Ukraine qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time on Saturday while the United States booked their place for the fifth time in a row.
Ukraine appeared to have been denied a place early in the evening after conceding a goal a minute from time to draw 1-1 in behind closed doors in Georgia.
An 89th minute goal from Georgi Gakhokidze cancelled out Ruslan Rotan's 44th minute strike for Ukraine and it seemed they would have to wait for Wednesday's match with Turkey to go through.
Their dream came back to life later however when Denmark scored early in Turkey, flickered out again as the Turks fought back to lead 2-1 only to burst into actuality as the Danes scored an injury time equaliser.
That result meant that neither Turkey or Denmark can match Ukraine's total of 24 points, and although European champions Greece, who did not play on Saturday, can still do so, they have an inferior head to head record.
So Ukraine, who have missed out on three previous tournaments via the playoffs, join the hosts and Asian qualifiers Japan, Iran, South Korea and Saudi Arabia and the U.S. in the mix for Germany.
RUUD GOAL
The U.S beat arch-rivals Mexico 2-0 in Columbus with second-half goals by Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley, although Mexico will join them with a points against Panama on Wednesday.
The Netherlands guaranteed themselves a place in the playoffs at worse with a 1-0 Group One win in Armenia thanks to a 63rd minute goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Romania beat the Czech Republic 2-0 in Bucharest in the same group with two goals from Adrian Mutu to move above the Czechs, who have two matches in hand.
Poland, England, Croatia and Sweden also all won to maintain their close battles in their two groups.
Poland won a five-goal thriller 3-2 against Austria in Chorzow to move on to 21 points in Group Six and stay two ahead of England who beat Wales 1-0 in Cardiff with a Joe Cole goal.
England have a match in hand over the Poles who lived dangerously against the Austrians, the visitors hitting the bar and having an effort cleared off the line in the dying minutes.
Croatia and Sweden kept up their neck-and-neck race in Group Eight with Croatia winning 2-1 in Iceland and Sweden beating Bulgaria 3-0 in Stockholm.
Croatia have one more point than Sweden and the issue could well be decided on October 8 when Croatia play Sweden in Zagreb.
Russia kept the pressure on Portugal and Slovakia in Group Three with a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein with Alexander Kerzhakov scoring once in each half.
Portugal were on their way to picking up three more points with a 6-0 win gainst Luxembourg in Saturday's late kickoff to move five points clear at the top, but Latvia's hopes ended after they lost 2-1 to Baltic neighbours Estonia in Tallinn.
VERY TIGHT
Group Four remains as tight as ever after France defeated the Faroe Islands 3-0 in Lens with Djibril Cisse finding the net twice to leave three teams on 13 points and one on 12.
Ireland, France and Switzerland are all on 13 points with Israel, having played one more match than the leading trio, on 12 after their 1-1 draw with the Swiss in Basel.
All four of them remain unbeaten. Ireland meet France in Dublin on Wednesday while Israel should pick up three more points when they play the Faroes on the same night, as should the Swiss in Cyprus.
Alexander Frei put Switzerland ahead after five minutes with Adoram Keise equalised for the visitors 15 minutes later -- the sixth time in the campaign that they have come from behind to win or draw.
IN CONTROL
Italy remain in control of Group Five but had to work hard to earn a 1-1 comeback draw in Scotland. Their lead was cut by the end of the day after Norway grabbed an injury-time 3-2 win in Slovenia, who are now all but out of the running.
The Scots led through a Kenny Miller header in the 13th minute but Italy levelled through substitute Fabio Grosso 14 minutes from time.
Italy have 14 points with Norway on 12 and Slovenia on nine. Scotland have seven points, along with Belarus, who surprisingly lost 2-0 in Moldova.
In Group Seven Serbia & Montenegro set a record by going seven qualifying matches without conceding a goal to beat Lithuania 2-0 and move two points clear of Spain -- who they visit on Wednesday.
SEVEN UP
Elsewhere, Australia crushed the Solomon Islands 7-0 in the first leg of their Oceania group final playoff in Sydney to leave new Dutch coach Guus Hiddink a happy man.
Australia will complete the formality in the second leg on Wednesday before meeting the team that eventually finish fifth in the South American group in a November playoff for a place in the finals.
That South American team is unlikely to be Ecuador who took a huge step towards the finals and kept their grip on third place and an automatic qualifying spot by beating bottom-placed Bolivia 2-1 in La Paz with two goals from Agustin Delgado.
In Africa, Tunisia beat Kenya 2-0 behind closed doors in Nairobi to move within a point of qualifying for the finals. Morocco, who meet Tunisia in the decisive Group Five qualifier on October 7, beat Botswana 1-0 to keep their chances alive.
Tunisia have 20 points, Morocco 19 and if Tunisia avoid defeat they are through.
But South Africa, the hosts of the 2010 World Cup look like they will miss out on next year's tournament after losing 3-1 to Burkina Faso in their group.
In Asia Uzbekistan won the opening leg of their final playoff with Bahrain 1-0 in Tashkent.
The winner of that tie will meet the fourth place finisher in the CONCACAF group for a finals slot.
