Turkey narrowly escaped a costly loss of points in the World Cup qualifying series on Monday evening. The team of national coach Stefan Kuntz seemed to draw 1-1 when visiting Latvia, which, however, was defeated in the 99th minute by a utilized penalty from Burak Yilmaz: 1-2. At the same time, Norway recorded a minimal win over Montenegro in its own country: 2-0. As a result, the position in Group G will not change, in which the Netherlands (nineteen points) remains the leader. Norway follows in the wake with seventeen points, while the Turks are third with fifteen points.
Latvia – Turkey 1-2
Latvia recorded the first achievement of the match after seven minutes of play. A corner kick fell at the feet of captain Antonijs Cernomordijs, who was able to shoot from close range. His shot, however, was cleverly saved from the goal line by Merih Demiral. Ten minutes later, the defender of the Turks had the chance to give the visitors the lead. Roberts Ozols misjudged a corner, after which the ball went just wide through Demiral’s thigh. After half an hour, Cengiz Ünder handed out another pinprick with a long shot. Both teams failed to create serious danger in the remainder of the first half.
Turkey knew that only a victory counted to keep an eye on qualification for the World Cup. Hakan Çalhanoglu was close to the liberating opening goal for the team of national coach Kuntz just after the break. The creative midfielder’s free kick went right past the post. Demiral seemed to be the schlemiel of the evening twenty minutes before the end. Roberts Savalnieks brought the ball hard in front of the goal, after which the defender worked the ball into his own goal: 1-0. Turkey woke up with a start and got a good opportunity via Yilmaz to immediately level up again. At the next chance it was still hit. Cengiz Ünder gave the ball to Serdar Dursun, who then headed in nicely: 1-1. Ünder had a serious chance to give the Turks the lead in the final phase, but saw Ozols acting. Yilmaz still managed to win a victory for Turkey deep in injury time. From eleven meters, the striker brought the visitors 1-2 in extremis.
Norway – Montenegro 2-0
Without, among others, the injured Erling Braut Haaland and the suspended Morten Thorsby, but with Feyenoord player Marcus Pedersen in the base, the Norwegians appeared at the kick-off. Fredrik Aursnes started from the bench and came in at halftime. Although the home country kept up the pressure on the opposing goal from the first whistle, it wasn’t until the 27th minute that the first big chance was created. After a successful combination with Pedersen, Mats Möller Daehli sent the ball towards the far corner, but goalkeeper Matija Sarkic barely saved. Two minutes later, the opening goal was scored.
Meanwhile, the Norwegians come in 1-0 in Oslo ???? Mohamed Elyounoussi has a header from close range?#ZiggoSport #WCQ2022 #NORMNE pic.twitter.com/W72SYFaNqU
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) October 11, 2021
After a cross tailor-made by Stefan Strandberg, it was Mohamed Elyounoussi who was able to nod in from close range. Just under fifteen minutes after the break, Norway escaped the equalizer. After a nice pass from Stevan Jovetic, Adam Marusic failed to capitalize on his imposed chance. Montenegro then tightened the thumbscrews in a last-ditch effort to hold out for World Cup qualifiers. In the end, a Montenegrin goal remained and it was Norway that struck again in the absolute final second. Again it was Elyounoussi who scored: 2-0.