Late goals secure Euro draws for Netherlands, Italy
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The Netherlands and Italy needed late goals to earn draws in Euro 2016 qualifying on Saturday, while Gareth Bale inspired Wales to a fine win in Israel that left it top of their group.
The Dutch were heading to a first competitive defeat on home soil since October 2000 after Burak Yilmaz put Turkey ahead in the first half in Amsterdam, but a 92nd-minute shot by captain Wesley Sneijder deflected into the net off Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to spare Oranje blushes and secure a 1-1 draw.
A defeat might have made Dutch coach Guus Hiddink’s position untenable, and even the draw leaves last year’s World Cup semifinalist in third place in qualifying Group A, five points behind second-placed Iceland and two points ahead of Turkey.
“It wasn’t a bad match, but not our best either,” said Hiddink. “A defeat would have been catastrophic but the (equalizing) goal keeps us in the running.”
Only the top two in each group qualify for next year’s finals in France, along with the best third-place finisher.
The Czech Republic leads the section, although it required a last-minute goal by substitute Vaclav Pilar just to earn a 1-1 draw with Latvia in Prague.
Antonio Conte’s Italy is in a rather more comfortable position than the Netherlands and remains unbeaten in Group H after coming back to draw 2-2 with Bulgaria in Sofia.
Yordan Minev’s early own goal gave the Azzurri the lead, but Ivelin Popov and Ilian Micanski both scored for Bulgaria to turn the game on its head.
The hosts looked to be heading for a win in Ivaylo Petev’s first game as coach but Brazilian-born debutante Edercame off the bench to save a point for Italy with a fine strike with six minutes left.
Nevertheless, it is Croatia which tops the group by two points from the Euro 2012 runner-up after a romping to a 5-1 win at home to Norway.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid winger Bale scored a second-half brace in Haifa as Wales cruised to a 3-0 win in Israel that put it top of Group B.
Chris Coleman’s side has won three and drawn two of five matches in the group and leads the way with 11 points, two ahead of Israel.
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