AFRICA:

Both of the early two-legged ties are now 1-1 with 45 minutes to play.

Senegal is 1-0 up on the match hosting Egypt on a 4th minute goal off a set piece. The match has been marred by a number of stupidities, apparently. This tie is completely drawn, with no away goals at all.

Nigeria hosts Ghana, and that tie is 1-1 after a VAR penalty and a VAR goal refusal for the hosts. Ghana leads the tie, because the away goals rule is in effect.

Mike

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 11:04:35 AM UTC-7, Michael Falkner wrote:
> Senegal is 1-0 up on the match hosting Egypt on a 4th minute goal off a set piece. The match has been marred by a number of stupidities, apparently. This tie is completely drawn, with no away goals at all.

Several of the stupidities is that there are a number of fans in the stands with laser pointers all trying to get the Egyptian keeper. As he ran to his second-half position, I saw at least FOUR lasers darting about.

Mike

AFRICA:

The laser-light show in Senegal is headed for extra time, as Senegal beats Egypt 1-0. But with no away goals, the 1-1 tie score means we go another 30.

Nigeria has less than five minutes to get a goal, or they will lose on away goals. The game and tie with Ghana are both 1-1.

The other three second legs begin in about 35 minutes.

EUROPE:

The pod finals between Portugal and North Macedonia and Poland and Sweden are about 10 minutes in -- no score in either.

Mike

AFRICA:

Ghana is the first African side to qualify for Qatar 2022 and the 21st overall. 1-1 draw in Nigeria, Ghana advance on away goals.

Massive cynical timewasting by Ghana over the last 20 minutes paid off.

Senegal and Egypt are in extra time after splitting two home goals in the 180 minutes of the tie.

About 30 minutes to the other three second legs beginning.

EUROPE:

POR-MKD and POL-SWE both about 20 minutes in, single-leg pod finals -- no score in either match.

Mike

AFRICA:

Still nothing to decide in Senegal. They've still got 15 to try to decide it before penalties. SEN 1-1 EGY 2ET

In about 15 minutes:

Algeria has an away goal on Cameroon.

Tunisia has an away goal on Mali.

And Morocco is 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- DR Congo must score, Morocco does have an away goal.

EUROPE:

POR 0-0 MKD 31'

POL 0-0 SWE 30'

Mike

EUROPE:

Portugal have scored. Bruno Fernandes has put the hosts in front 1-0 in the 32nd over North Macedonia, now in the 35th.

Mike

AFRICA:

And the worst nightmare has come true. Senegal and Egypt to penalties with a green laser light show which might well decide a World Cup berth.

Morocco-DR Congo, Tunisia-Mali, and Algeria-Cameroon are underway.

EUROPE:

Halftime in the pod finals:

POR 1-0 MKD

POL 0-0 SWE

Mike

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 3:37:05 PM UTC-4, Michael Falkner wrote:
> AFRICA:
>
> And the worst nightmare has come true. Senegal and Egypt to penalties with a green laser light show which might well decide a World Cup berth.

Egypt misses three of its four penalties (including Salah, who this time took the first penalty), Senegal (who only scored 3 out of 5) advances.

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 2:55:00 PM UTC-5, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 3:37:05 PM UTC-4, Michael Falkner wrote:
> > AFRICA:
> >
> > And the worst nightmare has come true. Senegal and Egypt to penalties with a green laser light show which might well decide a World Cup berth.
> Egypt misses three of its four penalties (including Salah, who this time took the first penalty), Senegal (who only scored 3 out of 5) advances.
Was that the worst penalty shoot out ever?

AFRICA:

Senegal have disgracefully joined Ghana in the Qatar 2022 field, a litter of fan misconduct with laser pointers littering the stands aiding in a 3-1 penalty shootout win over Egypt after nothing was decided.

The final insult came when a smoke bomb or flare was added for Senegal's final goal to advance them to Qatar 2022.

WHAT A MOTHERFUCKING DISGRACE. I don't give a fuck if that's "common" in African soccer.

Azz-Eddine Ounahi has scored for Morocco to give them a 1-0 home lead in the 25th over DR Congo. Tie is 2-1 to Morocco with a Moroccan away goal.

ALG 0-0 CMR 25' (1-0 agg., ALG has an away goal)

TUN 0-0 MLI 25' (1-1 agg, TUN has an away goal)

EUROPE:

POR 1-0 MKD 52'

POL 0-0 SWE 47'

Mike

EUROPE:

Lewandowski has converted a penalty to put Poland in front 1-0 in their pod final with Sweden.

POL 1-0 SWE 53'

POR 1-0 MKD 60'

AFRICA:

Cameroon have squared the tie with Algeria -- Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored in the 22nd minute -- it's an away goal apiece in the tie.

ALG 0-1 CMR 28 (1-1 agg, 1-1 away goals)

MAR 1-0 COD 28 (2-1 agg, 1-0 MAR away goals)

TUN 0-0 MLI 34 (1-0 agg, 1-0 TUN away goals)

Mike

EUROPE:

Fernandes has potted a second for Portugal, all but assuring their advancement to Qatar 2022.

