WALES SUFFERED THEIR own World Cup play-off heartbreak as Bosnia and Herzegovina won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.
It was a cruel repeat of Wales’ exit in the Euro 2024 play-offs as spot-kicks again proved their undoing.
Wales were four minutes from booking a home play-off final against Italy – 2-0 winners over Northern Ireland – on Tuesday after Daniel James put them ahead with a stunning strike soon after half-time.
But Edin Dzeko, who celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this month, extended his record Bosnia goals tally to 73 by climbing above the home defence and nodding home Kerim Alajbegovic’s corner.
Neither side could force a winner in 30 added minutes and Wales drew first blood in the shootout as Karl Darlow saved Ermedin Demirovic’s kick.
But Brennan Johnson blazed over and Neco Williams saw Nikola Vasilj push away his penalty, allowing Alajbegovic to plunge the dagger into Welsh hearts.
Northern Ireland saw their World Cup hopes ended in Bergamo. Mike Egerton / PA
Mike Egerton / PA / PA
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s World Cup dreams were ended by Italy as Michael O’Neill’s young side fell to a 2-0 qualifying play-off semi-final defeat in Bergamo.
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Northern Ireland battled superbly against an Italy side under immense pressure to deliver qualification after two consecutive failures to reach a tournament they have won four times, but were undone by second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Having reached half-time with the match still goalless, Northern Ireland successfully ramped up the tension inside the Stadio di Bergamo, but it was released in the 56th minute when Tonali capitalised on a poor clearance from Isaac Price to thrash home.
Kean, a constant threat throughout the night, then settled it 10 minutes from time as his left-footed strike went in off the post.
- Sweden set to face Poland -
In Valencia, Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick in Sweden’s 3-1 win over Ukraine.
Arsenal striker Gyokeres netted his first goals of the qualifying campaign to lead Sweden to the brink of the finals, despite a dismal group stage in which they picked up just two points in six matches.
Gyokeres' hat-trick sent Sweden through against Ukraine. TT News Agency / Alamy Live News
TT News Agency / Alamy Live News / Alamy Live News
Sweden got another chance as a result of their Nations League performances and Gyokeres turned in from close range early on against Ukraine, unable to play at home because of the war with Russia and instead having to move the tie to a neutral ground.
Gyokeres tucked away his second six minutes after the break and converted a penalty to complete his treble and seal victory for Graham Potter’s team, with Matvii Ponomarenko grabbing a late consolation for Ukraine.
In Warsaw, Robert Lewandowski helped Poland come from behind to scrape past Albania 2-1 after Arber Hoxha gave the visitors the lead.
Lewandowski headed in from a corner to bring Poland level with his 89th goal for his country before Piotr Zielinski grabbed the winner.
- Denmark set for Czechia trip -
Denmark eased to a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in Copenhagen with all the goals coming in the second half. Mikkel Damsgaard broke the deadlock and Gustav Isaksen scored twice in as many minutes before Christian Norgaard added a fourth.
The Danes now head to Czechia on Tuesday with a place at the World Cup up for grabs.
Mikkel Damsgaard's goal set Denmark on their way against North Macedonia. Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix via AP/Alamy Stock Photo
Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix via AP/Alamy Stock Photo / Ritzau Scanpix via AP/Alamy Stock Photo
- Kosovo set to host Turkey -
Meanwhile, Kosovo are on the brink of a first appearance at any major tournament following a wild 4-3 win away to Slovakia.
Slovakia twice led in Bratislava through goals from Martin Valjent and Lukas Haraslin, but Kosovo fought back with efforts from Veldin Hodza and Fisnik Asllani.
Kosovo, who were only admitted to Uefa and Fifa competitions a decade ago, then went in front courtesy of Florent Muslija and got another goal from Kreshnik Hajrizi, and David Strelec’s stoppage-time strike wasn’t enough to deny them.
In Istanbul, Ferdi Kadioglu scored a second-half winner for Turkey in a 1-0 victory over Romania in their play-off semi-final.
