Kieffer Moore goal gives Wales a lift in quest for Qatar qualification
Wales will be seeded for the World Cup play-offs after Kieffer Moore’s equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against Belgium in Cardiff.
Moore struck just after the half-hour mark to cancel out Kevin De Bruyne’s 12th-minute opener for the visitors.
Already guaranteed a play-off spot through their Nations League results, Rob Page’s Wales were determined to secure a home tie in March by finishing second in Group E.
Oh, and we're seeded.
These players 🥰#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/01HxHDLRAo
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) November 16, 2021
The point against Belgium – already confirmed as through to Qatar 2022 as table-toppers – was enough to ensure Wales finish above the Czech Republic, who won 2-0 at home against Slovakia thanks to goals from Jakub Brabec and Jan Sykora. The Czechs still advance to the play-offs, due to their Nations League exploits.
Turkey needed to win by four goals in Montenegro to deny Wales a home tie but could only manage a 2-1 victory.
That was in Group G, in which Holland secured top spot following a 2-0 win in Rotterdam over Norway, with Steven Berwijn and Memphis Depay scoring late goals.
🤩 THAT 𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃 FEELING 🤩#WCQ #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Qgbm6Z9w2J
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 16, 2021
Turkey, who came from behind to win with goals from Kerem Aturkoglu and Orkun Kokcu, advanced to the play-offs as they claimed second spot while Norway missed out.
Also in Group G, Latvia came from behind to win 3-1 away against Gibraltar.
In Group D, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe were on the scoresheet as France, who had already qualified for Qatar as pool winners, won 2-0 in Finland.
The Finns were replaced in second place by Ukraine after they won 2-0 away against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Artem Dovbyk netting.