Greece have qualified for the World Cup after overcoming Romania 4-2 on aggregate, after a 1-1 draw in Bucharest this evening.
Kostas Mitroglu opened the scoring with his third goal of the tie in the first half, before Vasilis Torosidis's bizarre own goal gave the Romanians a lifeline in the second half.
However, they could not muster a comeback, and it was Greece who held on comfortably to confirm their attendance at next summer's tournament in Brazil
See how It all unfolded below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole’s live commentary of the World Cup qualifying playoff pitting Greece against Romania.
The Greeks are, of course, in a healthy position after the first leg on Friday, after winning 3-1 on home soil.
With this evening's kickoff the earliest of the playoff games, there is little to bring you in terms of updates, but England Under-21s have just taken a 3-0 lead against San Marino.
Kostas Mitroglou scored twice and Dimitris Salpingidis gave Fernando Santos’s side the victory in the first leg, although Romania have a lifeline after Bogdan Stancu scored to give the Romanians what could prove to be a crucial away goal.
A 2-0 win for the home side would be enough to see them through to next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, although the Greeks are stubborn opponents to score past.
Romania could welcome back Tottenham Hotspur defender Vlad Chiriches, after the centre-back had a face mask fitted after missing the first leg with a broken nose. We will of course have the team news to you when it becomes available.
There are two players who definitely won't feature though; captain Kostas Katsouranis is absent for the Greeks this evening, while Alexandru Bourceanu will miss out for the home side.
Tonight’s visitors have in-form Kostas Mitroglu in their ranks, and the Olympiacos striker was the scourge of the Romanians on Tuesday, bagging a brace.
The forward’s two goals took his tally to 22 in 20 games in all competitions since August, and he is looking to realise a “dream” with qualification this evening.
"We dream of participating in the World Cup finals in Brazil and will give it our all on the pitch," Mitroglu told reporters.
“We go to Bucharest as if the first leg finished 0-0. Our aim is to win again. We expect the Romanians to apply the pressure right from the start, looking for an early goal to throw us off balance with a packed stadium behind them. We respect them, but we're not afraid."
Coach Santos echoed Mitroglu’s comments as he pointed out that the result was not yet secure.
Santos said: “We are [only] at half time in the tie so there is still plenty of work to do and we'll have to show the same appetite and concentration in the second leg, so we don't throw away what we have built on in Athens."
The team news is just reaching us here, so without further ado...
ROMANIA: Tatarusanu; Matel, Goian, Rat, Chriches; Maxim, Tanase, Torje, Hoban; Stancu, Marica
GREECE: Karnezis; Papastathopoulos, Siovas, Torosidis, Holebas; Maniatis, Tziolis, Karagounis; Salpingidis, Samaras, Mitroglou
Romania coach Victor Piturca has claimed that he will go into hiding if his side fail to qualify this evening. The Eastern Europeans are looking to qualify for their first World Cup since France 1998.
He said: "If we manage to qualify, it will be extraordinary for Romanian football, and for myself. If we fail, you can forget about me for three months - I will hide in a monastery."
The two teams have just emerged from the tunnel, and we're running through the formalities of the handshakes and respective national anthems.
We're just minutes away from the game getting underway here.
There's a really good atmosphere inside the stadium in Bucharest. That will lift the home side, no doubt. The first goal is crucial this evening.
KICKOFF: We're up and running.
Romania have had all the possession and Torje wins a corner after a positive run and cross was blocked. Good start by the home side.
Torje again with a direct run sees him clip a low ball in, but it was cleared by the Greek defence. Could be a busy night for them though, Romania have started well.
Stancu drags it inside, and hits a left-footed effort from around 25 yards. It is a good effort, but it was always arching wide.
Greece have barely had a touch, and they'll need to exert themselves a little better and get on the ball if they're to keep their opponents at bay. They have a two-goal cushion of course, but it is risky tactics if they're content to stay like this.
Greece have barely had a touch, and they'll need to exert themselves a little better and get on the ball if they're to keep their opponents at bay. They have a two-goal cushion of course, but it is risky tactics if they're content to stay like this.
The Greeks do however specialise in defensive solidity. They have concede just one goal since they were beaten 3-1 by Bosnia in March.
