Dutch qualify for World Cup as Bergwijn, Depay grab late goals
Netherlands forwards Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay struck late to send their country into the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 home victory over Norway on Tuesday as Group G winners.
Bergwijn hammered home a right-foot shot in the 84th minute that flew into the net to the relief of the home side and Depay made sure of the points as he clinically finished a breakaway after being set up by Bergwijn deep in stoppage time.
The Dutch will return to the finals, hosted by Qatar, after missing out on the 2018 tournament in Russia but with little conviction after limping through their last two qualifiers.
They had been eight minutes from securing early qualification on Saturday before giving up two goals to draw in Montenegro but Tuesday’s victory in an empty stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions was enough to top the group.
The Netherlands finished with 23 points from 10 games, two more than Turkey, who won 2-1 away to Montenegro to secure a playoff spot. Norway missed out by ending third with 18 points.
The Dutch dominated possession and had several half chances with Depay their most enterprising player.
But they also played with an edgy approach, eager to avoid mistakes that would allow Norway to snatch the game away.
"I think we had the game under control for the entire 90 minutes. The players executed our plans perfectly," said coach Louis van Gaal.
"It was deserved in the end," added Depay. "We had it in our own hands. It wasn't our best game but nobody cares about that now."
The Norwegians, without injured talisman Erling Haaland, would have had to win to secure a top-two finish and showed some enterprise in the last quarter but they still failed to get any efforts on target.
"It was dangerous at 0-0 and we had to be careful but we were solid at the back," Depay told Dutch NOS television.
Depay's 12th goal of the campaign tied him with England's Harry Kane in the European qualifying scoring charts.
The absence of fans did not help the home cause.
The game was played behind closed doors at De Kuip after the Dutch government at the weekend barred spectators from major sporting events for the next three weeks in an effort to contain a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases.
Van Gaal was also missing from the dugout. He fractured his hip falling off his bicycle on Sunday and sat in a wheelchair in the VIP area, high in the stands, communicating via mobile with his assistants on the bench.
Mbappe and Benzema inspire France to 2-0 win against Finland
Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe were on target again in a sharp second-half performance as France completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 away win against Finland on Tuesday.
The French attack stuttered until Benzema came on as a second-half substitute and Mbappe set him up for the opener.
Mbappe then scored France's second as the world champions, who had already qualified for Qatar 2022 after Saturday's 8-0 demolition of Kazakhstan, finished Group D with 18 points from eight games.
Finland, who were hoping to secure a playoff spot, ended up third on 11 points, one behind Ukraine who beat Bosnia 2-0 away to take second place.
"We wanted to finish on a high and we're happy we did it. Now we're looking forward to the World Cup. With the team we have it's natural to think about (winning) it," said Benzema.
France have now scored in their last 18 games, matching a record that dates back to 1999-2000.
Finland were the last team to manage a clean sheet against Les Bleus and it seemed they may repeat the feat, but Benzema's entrance in the 57th minute signalled the end of their hopes.
Didier Deschamps had made five changes to the team who hammered Kazakhstan, with Benzema and Kingsley Coman on the bench.
The duo's absence was clearly felt as Les Bleus struggled to create chances against a compact Finland team.
Shortly before halftime, Leo Dubois picked up a thigh injury and was replaced by Benjamin Pavard.
Finland started the second half with poise but the French defence stayed alert and the visitors stepped up a gear when Benzema replaced Moussa Diaby.
They were rewarded in the 66th with Benzema finding the back of the net with a deflected low shot after a neat one-two with Mbappe, who found the Real Madrid striker with a back heel.
Ten minutes later, Mbappe outsprinted three Finnish players on the left flank before finishing with a superb curled shot into the far corner of the net for his 24th international goal.
It was Mbappe's fifth goal in two games after he bagged four against Kazakhstan.
"There was more at stake for Finland than for us tonight but we did what we had to do," said Deschamps.
"It was a very positive year for France, except for those fatal 10 minutes (in the last 16 of the European championship against Switzerland)."
Argentina qualify for Qatar 2022 after 0-0 draw with Brazil
Argentina drew 0-0 at home with Brazil in a tense and end-to-end game on Tuesday, but results elsewhere meant the point they earned was enough to secure them a place in next year's World Cup in Qatar.
Brazil, who guaranteed their spot last week, top the 10-team South American qualifying section with 35 points and Argentina have 29, six clear of third-placed Ecuador.
The top four teams qualify automatically, and the fifth-placed side go into an inter-regional playoff.
