news for political leaders in Alaska, where oil is the economic lifeblood and many felt the Biden administration has obstructed efforts to boost the state’s diminished production. Could that mean exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the country’s last wild places and an area that Alaska Native communities consider sacred? SENT: 930 words, photos.

CONGRESS-SOCIAL-SECURITY-EXPLAINER — The House has passed legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. The measure won bipartisan support in a 327-75 vote Tuesday in what is now the lame-duck period for Congress. But Senate passage isn’t assured despite considerable support. SENT: 480 words, photos.

ELECTION-2024-HARRIS — Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party’s prodigious fundraising operation raised more than $1 billion in her loss to Donald Trump, but the vice president is still pushing donors for more money after the election. Democrats are sending persistent appeals to Harris supporters without expressly asking them to cover any potential debts, enticing would-be donors instead with other matters such as Trump’s picks for his upcoming administration. SENT: 840 words, photos.

BIDEN-XI — President Joe Biden and China’s leader Xi Jinping are meeting on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Xi told Biden: “China is ready to work with a new administration.” Biden was expected to urge Xi to dissuade North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine. It’s the last time the two leaders will meet; Biden is leaving office and making way for Republican-elect Donald Trump. SENT: 1080 words, photos, video.

TRUMP-CENTRAL-EUROPE — The prospect of a second presidential term for Donald Trump has excited people on the populist right across Central Europe who share his anti-immigrant views and contempt for international organizations. But many others in a region near the war in Ukraine worry Trump could abandon Ukraine and force Kyiv into a deal that ends up emboldening Russia further or unwind the U.S. military presence in Europe. SENT: 960 words, photos.

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NATIONAL

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WHOOPI-GOLDBERG-BAKERY-DISPUTE — New York City politicians are calling on Whoopi Goldberg to apologize for suggesting on air that a local bakery had declined to make The View co-host a batch of desserts for her birthday because of her political beliefs. Local leaders and supporters joined Holtermann’s Bakery owner Jill Holtermann at a news conference in front of the 145-year-old institution. SENT: 540 words, photo.

CANADA-US-BORDER-DEATHS — Two men are accused of helping illegally smuggle Indian nationals across the U.S.-Canada border into Minnesota, including four members of an Indian family who froze to death in 2022. Their federal trial is set to start Monday. The men are accused of being part of a sophisticated human smuggling operation feeding a fast-growing population of Indians living illegally in the U.S. SENT: 1,190 words, photos, video.

THE-NEW-EXURBS — Communities on the outskirts of metro areas were some of the fastest-growing last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says it’s an after-effect of the pandemic. Rising housing costs drove people further from cities and remote working allowed many to do their jobs from home. Despite longer commutes and cultural changes, some residents say the exurbs are worth it. SENT: 780 words, photos.

EDUCATION-GRADUATION EXAMS — When Massachusetts voters decided to ditch the state’s high school graduation exams, they joined a growing trend that has steadily chipped away at the use of high-stakes tests for the past two decades. The vote leaves just seven states with mandated graduation exams, a number that could dwindle again in coming years. SENT: 740 words, photo.

MED-MPOX — Health officials say they have confirmed the first U.S. case of a new form of mpox that was first seen in eastern Congo. Authorities said Saturday the risk to the public is low. The person had traveled to eastern Africa and was treated in California. SENT: 370 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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INDIA-HOSPITAL-FIRE-NEWBORNS — A fire tore through a neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital in northern India, killing 10 newborn babies and injuring 16 others, authorities said. SENT: 450 words, photos, audio.

CHINA-KNIFE-ATTACK — Eight people were killed and 17 others injured after a stabbing attack at a vocational school in the eastern city of Yixing, local police said. SENT: 230 words, developing.

VENEZUELA-ELECTION — Venezuela’s government has released some of the thousands of people who were detained during and after deadly protests that followed the July presidential election. The disputed results have earned officials, including President Nicolás Maduro, international scorn. SENT: 520 words, photos.

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

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COP29-CLIMATE-CANADA-POLAR-BEAR-INTERACTION — Churchill is a remote Canadian town that not only lives with the predator next door, but loves it. That’s because the predator — polar bears — attracts the tourists who saved the town on Hudson Bay when a military base closed. The bears bring millions of dollars into the economy by attracting visitors eager to see them. But they’re entering town more frequently in search of food because climate change is shrinking the sea ice they depend on to hunt. SENT: 1,200 words, photos. WITH: CLIMATE-COP29 — Hundreds of activists formed a human chain outside one of the main plenary halls at the United Nations climate summit; COP29-COLOMBIA — In Colombia, the government has been seeking a shift away from fossil fuels, (both sent).

BE-WELL-NOVEMBER-PROJECT — The November Project gets people outside to exercise and socialize together all winter long. SENT: 750 words, photo.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY — Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has tried to reach out to prospective witnesses and influence public opinion from jail in a bid to affect potential jurors for his upcoming sex trafficking trial, prosecutors claimed in a court filing late Friday urging a judge to reject his latest bail request. SENT: 540 words, photo.

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SPORTS

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BOX—TYSON-PAUL-WHAT'S-NEXT — Jake Paul believes he can fight for a championship belt within two years. Mike Tyson didn’t rule out another return to the ring after the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion’s first sanctioned pro bout since 2005. SENT: 650 words, photos.

FBC-T25-TENNESSEE-GEORGIA — No. 6 Tennessee faces No. 11 Georgia in what is essentially a play-in game for the College Football Playoff at Sanford Stadium. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.

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HOW TO REACH US

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