World Cup qualifiers spherical up: Thomas Muller saves Germany, Netherlands edge previous Latvia

Substitute Thomas Muller scored an 81st-minute winner to finish Germany’s 2-1 comeback win over guests Romania of their 2022 World Cup qualifier on Friday night time.

The Germans, who’ve now gained all 4 matches beneath new coach Hansi Flick, lead the standings in Group J with 18 factors from seven matches, six forward of North Macedonia and Armenia.

They’ve conceded only one objective of their final 4 matches may now seal their spot with a win over North Macedonia subsequent week.

The hosts had the higher hand nevertheless it was the guests who struck first with Ianis Hagi taking up two defenders, slipping the ball by means of the legs of Antonio Ruediger after which drilling in for the lead within the ninth minute.

Germany had possession and full management, spending many of the first 45 minutes within the Romanian half however lacked a scientific end, with Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka going shut.

Gnabry did discover the deserved equaliser within the 52nd minute, firing in a low shot from the sting of the field for his twentieth objective in his thirtieth worldwide look.

Flick had pledged a high-intensity efficiency from his staff they usually stored combining effectively and attacking as Romania, defending with 5 gamers, progressively grew drained and dropped again deeper into their very own half.

After Gnabry and Kai Havertz got here shut, Germany, with greater than 70 per cent possession all through the sport, received the winner when Muller, who had come on halfway by means of the second half, tapped in on the far publish after Goretzka headed on a nook.

Davy Klaassen scored the one objective because the Netherlands beat Latvia 1-0 away in Riga to maintain themselves forward in a tightly contest World Cup qualifying group.

Klaassen was unmarked on the again publish to tuck away Memphis Depay’s nook after 19 minutes for the one objective of the sport, though the Dutch did dominate with virtually relentless assaults within the closing 20 minutes and might need gained by a bigger margin.

Stefan de Vrij and Depay each despatched good probabilities large within the second half whereas on the different finish of the sphere, Dutch goalkeeper Justin Bijlow made an vital save from a nook in stoppage time to maintain his facet’s full haul of factors intact.

The Netherlands superior to 16 factors in Group G, two forward of Norway and 4 in entrance of third positioned Turkey after these two international locations drew 1-1 in Istanbul on the identical time.

It was a 3rd win in 4 video games for the Dutch since Louis van Gaal returned as coach and they’re anticipated to maneuver nearer to World Cup qualification after they host Gibraltar in Rotterdam on Tuesday.

Croatia stayed heading in the right direction to qualify routinely for the 2022 World Cup after objectives from Ivan Perisic, Josko Gvardiol and Marko Livaja helped the 2018 runners-up to a 3-0 win at Cyprus of their Group H qualifier.

The end result stored Croatia high on 16 factors from seven video games, forward of Russia on objective distinction after the Russians floor out a 1-0 house win over Slovakia. Third-placed Slovenia are six factors behind the front-runners after they beat Malta 4-0 away.

Meanwhile, a Daniel James strike helped Wales fight back to draw 2-2 with the Czech Republic in an entertaining World Cup qualifier after the visitor’s goalkeeper had gifted the hosts a second half lead.