Highlights: France beat Germany, Ukraine and Georgia celebrate
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Article summary
France came from behind to end Germany's Finals ambitions while Ukraine and Georgia sealed promotion.
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Article body
- Comeback win by France ends Germany's Finals hopes
- Ukraine seal promotion to League A after third victory
- Georgia earn promotion and EURO 2020 play-off
- Gibraltar complete historic back-to-back victories
- How the groups stand; November fixtures
League A
Group A1: France 2-1 Germany
France's second-half turnaround in Saint-Denis means Germany cannot qualify for the Finals. Toni Kroos' 14th-minute spot kick put the visitors ahead in a re-run of the UEFA EURO 2016 semi-final, but the freshly minted world champions improved immeasurably after the interval. Antoine Griezmann equalised with a header before converting a penalty to cap the comeback with ten minutes remaining.
League B
Group B1: Ukraine 1-0 Czech Republic
Ukraine sealed promotion as they continued their perfect start thanks to Ruslan Malinovskiy's first-half strike. The midfielder notched his second goal in as many international appearances with a long-range effort just before the break. The hosts were also indebted to a string of Andriy Pyatov saves, including smart stops from Jakub Jankto, Patrik Schick, David Pavelka and Jaromír Zmrhal.
Group B4: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Wales
Harry Wilson's superb free-kick was the difference in Dublin, catapulting Wales top of the section. Ireland shaded a cagey first half with Wayne Hennessey making a sprawling save from Cyrus Christie, but Ryan Giggs' charges took their chance in the 58th minute when the Derby forward beat Darren Randolph from 20 metres. Wales will be promoted if they overcome Denmark.
League C
Group C3: Norway 1-0 Bulgaria
Norway leapfrogged their visitors at the summit on goal difference after securing their seventh consecutive victory at Ullevaal Stadion. Mohamed Elyounoussi gave the Scandinavian side a deserved lead from Omar Elabdellaoui's cross just after the half hour, and the hosts held firm to avenge their 1-0 defeat in Bulgaria last month.
Group C3: Slovenia 1-1 Cyprus
Nejc Skubic volleyed in an 83rd-minute equaliser to keep Slovenia's hopes of avoiding relegation alive in a combative meeting that produced three red cards. The hosts were set for a fourth defeat that would have sealed their fate after Fotis Papoulis's goal prior to half-time, before Skubic struck against the then ten men. There was still time for further dismissals on either side.
League D
Group D1: Latvia 0-3 Georgia
Georgia sealed promotion and at least a UEFA EURO 2020 play-off with a fourth group win, despite suffering a fifth-minute setback when Latvia's Andris Vaņins saved Valeri Kazaishvili's penalty, awarded for handball. Within three minutes, Jaba Kankava's thunderbolt from distance gave the visitors the lead, and it was 2-0 before the half-hour mark as Valerian Gvilia slotted his shot past Vaņins. Giorgi Chakvetadze jinked his way into the box to make it three in the 61st minute.
Group D1: Kazakhstan 4-0 Andorra
Kazakhstan ended Andorra's slim promotion hopes with a comfortable win. Yerkebulan Seidakhmet opened the scoring with a back-post header and Bauyrzhan Turysbek extended the lead prior to the interval. Josep Gomes' 61st-minute own goal put the result beyond doubt, and substitute Roman Murtazayev added a fourth after Andorra forward Jordi Aláez had been dismissed.
Group D4: Armenia 4-0 FYR Macedonia
FYR Macedonia surrendered their 100% record in the group and ten-match unbeaten run to a rejuvenated Armenia. The visitors contributed to their own downfall with goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski allowing long-range efforts from Marcos Pizzelli and Gevorg Ghazaryan in each half to squirm through his grasp. Yura Movsisyan also swept in a pass from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who added a late fourth. The visitors still top the group, three points clear of Armenia and Gibraltar.
Group D4: Gibraltar 2-1 Liechtenstein
Having recorded their first competitive win on Saturday, the hosts made it two victories in four days. Two headed goals in six second-half minutes did the damage, George Cabrera cancelling out Dennis Salanovic's early opener before Joseph Chipolina sealed another famous win for Gibraltar, their third of 2018.
Friendlies
Belgium 1-1 Netherlands
Denmark 2-0 Austria
Sweden 1-1 Slovakia