POR 2-0 MKD 86'

Piotr Zielenski has all but punched Poland's ticket to the field.

POL 2-0 SWE 81'

AFRICA:

A riot has broken out inside the National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria. Irate Nigerian fans angered at the elimination of the Super Eagles.

Significant first-half stoppage time in the three remaining African situations...

ALG 0-1 CMR HT (1-1 agg, 1-1 away goals)

MAR 2-0 COD HT (3-1 agg, 1-0 MAR away goals)

Tarik Tissoudali doubles the Moroccan advantage in the SEVENTH MINUTE of first-half stoppage time! They apparently gave at least TWELVE MINUTES. Apparently multiple high-maintenance injuries in the first half.

TUN 0-0 MLI HT (1-0 agg, 1-0 TUN away goals)

Mike

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 9:04:39 PM UTC+1, Michael Falkner wrote:
> EUROPE:
> POR 1-0 MKD 60'

Macedonia are doing a good job of completely wasting their win over Italy.

Shame, I'm all for the underdog but they go and deny us an Italy - Portugal "super final" and then don't bother to show up.

RM

Quoting Michael Falkner in rec.sport.soccer:

>POL 1-0 SWE 53'

Clear pen, but Swedish inefficiency has lost us the ticket to Qatar.

But please scrap this format that allows Poland to play at home and only
allow 250 Swedes in.

--
Manchester United FC - CHAMPIONS
Latest: England '13 (20th) Europa '17, UEFA '08, World '08

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 1:31:34 PM UTC-7, Real Mardin wrote:

> Macedonia are doing a good job of completely wasting their win over Italy.
>
> Shame, I'm all for the underdog but they go and deny us an Italy - Portugal "super final" and then don't bother to show up.

Margin of error is so small for a lesser team like that in this situation, and they paid for it full square.

-----------------------------------

EUROPE:

Congratulations to Portugal and Poland, the 11th and 12 European and 23rd and 24th full qualifiers for Qatar 2022

POR 2-0 MKD FT

POL 2-0 SWE FT

AFRICA:

ALG 0-1 CMR 48' (1-1 agg, 1-1 away goals)

MAR 2-0 COD HT (3-1 agg, 1-0 MAR away goals)

TUN 0-0 MLI 50' (1-0 agg, 1-0 TUN away goals)

Mike

AFRICA:

Congratulations to Tunisia and Morocco, the 25th and 26th qualifiers.

TUN 0-0 MLI FT (TUN wins on agg 1-0)

After the ref completely lost the plot at least twice...

DR Congo got an away goal -- after they gave up 4 to Morocco.

MAR 4-1 COD 90+2 (MAR will win the agg something of the order of 5-2)

And we have more extra time:

ALG 0-1 CMR FT. (1-1 agg, 1-1 away goals, ET to come)

Mike

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 9:40:48 PM UTC+1, anders t wrote:
> Quoting Michael Falkner in rec.sport.soccer:
>
> >POL 1-0 SWE 53'
>
> Clear pen, but Swedish inefficiency has lost us the ticket to Qatar.
>
> But please scrap this format that allows Poland to play at home and only
> allow 250 Swedes in.
>

Given the rest of the qualifying process is based on home and away fixtures it's illogical and frankly unsporting to decide the playoffs on a single match with one side having home advantage.

Although frankly, who wants to go to Qatar anyway?

RM

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 4:45:32 PM UTC-5, Real Mardin wrote:
> On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 9:40:48 PM UTC+1, anders t wrote:
> > Quoting Michael Falkner in rec.sport.soccer:
> >
> > >POL 1-0 SWE 53'
> >
> > Clear pen, but Swedish inefficiency has lost us the ticket to Qatar.
> >
> > But please scrap this format that allows Poland to play at home and only
> > allow 250 Swedes in.
> >
> Given the rest of the qualifying process is based on home and away fixtures it's illogical and frankly unsporting to decide the playoffs on a single match with one side having home advantage.
>
> Although frankly, who wants to go to Qatar anyway?
>
>
> RM
Are you Italian?

AFRICA:

Wow.

The final spot is decided on a 124th minute stoppage time goal by Karl Toko Ekambi, six minutes after Ahmed Tomba had put Algeria within about five minutes or so of qualification with a 118th minute tiebreaker.

The away goals rule carries to extra time, so Ekambi's goal is the tie-winner, the tie ends 2-2, Cameroon qualifies and eliminates Algeria on 2-1 away goals.

Mike

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 6:48:47 PM UTC-5, Michael Falkner wrote:
> AFRICA:
>
> Wow.
>
> The final spot is decided on a 124th minute stoppage time goal by Karl Toko Ekambi, six minutes after Ahmed Tomba had put Algeria within about five minutes or so of qualification with a 118th minute tiebreaker.
>
> The away goals rule carries to extra time, so Ekambi's goal is the tie-winner, the tie ends 2-2, Cameroon qualifies and eliminates Algeria on 2-1 away goals.
>
> Mike
This was the only drama of the last rounds. The game was pretty piss poor until the second half of ET