Dutch relief as Italy's Chiellini stars and Belgium run riot
Giorgio Chiellini stole the show in Italy's win over Azerbaijan while the Netherlands escaped acute embarrassment and Belgium went on a goal blitz in UEFO EURO 2016 qualifying on Friday. New Holland coach Guus Hiddink was heading for a second successive defeat after Kazakhstan, ranked 127th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, took an early first half lead in Amsterdam
But Klaas Jan Huntelaar cancelled out Russian-born defender Rinat Abdulin's shock 17th minute opener with Ibrahim Afellay and Robin van Persie from the penalty spot ensuring potential disaster was averted. The Dutch are placed third in Group A, three points behind the Czech Republic, who followed up their opening win against the FIFA World Cup™ third-placed side with a 2-1 defeat of Turkey, and Iceland, 3-0 winners in Latvia.
In Palermo, Chiellini scored all the goals in Italy's 2-1 win over Azerbaijan to push the Azzurri on top of Group H on goal difference from Croatia, who saw off Bulgaria 1-0. Chiellini broke the deadlock one minute from the interval, only to negate that effort with an own goal in the 77th minute.
His journey from hero back to villain back to hero was completed five minutes later when securing the winner at the end of a game where he had virtually matched his goal tally of the past seven years. The Juventus defender became the first player to score a goal and an own goal in a EURO qualifier since Fernando Hierro for Spain in 1999.
Norway are lying third in Group H after a 3-0 win in Malta with the goals coming from two players from the English Championship - Cardiff City teenager Mats Moller Daehli and Blackburn Rovers forward Joshua King, who got a double.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale was unable to work his magic for Wales as Chris Coleman's side were held to a goalless draw by Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cardiff. After an opening win over Andorra, Wales were left top of Group B, ahead of favourites Belgium, who got their EURO 2016 campaign up and running with a 6-0 rout of minnows Andorra.
Israel beat Cyprus 2-1 in Group B's other game in Nicosia and Croatia beat Bulgaria 1-0. Elsewhere, Iceland beat Latvia 3-0 and Czech Republic took down Turkey 2-1.
Poland stun Germany, Ireland rout Gibraltar
Poland recorded a historic first win over Germany with a hard-earned 2-0 victory in their UEFA EURO 2016 Group D qualifier in Warsaw.
Poland were not to be denied victory, though, as substitute Sebastian Mila slotted in a second with two minutes left. Poland have a 100 per cent record in the pool along with the Republic of Ireland, who built on last month's win over Georgia with a 7-0 rout of UEFA's newest member Gibraltar.
Robbie Keane plundered a hat-trick for the Irish, scoring three times inside 12 first-half minutes before he and his team-mates had even broken sweat. James McClean then added a second-half double, either side of keeper Jordan Perez's own goal, and Wes Hoolahan capped a fine individual display with the seventh with 59 minutes gone.
Scotland picked up their first three qualifying points with a nervy 1-0 win over Georgia at Ibrox. The home side were undoubtedly the better team but it took a 27th minute own goal from defender Akaki Khubutiato bring victory to Gordon Strachan's side.
Northern Ireland are the unlikely pacesetters in Group F after picking up their second successive win in qualifying against the Faroe Islands. First-half finishes from Gareth McAuley and Kyle Lafferty eased them to a 2-0 victory to give Michael O'Neill's side their best start to a campaign since 1968.
Finland lie two points behind the leaders after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Greece in Helsinki. Nikolaos Karelis fired the Greeks in front after 24 minutes but Jarkko Hurme secured the point that ensured Finland remain unbeaten in qualifying.
A brilliant late free-kick from captain Balazs Dzsudzsak earned Hungary a 1-1 draw against Romania, who join the Finns on four points.
Despite going behind on the stroke of half-time to a well-taken goal from Raul Rusescu, Hungary showed great resilience to battle back into the match and were rewarded with eight minutes left when Dzsudzsak curled in a superbly-executed 25-yard free-kick.
Denmark lead the way in Group I but it needed a late goal from Lasse Vibe to earn a 1-1 draw in Albania. Ermir Lenjani's strike seven minutes before the interval looked to have earned the home side the points until Vibe popped up nine minutes from time to rescue Morten Olsen's men.
Zoran Tosic earned Serbia their first point of the qualifying campaign with a last-gasp equaliser against Armenia. Defender Robert Arzumanyan had put Armenia ahead but Marcos Pizzelli saw a late penalty saved before Tosic hit a 90th-minute leveller for Dick Advocaat's side.
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