Iceland defeats Turkey in 2018 World Cup qualifier

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Iceland beat Turkey 2-0 on Oct. 9 in a 2018 World Cup qualifier match at the Laugardalsvollur Stadium in Reykjavik.

Iceland took the lead in the 42nd minute when Ömer Toprak scored an own goal. The hosts effectively ended the contest just two minutes later when Alfred Finnbogason scored a second.

The match was Turkey’s first defeat in three World Cup qualifiers, but the team now sits in fourth spot in the group, five points behind the joint leaders, Croatia and Iceland.

Only the top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup in Russia, while eight of the nine best runners-up will advance to a playoff.

The reverse is likely to increase the pressure on Turkish coach Fatih Terim, who has come in for criticism for his high wages and move to drop former stalwarts of the team, including Barcelona’s Arda Turan and Galatasaray’s Selçuk İnan.

In the other matches in Group I on Oct. 9, Ukraine beat debutants Kosovo 3-0, while Croatia edged Finland away 1-0.