World cup qualifiers – group stage – matchday 8

Kicking off matchday 8 of the qualifiers for UK teams, Wales were involved in a tight game against Estonia on Monday.

Kieffer Moore was the difference as his early goal in the first half was enough to earn a shaky Wales side all 3 points. Right from the first half Wales were attack-minded but looked defensively insecure. The defence got increasingly shakier as the game progressed, with Estonia unlucky not to score chances through Erik Sorga and Mattias Kait.

Wales finish their qualifiers with home matches against Belarus and Belgium next month.

All kicking off at 7:45pm on Tuesday, England hosted Hungary, Scotland travelled to the Faroe Islands, and Northern Ireland travelled to Bulgaria.

Starting with England, who beat Hungary 4-0 when the sides met last month. This time the affair was a much more frustrating affair, with Hungary holding on for a 1-1 draw at Wembley. The visitors took the lead in the first half after Luke sure raised a high boot, resulting in a penalty which was scored by Roland Sallai in the 24th minute, with England replying soon after through John Stones with a back-post finish. This could have been made 2-1 when Raheem Sterling struck the post on half time.

Earlier, Hungary fans booed the England side for taking a knee, also holding up a banner against the gesture for equality, fought with police in the stands, and released a flare when they scored, with one arrest being made after comments made towards a steward, Metropolitan Police said.

Onto Scotland, who left it late to secure a 1-0 win against the Faroe Islands to keep their world cup qualifying hope on track. Lyndon Dykes had an effort that managed to salvage the win for Scotland, giving Scotland a 4-point cushion in second place in group F, meaning that a win in Moldova next month would secure second place and a place into the play-offs.

Last but not least, Northern Ireland were left with an upset in their trip to Bulgaria, with their 1-0 half time lead from a Josh Magennis rebound goal, which was initially ruled offside before VAR checked and overruled the linesman’s decision.

Nothing less than a win was enough for Northern Ireland, and with a 1-0 lead, and a very strong attacking performance, things were looking good for Ian Baraclough’s side.

However, coming out after half time, Bulgaria were a whole new challenge and Northern Ireland couldn’t deal with them, and soon enough that 1-0 lead turned into 1-1, and then not long after that, 2-1. Nedelev firing both in, with the second being a rocket that Bailey Peacock-Farrell stood no chance at saving. Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, this second half resulted in their qualifying hopes being brought to an end.