Even the Argentine players did not know they had qualified until well after the match in San Juan. It was only after Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia recorded wins later in the evening that the Argentines were mathematically assured of their place in Qatar.
The good news came after an entertaining and hard fought game in western Argentina.
Neither side was able to impose themselves in an even game with Fred’s second-half shot for Brazil that clipped the top of the bar the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock.
The goalless draw means Argentina are now 27 matches unbeaten, a run stretching back more than two years.
The last time Brazil and Argentina played a match, the action lasted just five minutes. The game in Sao Paulo was cut short by officials who invaded the pitch and stopped the game, accusing the Argentine players of not following the proper COVID-19 quarantine rules.
The match this time was hotly anticipated and while it lacked goals, it did not lack action.
Alongside Vinicius Jr and Raphinha up front, Brazil started with Matheus Cunha in place of Neymar, their top goalscorer who did not travel to Argentina amid concerns about a thigh injury.
Vinicius Jr only had the goalkeeper to beat after 17 minutes but his attempted chip went wide and Cunha’s ambitious lob from his own half flew over just moments later.
At the other end, Alisson got down to save well from Rodrigo De Paul five minutes before half time.
The game opened up even further in the second half with Fred and Vinicius Jr coming close for Brazil.
But the game was still there for the taking and inevitably Lionel Messi was involved before the 90 minutes were up.
Messi was back to full fitness to start his first game since October but the Paris St Germain striker was quiet until the final seconds of the match when he forced Alisson to get down to save a rasping shot from 20 meters.
"I gave it all I could," Messi said.
"This was a very intense game...It’s been a while since I’ve been out (injured) and it’s not easy to play in a game that demands this kind of pace."
"We knew it was going to be like this, a match that was tough and hard to perform in."
Wales hold Belgium to seal runners-up spot
Wales held Belgium to a 1-1 draw to guarantee themselves runners-up spot behind the world number ones in World Cup qualifying Group E in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Kieffer Moore cancelled out Kevin de Bruyne's early opener to earn the Welsh the point they required to stay in front of the Czech Republic who beat Estonia.
Despite having already assured themselves of a place in the playoffs next March courtesy of their Nations League results, finishing second in the group means that Robert Page's side could enjoy a more favourable semi-final draw.
Wales more than matched Belgium, especially in the second half, and Neco Williams was denied a spectacular late goal when his powerful effort was saved by visiting keeper Koen Casteels.
Belgium, who won the group with 20 points, appeared content to maintain their long unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers which now stretches to 28 games.
Wales are trying to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.
Turkey win in Montenegro to secure World Cup playoff spot
Turkey booked a World Cup playoff spot as they recovered to edge Montenegro 2-1 away on Tuesday to finish second in Group G behind automatic qualifiers Netherlands and ahead of Norway.
The Dutch beat Norway 2-0 to top the group with 23 points from 10 games ahead of Turkey with 21 points and Norway on 18.
Turkey got off to a terrible start as they conceded a fourth minute goal when Montenegro forward Fatos Beciraj volleyed the ball past goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir from inside the box.
Turkey levelled in the 22nd minute when forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored with a bicycle kick following a superb cross from midfielder Abdulkadir Omur.
Turkey applied immense pressure in the second half which bore fruit on the hour when 20-year-old forward Orkun Kokcu's drive from outside the box left keeper Matija Sarkic helpless.
Montenegro finished fourth in the table with 12 points.
Ukraine snatch playoff berth with 2-0 win over Bosnia
Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko and Artem Dovbyk scored second-half goals to secure a vital 2-0 win at Bosnia in their Group D qualifier on Tuesday that clinched a 2022 World Cup playoff berth.
The result lifted Ukraine into the runners-up spot on 12 points from eight games, one ahead of Finland who slipped to third after a 2-0 home defeat by group winners France, who had already secured an automatic berth with a match to spare.
Ukraine dominated the first half, with Roman Yaremchuk twice going close while Zinchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko also missed chances before visiting goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan clawed out a Dennis Hadzikadunic header at the other end.
Zinchenko broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when he tapped the ball into an empty net from three metres as a fine run and cross from the left by Viktor Tsygankov left the Manchester City player with a simple finish.
Substitute Dovbyk sealed Ukraine's berth in the March playoffs when he raced clear from the halfway line and steered his shot from inside the area past home keeper Nikola Vasilj in the 79th minute.
