Greece hosted Romania tonight in the first leg of their winner-take-all World Cup qualifier, with the prize on offer a place in next summer's South American showpiece.
The hosts arrived in Athens on a run of six successive victories and took the lead on 14 minutes, with Kostas Mitroglou beating the offside trap before notching from close range.
Just five minutes later Romania equalised through Bogdan Stancu, but were level for just 60 seconds as Dimitris Salpingidis caught the visitors cold from the restart.
A more conservative second half featured one moment that could prove to be decisive over the two legs, with Mitroglou on hand to complete a brace and give Greece a two-goal cushion heading into Tuesday's second leg.
Look back on a night which saw Greece put one foot on the plane to Brazil with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening international football fans. Tonight is crunch time in the race for the final few spots in next summer's World Cup finals and Sports Mole has got you covered, with live text coverage from the Karaiskakis Stadium as Greece host Romania in the first game of their two-legged qualifier. Winner takes all!
Greece have home advantage for tonight's first leg and ride a wave of confidence into the match, brought by a strong run of form and an impressive defensive record. Only Spain conceded fewer times than the Greeks in qualifying, shipping just four goals in 10 matches.
Fernando Santos has built a Greek side with typical steel but also has enough creative players in the final third to strike a find a balance that largely works. A 4-5-1 formation normally features Kostas Mitroglou in attack, a man with 11 goals in his last eight appearances for club side Olympiakos.
The Greeks have also been in outstanding form despite just missing out on an automatic qualifying place by the slimmest of margins. Six successive wins without conceding were not enough to beat Bosnia, but maintaining that form would surely give them a terrific opportunity to dispatch Romania and book a trip to Brazil next summer.
Romania meanwhile are also swimming in the last-chance saloon, as they look to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. Victor Piturca's side have travelled to Athens without two key players, making the trip all the more daunting as Vlad Chiriches and Adrian Mutu miss out for very different reasons.
Piturca made the bold decision to drop Mutu from his squad for the play-off for dissent, after he complained at being left on the bench against Holland last month. Romania will face both games against Greece without the joint-top goalscorer in their history, a player of considerable experience if admittedly questionable temperament.
Perhaps more worryingly for the visitors Tottenham Hotspur defender Chiriches is unavailable after breaking his nose against Newcastle United last weekend. Romania will need their replacements to step in and prove their worth tonight, with the pressure firmly on.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! With Chiriches sidelined Florin Gardos comes in to deputise in central defence, while Bogdan Stancu and Ciprian Marica continue to lead the line in a surprisingly attacking formation. A full look at both starting XIs will follow in just a few moments.
GREECE: O. Karnezis, Holebas, Siovas, Torosidis, Papastathopoulos, Maniatis, Katsouranis, Tziolis, Samaras, Mitroglou, Salpingidis
ROMANIA: B. Lobonț, Goian, Raţ, Măţel, Gardoş, Cociş, Torje, Tănase, Bourceanu, Marica, Stancu
It's a tried and tested 4-5-1 formation from Greece tonight then, with Samaras and Salpingidis providing support for Mitroglou from advanced wide positions. Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos returns at centre-back, while with Roma utility man Vasilis Torosidis moved across to provide an experienced partner in the absence of Kyriakos Papadopoulos.
Romania meanwhile have taken everyone by surprise with the addition of Razvan Cocis in central midfield, but do have an experienced spine to the team which features West Ham full-back Razvan Rat despite the absence of Mutu and Chiriches.
PREDICTION! With Greece flying right now and with the support of a passionate home crowd I can't look past them this evening, but expect the match to be tight throughout. I'll go for Mitroglou to make the difference for Greece, continuing his fine start to the season with a goal in a 2-0 home win.
Here come the two teams, surrounded by a sea of blue and white as Katsouranis and Rat lead out the two teams. Nearly time for this two-legged tie to begin, surely it does not get any bigger for the 22 players on show tonight than fighting for a place in the World Cup finals.
Here we go at a packed Karaiskakis Stadium, with Romania getting us underway to a crescendo of jeers.
Torosidis attempts an early through ball down the right flank, but puts too much on a low pass and allows Rat to control and clear. Romania are quick to try something similar on the opposite flank, but fare little better as Samaras intercepts.
Early penalty appeals for Mitorglou are half-hearted and turned away, with Goian shielding the striker before he went to ground under limited contact. Greece showed some neat passing before that claim, with Salpingidis and Torosidis exchanging near the final third.
