Iceland inflicted Germany’s first tournament qualifying defeat since 1998, while Denmark’s ongoing dispute meant they did not even travel for their fixture in Sweden.
Thursday 19th October
FIFA 2019 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
GROUP 2 – Belarus 1-2 Scotland
GROUP 4 – Hungary 2-2 Croatia
GROUP 7 – Serbia 2-0 Israel
Friday 20th October
GROUP 4 – Sweden P-P Denmark
GROUP 5 – Germany 2-3 Iceland, Slovenia 0-4 Czech Republic
GROUP 6 – Belgium 3-2 Romania
Brynjarsdóttir brace beats Germany
Germany’s last qualifying loss came against Norway, since when they had been able to boast an incredible record of 60 victories from 61 qualifying matches.
Iceland ended that run as Dagný Brynjarsdóttir bagged a brace in Wiesbaden, with Elín Jensen also on target for the visitors. Germany scored through Alexandra Popp and an 88th-minute effort from substitute Lea Schüller.
But it’s currently Czech Republic that lead Group 5 after a 4-0 win in Slovenia, Petra Divišová netting twice in the first half, Tereza Kožárová and Lucie Voňková later adding one each.
Denmark await disciplinary outcome
Drama off the pitch dominated, as Euro 2017 finalists Denmark called off their match in Sweden, due to an ongoing financial dispute with the players.
The Danes are due in Croatia on Tuesday for another qualifier, while the DBU awaits a disciplinary ruling that could potentially threaten their World Cup qualification hopes.
Wullaert the winner for Belgium
Belgium made it back to back wins at the start of their campaign in Group 6 but were indebted to an 87th-minute Tessa Wullaert winner over Romania.
Janice Cayman scored twice in a seven-minute spell but Cosmina Duşa swiftly replied for the Romanians, who received all the game’s five cautions.
Laura Rus levelled the scores 8 minutes after the restart, before Wullaert struck to seal all three points for the hosts.
Serbia win despite sending off
Serbia secured their first three Group 7 points with a 2-0 win over Israel, where all the drama came in the first 17 minutes.
Tijana Filipović and Nevena Damjanović had the Serbians 2-0 up in 13 minutes but their lead was put at risk when Jelena Čanković was sent off 4 minutes later.
Hungary off the mark
Contrastingly, it was a match of late goals in Group 4, as Hungary and Croatia both scored in stoppage-time for a 2-2 tie.
Henrietta Csiszár broke the deadlock for the Hungarians on 75 minutes Sandra Žigić soon equalised.
Isabella Dujmenovic then gave Croatia a 91st-minute lead, only for Csiszár to rescue a point for Hungary 3 minutes later.
Cracking start for Kerr
Scotland came from behind to beat Belarus 2-1, with Jane Ross levelling before forcing an own-goal.
Photo: ksi.is