Maxim's swinging freekick drops just in front of Karnezis. The keeper does well to gather, that could have been dangerous, but he made it look routine. Still nothing as an attacking force from the visitors though.
It's gone fairly quiet here. Greece are still happy to soak up the pressure, but there's nothing clear cut from Romania. The visitors will be happy with this at the minute.
CHANCE! Holebas intercepts an attack on the half way line and drives at the Romania defence. His left-footed effort was well-hit, but it was tipped away by Tatarusanu. Good counter-attack from the Greeks. It's clearly in their gameplan.
Stancu swivels on it around 25 yards out and hits a dipping effort at goal, it's on target but the keeper holds it. Good effort from Stancu though.
Romania 0-1 Greece (Kostas Mitroglu)
The striker beats the offside and side foots it home with a left foot finish. The Romanian defenders were nowhere to be seen. It's his 22 goal in as many appearances. Surely that is the result beyond doubt now? Romania need four to win now.
Rat dummies a cross and then centres it with his other foot, but it is easily cleared and Mitroglu wins a freekick on the half way to give his side some breathing space.
BOOKING Mitroglu was booked for his goal celebration.
I was about to suggest that the fight had been taken out of the Romanians, but they're coming back with some sort of attack. Maxim wins a corner down the right.
Tziolis's raking cross-field pass is just too long, which is a shame, because it would have been a superb pass. Romania are down the other end, but they cannot carve out anything significant, Greece have been resolute in their defensive ranks this evening.
Torosidis swings in a low cross wide right, but it never gets past the near post and it is easily dealt with by the Romania defence.
Holebas receives it wide left and jinks past one tackle with a nutgmeg, but he is forced out of it and Romania come away with it. A goal before half time would be big for the home side if they can muster it. So far though, it hasn't looked likely.
A high cross escapes Samaras but Maniatis meets it on the edge of the box but his left-footed effort doesn't trouble the goalkeeper.
OFFISDE: Samaras nearly makes it 2-0 after Karagounis's freekick reaches him with a free header. However the Celtic striker is offside. It was saved anyway by the goalkeeper, but had he not been flagged, he surely would have scored.
Well, for all their early territorial dominance, Romania have struggled to break Greece down and they only have themselves to blame for going in one goal down.
It was a simple clip over the top that released Mitroglu and he put it away with minimal fuss. Romania will have a lot to do this second half. Two minutes added on here first...
CHANCE! Best chance of the half for the Romanians. Marica gets it just outside the box wide right, he takes it into the area and fires it over. He wants a corner, but isn't getting it.
HALF TIME: Romania 0-1 Greece
Well that would have been exactly how the Greeks planned it. Soaked up the pressure and hit them on the break, and Kostas Mitroglu's goal has surely gave his side the right to play in Brazil at next summer's World Cup.
Greece have solid at the back, but they haven't been put under too much pressure from the home side. Marica's chance at the end of the half was the closest they have come to scoring, but even that was not a golden opportunity.
UPDATE: Just to bring you up to speed on results around the rest of the continent this evening: Croatia are 1-0 up against Iceland, while Sweden and Portugal are currently goalless. Scotland beat Norway 1-0 in Molde and Netherlands and Colombia are goalless. Republic of Ireland are also 0-0 away to Poland. England's Under-21s strolled to 9-0 win against San Marino. All other games kick off at 8pm, while South Africa are 0-0 with Spain at home.
Back to this evening's game in Bucharest, and Romania need a minor miracle this second half. They certainly need to start creating more. They need three goals in the second half, or they will be at home watching next summer's tournament.
It's difficult to see anything but a Greek progression here this evening, but if Romania are to muster a comeback, then we're set for a really entertaining second half. We shall see...
The two teams are back out from the tunnel, and we're just moments away from the retsart.
KICKOFF: And here we go again in Bucharest...
Romania are going to have to go for a gung-ho approach here, so hopefully we'll see more an attacking threat from them this half. Not much happeneing in the first few minutes though.
Wonderful ball from Maxim finds Torje on the right, but the winger cannot get past Holebas. The left back did well to stand his ground and win the ball back for his side.