Romania offer a threat at the other end for the first time, thank to a clever low cross from Tanase. His effort took Marica by surprise though, sitting up too high after a poor first touch before falling to a grateful Karnezis.
Strong defending from Rat denies Salpingidis out wide, advancing out of his own half before switching play with authority. Cocis controlled before deciding to let fly a full 35 yards from goal, sending a low effort beyond the far post.
Katsouranis concedes possession with a sloppy pass in search of Samaras, allowing Romania to rebuild as they launch long towards Stancu. Both sides are still attempting to settle in a scrappy start, unsurprising given the stakes.
GOAL! Greece 1-0 Romania (Mitroglou)
Mitroglou has punished Romania very harshly for failing to clear their lines, volleying home the opening goal from close range. The in-form striker took full advantage after a free kick from Samaras was only partially cleared, peeling off his marker to meet a clever diagonal from Salpingidis before sending a composed finish into the far corner. What a start for the hosts!
GOAL! Greece 1-1 Romania (Stancu)
Romania are level almost instantly after taking advantage of some sloppy defending. Greece switched off from a free kick and left Stancu free at the far post, with the forward rising high to meet Torje's cross and just about turn it inside the net from a tight angle. Game on in Athens!
GOAL! Greece 2-1 Romania (Salpingidis)
The pendulum swings again before we have time to blink as Greece retake the lead, ruthlessly exposing Romania with a swift counter after restarting the match. Samaras lead the charge and found Torosidis, who in turn flicked through towards Salpingidis. His quick dart inside found the space required to fire at goal, making no mistake for the third strike inside eight minutes. I don't think anyone predicted an open exhibition of attacking football in Athens tonight but we have quite a match on our hands now, with both defences failing woefully thus far. 2-1 Greece!
YELLOW CARD! Back come Romania and win a corner kick on the far side, but Greece clear with relative ease after a poor delivery and swiftly threaten to counter through Salpingidis. He is rather cynically brought to the ground by a block from Bourceanu, which is enough to earn the first caution of the night despite his protests.
Romania are simply failing to shut down Samaras on the right flank and are rather fortunate to escape further punishment in the form of conceding a third goal. The forward takes up a clever position just outside the penalty area and cuts inside quickly after collecting the ball, but goes for accuracy over power with a low effort that is comfortably claimed by Lobont.
Goian is lucky not to be booked after flying into a strong challenge on Maniatis with studs showing. He did win some of the ball but sent the Greek midfielder flying in mid-air, but thankfully he is fine to continue after medical treatment.
YELLOW CARD! Samaras shields the ball brilliantly to stop a wave of Romanian pressure, before being hacked to the floor by Cocis. He is deservedly cautioned for a cynical trip, which means both Romania's central midfield duo have been booked before half-time.
Torosidis and Torje both send speculative efforts off-target within the space of 60 seconds as an open start to the match shows no sign of letting up. Greece have emerged the stronger from that frenetic opening though, holding a narrow advantage.
YELLOW CARD! Siovas becomes the first Greece player booked tonight after launching into an over-zealous challenge on Marica, too keen to retrieve possession. Torje takes the following free kick but cannot direct an effort either on target or towards a teammate, wasting the opportunity to test Karnezis.
YELLOW CARD! Salpingidis nearly sets Mitroglou free with a quick pass into the penalty area, with Goian just able to intercept and turn behind for a corner kick. Before the corner kick comes in Goian picks up a caution for what I can only assume is dissent after an angry exchange with the referee.
HALF-TIME Greece 2-1 Romania
Well that 45 minutes was a surprise treat, certainly for neutrals anyway. Greece shade the scoreline at the interval after a blistering start, quickly bouncing back after conceding a sloppy equaliser to retake the lead just 60 seconds later. This tie is still very much up for grabs.
Greece got off to a dream start when Mitroglou beat the offside trap to put them ahead inside 14 minutes, but were pegged back just five minutes later as Stancu headed home what may yet prove to be a valuable away goal. The visitors were unable to retain parity though, sliced open almost immediately from the restart as Salpingidis made the most of an incisive break to slide home from close range.
Romania are now in a favourable position with the away goal safely secured, able to sit and keep the match tight in the hope of turning things round in Tuesday's second leg. Greece on the other hand must surely press for a third goal, although with Samaras and Mitroglou both sharp early on that may be a tactic that suits the hosts.
