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Full-time results
That’s it on a breathless night of World Cup qualification, with 30 goals in nine games. The final scores are below; thanks for your company, night!
Group D
Austria 2-2 Wales
Moldova 0-3 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 1-1 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-2 Albania
Macedonia 1-2 Israel
Group I
Iceland 3-2 Finland
Kosovo 0-6 Croatia
Turkey 2-2 Ukraine
Jahovic has missed an injury-time penalty, which would have given Macedonia a draw at home to Israel.
GOAL! Iceland 3-2 Finland (Sigurdsson 90)
Iceland have scored twice in added time to beat Finland!
It’s all over in Vienna and Dublin: Austria 2-2 Wales and Ireland 1-0 Georgia. Two excellent results, especially for Wales on a difficult night.
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We’re into the seventh minute of added time in Dublin because of that nasty injury to Robbie Brady. Ireland lead Georgia 1-0.
It has finished in Turin: Italy 1-1 Spain. Spain were the better side but couldn’t finish Italy off.
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Croatia have made it 6-0 against Kosovo, through Kalinic.
GOAL! Iceland 2-2 Finland (Finnbogason 90)
Iceland have come behind for the second time!
There are a few minutes remaining in each of the nine matches. Wales and Republic of Ireland are both hanging on to excellent results.
Wales have had some good positions in the last 15 minutes, mainly from set-pieces. They’ve just had three consecutive corners on the right wing, though nothing came of them.
GOALS! GOALS!
Turkey 2-2 Ukraine (Calhanoglu pen)
Kosovo 0-5 Croatia (Perisic)
GOAL! Italy 1-1 Spain (De Rossi pen)
Daniele De Rossi equalises in Turin with an accomplished penalty.
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It was a nasty clash of heads that led to Brady being stretchered off.
Robbie Brady has been stretchered off at the Aviva Stadium. I’m not sure what happened but is receiving oxygen as he goes down the tunnel.
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The latest scores
Group D
Austria 2-2 Wales
Moldova 0-3 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 0-1 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-2 Albania
Macedonia 1-2 Israel
Group I
Iceland 1-2 Finland
Kosovo 0-4 Croatia
Turkey 1-2 Ukraine
Wales are having an excellent spell and almost sneak in front after a brilliant run on the right by Bale, whose cutback was cleared from inside the six-yard box.
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“Crowd whistling in Turin reaches sonic-boom levels as Costa escapes a second yellow card,” says Charles Antaki. “Hooked before he combusts, Morata on..”
Opta should do Expected Red Cards in the same way they do Expected Goals. Costa must have racked up 150 Expected Red Cards in his career, and only one or two actual ones.
There may be more pyrotechnic violations any minute now in Liechtenstein, because Albania have gone 2-0 up with a nice header from Balaj at the far post.
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We often talk about the value of winning ugly. In a campaign like this, drawing ugly can be pretty valuable too, and a point tonight would be a great result for Wales in the circumstances.
Wales look a little more comfortable, although they are still under pressure. Croatia now lead 4-0 against Kosovo; Mitrovic got the goal.
“Biggest excitement here in Vaduz, after the Albanian goal, was the indignant announcement that “the match will be aborted if there are further pyrotechnic violations”,” says Andy Lynam. “This was followed by loud Albanian cheers and a series of huge red explosions from the red flag wavers behind the goal. Game is a chilly sellout -- 5,684 packed in.”
“Arnautovic is one of those players whose every action is carried out ‘confidently’,” says Matt Dony. “And I respect him for it. He’s a fine player, but entertainingly not quite as fine as he seems to think. Like a slightly more self-aware Bendtner. Come on, Wales!”
These are the latest scores, no two ways about it.
Group D
Austria 2-2 Wales
Moldova 0-3 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 0-1 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-1 Albania
Macedonia 1-2 Israel
Group I
Iceland 1-2 Finland
Kosovo 0-3 Croatia
Turkey 1-2 Ukraine
GOAL! Macedonia 1-2 Israel (Nestorovski 63)
Serbia lead 3-0 in Moldova through Dusan Tadic. That Spain goal was a weird howler from Buffon, who charged out of his area to intercept a through ball and then ran straight past it. In his defence, it’s his first mistake since about 1997.
GOAL! Italy 0-1 Spain (Vitolo)
Spain take a deserved lead in Turin. It’s a Halley’s Comet moment: a cock-up from Gianluigi Buffon.
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Joe Allen has gone off injured for Wales, with Dave Edwards replacing him. Wales will do well to get a draw out of this because Austria are much the better side.
The latest scores
Group D
Austria 2-2 Wales
Moldova 0-2 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 0-0 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-1 Albania
Macedonia 0-2 Israel
Group I
Iceland 1-2 Finland
Kosovo 0-3 Croatia
Turkey 1-2 Ukraine
GOAL! Ireland 1-0 Georgia (Coleman 56)
The captain Seamus Coleman gets his first goal for Ireland, scrambling home from close range after some slapstick pinball in the six-yard box. It came originally from a great run down the right by Coleman.
