(Netherlands-Montenegro 4-0 / Gibraltar-Turkey 3-0) Barcelona star Memphis Depay led a convincing victory at home in the Netherlands. Turkey won after major startup problems in Gibraltar.
After the 2-0 win in Riga, there was no help for Norway in the World Cup qualifiers. Thus, Turkey leads the group in the middle of the group with 11 points ahead of the Netherlands and the Ståle Solbakken men, both with 10 points.
After 1-1 against the Netherlands at Olival on Wednesday, Norway did not manage to win either of their “home games” against contenders for a place in the World Cup (0-3 loss to Turkey took place in Spain’s Malaga).
Norway has these five games remaining:
September 7: Gibraltar at Olival.
October 8: Turkey in Istanbul.
October 11: Montenegro in Olival.
October 13: Latvia at Ullevaal.
November 16: Holland in Rotterdam.
Norway is likely to win all three matches at home to have the chance to secure one place in the World Cup with away achievements in Turkey and the Netherlands. Only the winner will get a direct place at the World Cup in Qatar before Christmas next year, while the runners-up must go through a tough qualification as only three of the 12 teams make it to the tournament.
Graphics: www.sofascore.com
Montenegro succeeded in half an hour with its back to the wall in Holland. But then she narrowed it down at the Phillips Arena in Eindhoven.
First, Olival’s top scorer, Davey Klassen, hit his head hard at the crossbar. Then Memphis Depay took Dusan Lagator on tour.
The Dutch striker’s run ended with the Montenegrin midfielder taking charge of Depay. and thus punished.
Depay did as Erling Braut Haaland did in Riga – and he stuck the penalty in the right corner. Thus, the Netherlands deservedly advanced 1-0 in the second half.
After the break, Montenegro squandered the opportunity to score a blank goal after a fatal error by Dutch international Tyrrell Malacia. Depay responded by scoring the second goal of the night before Georginio Wijnaldum put the nail in Montenegro’s coffin, scoring 3-0.
Then Holland’s new star, Cody Jabko, hit the crossbar from distance. PSV Eindhoven’s first goal was the highlight of the evening.
Turkey succeeded shortly before the outage in Gibraltar. The beginning was very uninspiring for the Turks. They had – after a VAR check – a penalty already two minutes later, but Enes Onal missed with an 11-meter apron.
In fact, the home team could have taken a lead two minutes before the end of the first half. But Turkey goalkeeper Ogurkar Cakir saved from Gibraltar striker Tjay de Bar. After 0-0 at the break, Turkey coach Senol Gunes threw Inter star Hakan Celhanoglu into a three-way exchange.
Did not immediately help. Julian Vallarino put the ball in the post in the first second half attack. Gibraltar was just a few inches off the exciting lead.
Nine minutes later the cold shower came. Substitute Calhanoglu found substitute Halil Dervisoglu. And give Galatasaray player progress to Turkey. Even Hakan Celhanoglu finished the match on points by scoring after a few minutes. Kanaan Karman increased the difference by 0-3 at the end.
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