BENCH WATCH! Both managers have options waiting in reserve, the considerable experience of Giorgios Karagounis available for Greece to call upon in the closing stages. With Mutu missing Romania's alternatives look less appealing, with Grozav their most likely addition late on.
We are back underway in Athens, with both managers resisting the temptation to tighten up and make changes.
Samaras shows terrific hustle to rob Cocis near the corner flag but gets his cross all wrong, sending a wayward effort well wide of the penalty area and out for a goal kick. Greece are soon back on the offensive, with Torosids just failing to reach a long diagonal towards the touchline.
Things are a little more conservative as Gardos brings down Salpingidis, before retreating to successfully defend a free kick.
Greece win a corner kick on the far side, but Holebas is unable to get good purchase on a poor delivery which fails to beat the first defender. Romania look happy to sit and defend deeper since the interval, and with that precious away goal on their side who can blame them.
The hosts have an injury concern over Papastathopoulos, who goes down clutching his leg after landing heavily. After treatment he looks alright to continue, a central defender Greece can ill-afford to be without with a second leg still to come on Tuesday.
YELLOW CARD! Katsouranis goes into the referee's notebook after a trip on Marica out wide. The Greek skipper has been booked for rotational fouling more than anything else, finally running out of chances after a combative midfield display.
GOAL! Greece 3-1 Romania (Mitroglou)
Greece have a third goal from another set piece, with that man Mitroglou again making all the difference. Romania failed to deal with a Samaras free kick flicked on by Katsouranis towards the far post, allowing the ball to bounce near the six-yard box. From that range Mitroglou has been deadly this season and his fine form continues tonight, smashing home on the half-volley to give Lobont no chance. Greece have a vital two-goal cushion!
The hosts should have just netted their fourth after Romania were once again carved wide open by a sweeping attack led by Samaras with pace and purpose. His switch to Holebas on the overlap was crossed cleverly towards the near post, but Katsouranis failed to make any contact despite being unmarked at the near post. The hosts need to dig deep in the last 20 minutes or this tie could be over tonight.
CHANCE! Mitroglou just came within inches of completing his hat-trick, after once again exposing a shambolic Romania offside line from a free kick. His drift towards the far post was picked out by Katsouranis but with time to pick his spot could only prod a low effort towards the corner without pace, allowing Lobont to scramble across and parry. How important that could be over the two legs!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Romania have made a double change in search of a goal which would give them every chance next Tuesday, with Lazar and Grozav replacing Bourceanu and Torje. Greece have also made a like-for-like swap in midfield, introducing Karagounis in place of Maniatis.
Karagounis quickly uses all his experience to win a free kick around 35 yards from goal, with Grozav lunging in out of frustration in his attempt to win back possession. Before that free kick can be taken Santos decides to swap Mitrouglou in attack, with the two-goal hero replaced by veteran Gekas.
Papastathopoulos smashes clear after winning another challenge with Stancu, as Greece look to close out the match late on. Salpingidis is then back to help out but coach Santos is urging his players forward on the touchline, wary of sitting deep and inviting pressure.
SUBSTITUTION: Greece make their final chance and introduce Samaris, bringing off skipper Katsouranis with the captain on a yellow card. Better safe than sorry from Santos late on.
Gekas has a late strike ruled out much to the relief of a Romania defence which once again failed to deal with an in-swinging free kick. Samaras was the player offside as Gekas picked up the piece with a neat rebound, denying the hosts what surely would have been a decisive late fourth.
RED CARD! Romania substitute Lazar has picked up a second yellow card in just a few minutes, leaving the visitors to see out stoppage time with 10 men. He can have little complaint either, hauling back Holebas with a needless shirt-pull in the full knowledge he had received a booking just moments before.
YELLOW CARD! Frustration has taken over for Romania as captain Rat gets booked for berating the fourth official. From the following free kick Lobont just turns a cross from Samaras past the post, with Samaras heading over from point-blank range when the corner kick comes in.
FULL-TIME Greece 3-1 Romania
Well it's very much advantage Greece at half-time of this two-legged tie, with Mitroglou doing the damage in a 3-1 win that the hosts probably merited on balance of play. Romania are left to rue some pretty poor defending, particularly from set pieces, but do have Tuesday's second leg yet to come in search of redemption.
That will just about bring a close to our live coverage from Athens, but be sure to stay with Sports Mole for comprehensive news and reaction from a busy night of international action. Thanks for your company and have a good weekend.
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