Late relief for Greece in Liechtenstein

Greece moved level with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the top of FIFA World Cup qualifying Group G but were made to work hard by a feisty Liechtenstein side.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's 1-0 home defeat by Slovakia was a huge boost to Greece, but they would not have wiped out their deficit had Kostas Mitroglou not struck with 18 minutes left in a game where both teams ended with ten men. Greece are behind on goal difference but that could change on Tuesday when, with all three of their games left at home, they welcome Latvia as Bosnia and Herzegovina visit Slovakia.

Liechtenstein, who have already held Latvia and Slovakia in Vaduz, were comfortable before the break and had a good chance through David Hasler while Panagiotis Tachtsidis threatened for Greece. Whatever Fernando Santos told his pupils at half-time worked wonders, as Greece came back firing on all cylinders, benefiting as well from the introduction of Sotiris Ninis.

Mitroglou shot just wide on 49 minutes and soon after grazed the post. Just before the hour Peter Jehle did well to keep out Mitroglou's header and Greece were then reduced to ten men as as José Holebas was sent off on a second bookable offence. Their numerical inferiority lasted for seven minutes as Hasler was also sent off.

On the 68th minute Kostas Katsouranis saw his header come off the crossbar. Four minutes later, the Greece captain initiated the move that led to the winning goal, his 30-metre cross from the right falling to Vasilis Torosidis, who teed up Mitroglou from the left for the simplest of finishes.

Two minutes later Ninis improvised a clever 30-metre lob to beat Jehle, but the crossbar denied him. The Liechtenstein goalkeeper was alert to deny Mitroglou again, when he blocked his back-heeled shot seven minutes from time, but Greece nevertheless took the points.