A rare opening for Romania is wasted, it's three-against-three 25 yards out but the wrong pass is selected and Torje again loses out. Again it's timid play from the home side. There's no aggression in their attacking play.
Torje feeds Matel who is storming up from the right, but Samaras is back to put in a good sliding tackle to win the ball. The home crowd want a foul, but it was well won by the Celtic man.
GOAL! Romania 1-1 Greece (Torosidis OG)
My word, that is a bizarre own goal. As Greece try to clear their lines, the ball ricochets off Torosidis and loops beyond the goalkeeper. Strange goal, and it maybe the luck the Romanians needed. Game on, dare I say?
That goal has certainly lifted the crowd. Holebas goes into the book for a poor challenge on Maxim. He went straight in from the back
Romania have a corner, and Samaras clears, but the home side keep the pressure on and win another corner. The crowd are roaring their team on now, but the corner goes behind for a goal kick.
CHANCE! Hoban dances inside one challenge and strikes a low drive at goal, but Karnezis parries wide. A lot better from Romania. They will have to keep this up though. Two more goals to force extra time, three will see them through.
Tanase hits a long-range effort and he wants a freekick for handball. Nothing do though and Greece escape with it. They don't hold onto it for long though and Tanase wins a freekick on the edge of box for Romania.
The freekick comes in, but it is too high and never really troubled the goalkeeper. Still, this is sustained pressure from Romania, and it is exactly what will be required for the rest of the game.
Samaras hurdles a challenge on the touchline and carries it 25-30 yards, and seems to run away from it on the edge of the box. He is crowded out of it and Romania bring it forward.
Again, it's nice build-up play from Romania, but there's a lack of cutting edge which has been their undoing this evening. They have 20 minutes left to rescue this tie...
Case in point! Maxim with a lovely dummy frees Matel on the right and as he cuts it back it's too short and easily cleared. They have got into decent positions this evening, but have offered little once they get there. Vyntra comes on for Torosidis for Greece.
SUB: Karagounis makes way for Samaris as Greece make another substitute.
Surely a foul there, but the referee says 'no'. Matel goes down under a heavy challenge from Samaras on the edge of the box, but the official waves play on. The home support are furious.
A corner is easily cleared again from Greece and they nearly make the most of the counter, but Romania win it back and waste it a chance with men still forward. Nicolai pings it in hopefully from range and it doesn't trouble the keeper.
UPDATE: Per Mertesacker has given Germany the lead against England.
SUB Manolas has come on for Siovas for Greece's final change.
Well, the atmosphere has died out a bit in the stadium and a memorable comeback appears unlikely now. However, we've nearly seen a second own goal as Vytra slices a clearance onto his own net.
Stancu with an effort that encapsulates their performance this evening. A nice through ball releases Stancu on the edge of the box and his curled effort goes nowhere near the desired spot, and it trickles down the keepers centre. Easily held.
SUB Grozav is on for Stanu for the Romanians.
Maxim with a few step-overs nearly gets him free on the right, but Holebas puts the tackle in and it bounces off Maxim for a goalkick. Good defending from Holebas. He has enjoyed a good night's work.
Well, Greece can begin their preparations now for next summer. Romania look down and out and in truth they have never really looked like getting a foothold in this tie.
Greece have a corner in injury time and they're taking their time, but they won't sling it in. They have kept it in the corner and lose it by conceding a frekick.
There will be four minutes added on here.
Samaras escapes down the left but shows no intent to release a teammate, he drags it into the corner and wins a throw in.
UPDATE: Cristiano Ronaldo has given Portugal the lead against Sweden.
FULL TIME: Romania 1-1 Greece. Greece qualify for the World Cup
Well, the deserved team go through. It was not a classic by any stretch but the Greeks did enough to see off their opponents comfortably over the two legs. We will be seeing them next summer in Brazil.
There was plenty of huff and puff from the Romanians, but little quality up front and it has cost them this evening. Even their goal was in bizarre circumstances, as a Greek clearance hit Torosidis before looping in. Greece are worthy winners over the two legs.
Well, that's all from me, I hope you have enjoyed the commentary, bye for now.
Written by
Paul Gorst
Paul Gorst
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