World Cup semi-finals: Wins for Northern Macedonia, Portugal, Sweden, Wales
Northern Macedonia, Portugal, Sweden and Wales are a match away from the World Cup after winning their play-off semi-finals on Thursday. UEFA.com ends the events.
Road A
Wales 2-1 Austria
Wales captain Gareth Bale scored two fantastic goals in Cardiff to send his team on to the Path A play-off final. After Christoph Baumgartner’s shot in the fifth minute hit the bar for the visitors, Wales dominated much of the first half. Bale rolled in an exact free kick to put the hosts in the lead and added a second after the break with a dazzling finish. Marcel Sabitzer’s reply in the 65th minute gave Austria hope, but Wales insisted on setting up a decisive draw against Scotland or Ukraine.
Key statistics: Bale has been directly involved in more Wales goals than any other player in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers (five goals, three assists).
The second semi-final of the Path A play-offs, between Scotland and Ukraine, has been postponed.
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Road B
Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic (aet)
Clear chances were at their peak during a tense competition at Friends Arena in Solna, Dejan Kulusevski went twice close for the home team in the first half while the Czech substitute Milan Havel volleyed over a brilliant opportunity in the closing seconds of normal time. That miss turned out to be costly in the 110th minute, Sweden substitute Robin Quaison played a one-two with Alexander Isak and calmly scored his 12th goal for his country.
The winners will face Poland – who received a farewell – in the Path B play-off final.
Key statistics: Sweden has now won its last ten home matches.
Road C
Italy 0-1 Northern Macedonia
Aleksandar Trajkovski struck in extra time when Northern Macedonia shocked Italy and set up a playoff final against Portugal. Italy dominated much of the match but failed to find a breakthrough, with the best chance of either half falling to Domenico Berardi. Azzurri’s Trajkovski struck his penalty well enough to beat the goalkeeper and extend the home team’s lead to 2 – 0 after 92 minutes.
Key statistics: Italy is the fourth EURO holder to fail to qualify for the next World Cup, after Czechoslovakia (1978), Denmark (1994) and Greece (2006).
Portugal 3-1 Turkey
Portugal survived a late scare to advance to the Path C play-off final. Otávio put them in the lead from a return after a Bernardo Silva shot hit the post, and the Porto man then hung up a post for Diogo Jota to nod in just before the break. Although Burak Yılmaz pulled one back, the Turkish captain missed from the spot late to let Matheus Nune’s stable lingering nerves deep into extra time.
Key statistics: Portugal remains a bogey team for Turkey; they have lost all six competitive matches against Seleção, conceding 14 goals and scoring just twice.
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