DUBLIN: Wout Weghorst came off the bench to score a second-half winner as the Netherlands fought back from conceding an early goal to beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in their European Championship Group ‘B’ qualifier on Sunday.

The Irish went ahead after four minutes when Adam Idah converted a penalty but the Dutch won a spot kick of their own which Cody Gakpo tucked away for the 19th-minute equaliser.

Weghorst grabbed a second goal for the visitors at the Aviva Stadium after 56 minutes to move the Netherlands up to second in the standings on nine points, six behind leaders France but with a game in a hand. Greece are also on nine points after beating Gibraltar 5-0 at home on Sunday.

Defeat for the Irish leaves them having lost four of their five qualifiers and with little chance of qualifying for next years finals in Germany, and with the future of coach Stephen Kenny in doubt.

A horrific defensive mistake inside the first minute allowed Chiedozie Ogbene a chance to put Ireland into the lead but he hesitated too long and his effort was blocked.

Two minutes later, Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk gave away a penalty for a clumsy handball as he attempted to clear a corner and Idah put the home side ahead.

They might have made it 2-0 in the 13th minute but Shane Duffy missed a headed chance at the back post from Ogbenes cross.

Denzel Dumfries broke through the middle in search of an equaliser in the 18th minute and had his feet taken out from under him by Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, handing Gakpo the spot kick which he tucked away just wide of the goalkeeper.

Bazunu made two key saves from Donyell Malen before the break but had no chance of stopping Weghorst, who had come on at the break, when he swung his feet on to Dumfriess header to score from close range.

Dumfries had provided assists on all of the Dutch sides three goals against Greece in Eindhoven last Thursday and was again pivotal to their success on Sunday.

In Tirana, Poland’s bid to qualify for a fifth straight European Championship suffered another blow with a 2-0 loss.

Albania moved to the top of Group ‘E’, two points above the Czech Republic and surprise package Moldova, with Poland two points further behind in fourth.

Jasir Asani sent Albania on their way to a massive victory with a left-footed strike from outside the area.

Mirlind Daku secured the three points by adding a second goal just after the hour mark.

The other game in the group saw Moldova continue their remarkable bid to qualify with a 1-0 win over the Faroe Islands in their first qualifier.

Meanwhile, Denmark, semi-finalists at Euro 2020, took a big step towards qualification from Group ‘H’ as Pierre-Emile Hoj­bjerg’s 86th-minute strike grabbed a 1-0 away win over Finland. The Danes jumped a point above their beaten opponents into the top two, level with Slovenia who saw off San Marino 4-0.

Kazakhstan kept their bid to reach a maiden major tournament alive with a 1-0 win against Northern Ireland.

Elsewhere, Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a first-half hat-trick as Serbia beat Lithuania 3-1 to stay on course for next year’s finals in Germany.

Serbia sit second in Group ‘G’, two points ahead of Mon­tenegro as Stevan Jovetic’s 96th-minute winner sealed a 2-1 victory over Bulgaria.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2023