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Gylfi Sigurdsson has missed a penalty for Iceland, who are losing 2-1 at home to Finland.
GOAL! Austria 2-2 Wales (Arnautovic 48)
Arnautovic gets his second, finishing confidently after intercepting a stray pass from Joe Allen.
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A very fast start to the second half from Austria, who don’t deserve to be behind. But they are, and that’s all Wales will care about.
Peep peep! The second halves are under way. Let’s football some more!
Your half-time reports ... so I don’t have to
Charles Antaki “Spain are being irresistible and unstoppable against Italy - but somehow have managed to be resisted and stopped. And a yellow card for Costa.”
Kari Tulinius “It’s been a ding-dong half in Reykjavík. All three goals have come from terrible defensive errors and the lack of organizational discipline is such that the game could well have had a few more goals. The Finnish goalkeeper Hradecky made an absurd save to keep Finland ahead towards the end of the half, so that at least was nice.”
Adam Walker “Ireland are an absolute rabble against Georgia in Dublin. Either the players are baldly ignoring Martin’s instructions, or they were sent out without instruction. Which do you reckon is more likely? O’Neill has all the tactical nous of a satsuma.”
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“Apologies in advance if this makes it sound like I am calling you a monkey,” says Ian Copestake, “but you know that opening scene to 28 Days Later in which a chimp is forced to watch a bunch of World Cup qualifiers?”
That’s half-time. I’m off to put my head in the freezer. See you in 10 minutes for the second halves.
The half-time scores
Group D
Austria 1-2 Wales
Moldova 0-2 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 0-0 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-1 Albania
Macedonia 0-2 Israel
Group I
Iceland 1-2 Finland
Kosovo 0-3 Croatia
Turkey 1-2 Ukraine
GOAL! Austria 1-2 Wales (Wimmer own goal)
Wales have been battered for the last 20 minutes, and now they are in front through an own goal from Kevin Wimmer!
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Georgia have hit the woodwork twice in the same attack against Ireland, according to my sources, while there have been more goals elsewhere: it’s Macedonia 0-2 Israel (Ben Haim) and Turkey 1-2 Ukraine (Tufan).
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It’s no fun, this, trying to watch nine games at the same time. Wayne Hennessey has just made another excellent save for Wales, who have been pinned back since the equaliser.
GOALS!
Iceland 1-1 Finland (Arnason)
Moldova 0-2 Serbia (Ivanovic)
Iceland 1-2 Finland (Lod)
GOAL! Kosovo 0-3 Croatia (Mandzukic hat-trick)
A good header gives Mario Mandzukic a first-half hat-trick. In other news, Wales are under increasing pressure in Vienna and Wayne Hennessey has just made a smart low save.
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“I did not even know Joe Allen was left footed until that went in,” says Ian Copestake. I literally didn’t know he had a left foot until it went in.
The latest scores on a good night to be an away side
Group D
Austria 1-1 Wales
Moldova 0-1 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 0-0 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-1 Albania
Macedonia 0-1 Israel
Group I
Iceland 0-1 Finland
Kosovo 0-2 Croatia
Turkey 0-2 Ukraine
GOAL! Austria 1-1 Wales (Arnautovic)
It’s Stoke 1-1 Stoke in Vienna, with Marko Arnautovic stooping to head in after a delicious ball over the top from Alaba.
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Meanwhile, in the Roy Keane Stadium, Spain are battering Italy 0-0.
Ukraine now lead 2-0 in Turkey, with Artem Kravets getting the goal. If this rate of scoring continues I’ll have a nervous breakdown by half-time.
GOALS! GOALS! GOALS!
Kosovo 0-2 Croatia (Mandzukic)
Turkey 0-1 Ukraine (Yarmolenko)
Iceland 0-1 Finland (Pukki)
Macedonia 0-1 Israel (Hemed)
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“I think Infantino is on the right track,” says Thomas Krantz. “I propose we expand the World Cup to 211 teams and dispense with the qualifiers altogether. Then every four years we have a proper tournament over a couple of months.” In Doha at the height of summer, ideally.
GOAL! Austria 0-1 Wales (Allen 22)
The goal machine Joe Allen gives Wales the lead with a belting left-foot strike from 20 yards!
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GOAL! Moldova 0-1 Serbia (Kostic)
Serbia have taken the lead after a dreadful error from the Moldova captain Epureanu. He lost the ball to Tadic, who ran through on goal before squaring it for Kostic to tap into an open net.
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“Evening Rob,” says Chris Drew. “Surely this has to have an airing tonight! Kept off the number one spot by Joe Dolce and shaddap you face. And as a proud Welshman, it’s obvious Austria are going to win tonight.”
The latest scores
Group D
Austria 0-0 Wales
Moldova 0-0 Serbia
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Georgia
Group G
Italy 0-0 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-1 Albania
Macedonia 0-0 Israel
Group I
Iceland 0-0 Finland
Kosovo 0-1 Croatia
Turkey 0-0 Ukraine
12 min Spain have had most of the ball against Italy in the Stadio delle Alpi, though they are yet to trouble the scorers.