The pacy Dovbyk could have had another in the dying minutes as he weaved his way past two markers and Vasilj before Adnan Kovacevic cleared his shot off the line.
Cameroon win heavyweight battle as final African playoff spots decided
Cameroon beat Ivory Coast 1-0 in a contest of two continental heavyweights to join Algeria, Nigeria and Tunisia in securing the last four places in March’s African World Cup playoffs as the group phase came to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday.
Karl Toko Ekambi scored for Cameroon as they snatched a narrow home win over the Ivory Coast in a clash full of tension but without many clear chances.
Cameroon had been one point behind in the Group D standings but took top spot to advance to the playoffs.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana, back from a nine-month drug ban, made several key saves for Cameroon to help them survive a late onslaught and hold on for the win.
Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea were level on 10 points in Group B when they kicked off their respective games but Tunisia romped into an early three-goal lead before beating Zambia 3-1 at home while Equatorial Guinea drew 1-1 away in Mauritania.
African champions Algeria and Nigeria made heavy work of booking their places, but home draws proved enough for them also to progress.
Algeria were twice ahead against Burkina Faso, with Riyad Mahrez grabbing their first goal, but a late penalty saw them held to a 2-2 draw in Blida. Algeria finished with 14 points in Group A, two ahead of the Burkinabe.
Nigeria scored in the first minute through Victor Osimhen but quickly gave up an equaliser to the Cape Verde Islands, who had to win to take top spot in Group C. The 1-1 draw in Lagos left Nigeria top on 13 points and Cape Verde second on 11.
The four countries join the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Morocco and Senegal in the playoffs.
The 10 teams will be drawn into five two-legged ties with the aggregate winners representing Africa at the World Cup finals in Qatar.
A Confederation of African Football spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday that no date had yet been set for the draw, but it would likely take place in January.
There were also victories for Egypt, Liberia, Morocco and Mozambique on the last day of the group phase competition, but with the results having no bearing on the final places.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah did not start for Egypt, but came on for the last 30 minutes as they beat Gabon 2-1 in Alexandria.
Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who will face Salah in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday, did not play for Gabon, who were already out of contention.
Jamaica hold favourites United States to 1-1 draw
Jamaica held the United States to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup qualifier in Kingston on Tuesday, disappointing the young U.S. squad after their victory over Mexico last week.
US forward Timothy Weah drew first blood in the 11th minute, but West Ham United striker Michail Antonio levelled in the 22nd minute with a stunning shot from range.
Defender Damion Lowe briefly appeared to have given Jamaica the lead with a header from a corner in the 84th minute, but his effort was disallowed for a foul.
The United States also escaped falling behind in the 53rd minute, when Jamaican Bobby De Cordova-Reid's attempt at close range flew over the crossbar.
The US team was expected to dominate after winning their last four matches against Jamaica and following an emotional 2-0 win over Mexico last week that saw attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic return to the fold.
But a young US squad seemed to have lost their momentum on Tuesday.
"We knew we had to come and, you know, just play our style of play and I feel like we didn't quite get there," said Weah. "...I think we're just happy that we didn't drop points."
With an average age of 22 years and 341 days, the starting 11 was the second-youngest men's squad featured in a World Cup qualifier, U.S. Soccer said.
The team has 15 points through eight matches, putting them in good position for one of three automatic spots at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with six more matches left to play next year.
"When you think about the youth of this group, the inexperience of this group... we're on the right track," head coach Gregg Berhalter told reporters after the match. "We've been resilient and this group has character."
Iran ease past Syria to reach verge of World Cup finals
Iran moved within touching distance of a third consecutive World Cup finals appearance as Dragan Skocic's side brushed Syria aside 3-0 in Amman on Tuesday to maintain their unbeaten run in Group A of Asia's preliminaries for Qatar 2022.
Sardar Azmoun, Ehsan Hajsafi and Ali Gholizadeh were all on target as the Iranians moved onto 16 points from six games in Group A and victory over Iraq when qualifying resumes on Jan. 27 would secure their spot at next year's tournament.
The Iranians are two points clear of South Korea, who enhanced their hopes of progressing with a 3-0 win over Iraq in Doha, while the United Arab Emirates moved into third place on six points by handing hosts Lebanon a 1-0 defeat.
The top two finishers in both of Asia's qualifying groups advance automatically to Qatar 2022 while the teams in third spot will progress to a series of playoffs.
Bert van Marwijk's UAE team next face Syria while fifth-placed Lebanon, who have five points, take on the Koreans.