Turkey, quarter-finalists at Euro 2024, are bidding to reach the showpiece tournament for the first time since finishing third in South Korea and Japan 24 years ago.
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Play-off round-up: Wales crash out on penalties, Northern Ireland lose in Italy
World Cup play-off semi-finals
WALES SUFFERED THEIR own World Cup play-off heartbreak as Bosnia and Herzegovina won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.
It was a cruel repeat of Wales’ exit in the Euro 2024 play-offs as spot-kicks again proved their undoing.
Wales were four minutes from booking a home play-off final against Italy – 2-0 winners over Northern Ireland – on Tuesday after Daniel James put them ahead with a stunning strike soon after half-time.
But Edin Dzeko, who celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this month, extended his record Bosnia goals tally to 73 by climbing above the home defence and nodding home Kerim Alajbegovic’s corner.
Neither side could force a winner in 30 added minutes and Wales drew first blood in the shootout as Karl Darlow saved Ermedin Demirovic’s kick.
But Brennan Johnson blazed over and Neco Williams saw Nikola Vasilj push away his penalty, allowing Alajbegovic to plunge the dagger into Welsh hearts.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s World Cup dreams were ended by Italy as Michael O’Neill’s young side fell to a 2-0 qualifying play-off semi-final defeat in Bergamo.
Northern Ireland battled superbly against an Italy side under immense pressure to deliver qualification after two consecutive failures to reach a tournament they have won four times, but were undone by second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Having reached half-time with the match still goalless, Northern Ireland successfully ramped up the tension inside the Stadio di Bergamo, but it was released in the 56th minute when Tonali capitalised on a poor clearance from Isaac Price to thrash home.
Kean, a constant threat throughout the night, then settled it 10 minutes from time as his left-footed strike went in off the post.
- Sweden set to face Poland -
In Valencia, Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick in Sweden’s 3-1 win over Ukraine.
Arsenal striker Gyokeres netted his first goals of the qualifying campaign to lead Sweden to the brink of the finals, despite a dismal group stage in which they picked up just two points in six matches.
Sweden got another chance as a result of their Nations League performances and Gyokeres turned in from close range early on against Ukraine, unable to play at home because of the war with Russia and instead having to move the tie to a neutral ground.
Gyokeres tucked away his second six minutes after the break and converted a penalty to complete his treble and seal victory for Graham Potter’s team, with Matvii Ponomarenko grabbing a late consolation for Ukraine.
In Warsaw, Robert Lewandowski helped Poland come from behind to scrape past Albania 2-1 after Arber Hoxha gave the visitors the lead.
Lewandowski headed in from a corner to bring Poland level with his 89th goal for his country before Piotr Zielinski grabbed the winner.
- Denmark set for Czechia trip -
Denmark eased to a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in Copenhagen with all the goals coming in the second half. Mikkel Damsgaard broke the deadlock and Gustav Isaksen scored twice in as many minutes before Christian Norgaard added a fourth.
The Danes now head to Czechia on Tuesday with a place at the World Cup up for grabs.
- Kosovo set to host Turkey -
Meanwhile, Kosovo are on the brink of a first appearance at any major tournament following a wild 4-3 win away to Slovakia.
Slovakia twice led in Bratislava through goals from Martin Valjent and Lukas Haraslin, but Kosovo fought back with efforts from Veldin Hodza and Fisnik Asllani.
Kosovo, who were only admitted to Uefa and Fifa competitions a decade ago, then went in front courtesy of Florent Muslija and got another goal from Kreshnik Hajrizi, and David Strelec’s stoppage-time strike wasn’t enough to deny them.
In Istanbul, Ferdi Kadioglu scored a second-half winner for Turkey in a 1-0 victory over Romania in their play-off semi-final.
Turkey, quarter-finalists at Euro 2024, are bidding to reach the showpiece tournament for the first time since finishing third in South Korea and Japan 24 years ago.
World Cup play-off finals
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