GOAL! Liechtenstein 0-1 Albania (Hyka)
Albania lead through a close-range header from Hyka that went straight through the keeper Jehle.
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“Speaking of darts (which we won’t) if FIFA does expand the World Cup to 48 teams it may well be possible to toss darts into the stands at qualifiers without hitting anyone,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “It’s difficult enough to find a competitive fixture now. MBMs in the future could be composed of a series of nursery rhymes interposed with occasional scores and no one will ever notice.”
IT WAS A JOKE ABOUT ROY KEANE IN 1999. Jeez.
Wales almost take the lead in Vienna, with Bale’s close-range header repelled by a stunning save from Almer.
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GOAL! Kosovo 0-1 Croatia (Mandzukic)
The first goal of the night is scored by Mario Mandzukic, who dinks the ball over the Kosovo keeper after a penetrative passing move.
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It’s been a slow start in Vienna; lots of Austrian possession but nothing to worry the Welsh bus.
“Poor, Rob,” says Ian Copestake. “Your heartfelt darts request suggests you see the MBM as some sort of utopic community of like-minded Levellers, Diggers and Ranters. This isn’t the late 1640s you know. Some of these readers voted Tory!”
Peep peep! The nine European qualifiers are under way. Let’s football!
Austria are a formidable side at home. This is unquestionably the biggest game Wales have been involved in since July.
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I suspect none of you give a soaring one, but just in case: please don’t plotspoil the darts tonight as I plan to reward myself after work by watching it on delay.
“Eh, I don’t remember what Keane did there in 1999,” says Iain Kelly. “I do, however, recall his memorable performance at the Stadio delle Alpi.”
I’m just too damn deadpan for my own good.
“As a fan of the Austrian national team I must say that Wales were very lucky in Euro 2016,” says Peter Oh. “Lucky to have such a stirring national anthem impressively belted out by their supporters. Austria’s is quite beautiful too. Tonight has got to be one of the better match-ups, musically speaking. Let’s hope the football can match the tunes!”
“How positively splendid to have you on board this evening, Rob,” lies Ian Copestake. “Looking at Juventus’s stadium made me ponder on whether stadia do anything to players in terms of provoking boyish wonder, awe, sublime tinglings. Perhaps that is just a good photo, but it seems to have a certain je ne ses quoi oh so very special.”
Who will ever forget Roy Keane’s performance there in 1999?
Watch this goal at your earliest convenience
Some more pre-match reading
Italy v Spain team news
Italy (3-1-4-2) Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Romagnoli; De Rossi; Florenzi, Montolivo, Parolo, De Sciglio; Eder, Pelle.
Spain (4-3-3) De Gea; Carvajal, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Koke, Busquets, Iniesta; Silva, Costa, Vitolo.
Republic of Ireland v Georgia team news
Ireland (4-3-3) Randolph; Coleman, Duffy, Clark, Ward; McCarthy, Hendrick, Brady; Walters, Long, McClean.
Georgia (4-2-3-1) Loria; Kakabadze, Kverkvelia, Kashia, Navalovski; Daushvili, Gvilia; Okriashvili, Kaziashvili, Ananidze; Mchedlidze.
Austria v Wales team news
Austria (4-2-3-1) Almer; Klein, Dragovic, Hinteregger, Wimmer; Baumgartlinger, Alaba; Sabitzer, Junuzovic, Arnautovic; Janko
Wales (3-5-2) Hennessey; Chester, Williams, Davies; Gunter, Ledley, Allen, King, Taylor; Bale, Vokes.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of tonight’s World Cup qualifiers. Cherish nights like these. Cherish every moment; cherish every last goalkick in the match between Liechtenstein and Albania, because soon the World Cup proper will comprise all 211 members of Fifa and qualification will be so 2016.
These are tonight’s matches, all of which kick off at 1945BST:
Austria v Wales (Group D)
Iceland v Finland (Group I)
Italy v Spain (Group G)
Kosovo v Croatia (Group I)
Liechtenstein v Albania (Group G)
Macedonia v Israel (Group G)
Moldova v Serbia (Group D)
Republic of Ireland v Georgia (Group D)
Turkey v Ukraine (Group I)
As you can see, the matches are all drawn from three groups: it’s DGI Thursday! A number of the teams involved tonight had a great time at Euro 2016, so imagine the excitement should they reach their first World Cup since 1958 (Wales) or their first ever (Iceland, Albania).
It’s still early in the piece - this is Matchday 2 of 10; chill out, can we - but the result of Lucky Wales’ trip to Austria could eventually be pivotal in a tight group that also includes Republic of Ireland, Georgia, Serbia and Moldova.
There is also the tasty fusion of Italy and Spain’s finest, a few months after Italy did a memorable number on Spain at Euro 2016. Only one team qualifies automatically from each group, so that game is not without significance. You could even argue it’s worth missing the darts, The Fall, The Night Of and The Apprentice to watch it.
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