South Korea consolidated their hold on second with Lee Jae-sung giving Paulo Bento's side the lead in the 33rd minute before Son Heung-min converted a penalty 16 minutes from time.
Jeong Woo-yeong put the result beyond doubt six minutes later as the Koreans moved to 14 points, eight clear of the UAE, who had Ali Mabkhout's late penalty to thank for their win over Lebanon.
There were major moves in Group B, too, as Japan jumped ahead of Australia into second place with a 1-0 win over hosts Oman after Junya Ito scored for the second game in a row to give Hajime Moriyasu's side the points.
Ito scored from close range nine minutes from time to take the Samurai Blue ahead of Graham Arnold's Australia team, who were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling China in Sharjah.
Saudi Arabia lead the group with 16 points after Saleh Al Shehri's looping 31st minute header delivered a 1-0 win over Vietnam in Hanoi.
Herve Renard's Saudi team have 16 points from six games and are four points clear of Japan with the Australians a further point adrift, while Oman remain in fourth on seven points.
Wu Lei's penalty earned China a point against the Australians to keep their own faint hopes of a first World Cup appearance since their debut in 2002 alive.
Al Shehri header maintains unbeaten run as Saudis down Vietnam
Saudi Arabia moved a step closer to World Cup qualification as Herve Renard's side defeated Vietnam 1-0 in Hanoi on Tuesday to stay unbeaten in the final phase of Asia's preliminaries for Qatar 2022.
Saleh Al Shehri's 31st-minute goal separated the teams and the Saudis sit top of Group B with 16 points from six games.
Renard's team have failed to win only once, when they were held 0-0 by Australia in Sydney last week, since the start of the final phase of the qualifying tournament.
The win moves Saudi Arabia six points clear of the second-placed Socceroos, who face China in Sharjah later on Tuesday.
The top two finishers in the group advance automatically to the finals, while the third-placed side go into a series of playoffs for a possible fifth Asian berth.
The Saudis were rarely troubled in the first hour by Vietnam, who have lost all of their qualifiers in the country's first appearance at this phase of the preliminaries.
Al Ittihad's Fahad Al Muwallad unlocked the Vietnam defence as early as the fourth minute, sending in a cross that Al Saleh was unable to steer home from close range.
Al Muwallad's continued persistence paid off in the 31st minute, however, as the Saudis went ahead.
The winger hounded Nguyen Phong Hong Duy inside the Vietnam area and, after the defender gave up possession, Al Shehri met his team mate's cross with a looping header that Bui Tan Truong was unable to prevent from crossing the line.
Tan Truong denied Salem Al Dawsari early in the second half while, with a little over 14 minutes remaining, Al Muwallad saw his effort ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee after a foul in the build-up.
In Group A, the United Arab Emirates pulled themselves back into contention for a place in the playoffs as Ali Mabkhout's 85th minute penalty earned Bert van Marwijk's side their first win of the campaign.
The UAE were awarded the spot kick when Abbas Asi raised his foot as Sebastian Tagliabue went to head Khalil Ibrahim's cross from the right and Mabkhout rolled the resulting penalty into the corner after sending Mostafa Matar the wrong way.
Victory moves the UAE into third place in the standings with six points from six games, one ahead of Lebanon. Iraq are due to face group leaders Iran later while Syria take on South Korea.
Wu's late penalty earns China draw with Australia
China's Wu Lei converted a second-half penalty to earn a 1-1 draw with Australia on Tuesday as Graham Arnold's Socceroos went a third game in a row without a win in the final round of Asia's preliminaries for next year's World Cup.
The forward sent Mathew Ryan the wrong way 19 minutes from time after VAR intervened to award the Chinese side the penalty when the ball struck James Jeggo on the arm.
Mitchell Duke had put the Australians in front seven minutes before the interval, but the draw means Arnold's team have not won since defeating Oman in October.
Australia remain in second place in Group B with 11 points from six matches but, with Japan facing Oman later on Tuesday, the Socceroos could relinquish that position by the end of the round. Japan have nine points and Oman seven.
China, who are looking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since making their debut at the tournament in 2002, move onto five points but their hopes are dwindling despite the draw.
Duke gave Australia the lead when he rose above Zhu Chenjie to meet Martin Boyle's cross from the right.
Wu got the chance to pull China level when Jeggo's raised arm made contact with a lofted ball into the area and, after checking the pitchside monitor, referee Adham Makhadmeh pointed to the spot.
The top two teams from the group will qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 while the third-placed team will advance to a playoff round.
