Italy’s Eder provided the leveller as the Azzurri clawed back for a draw in Bulgaria.
Italy and Netherlands both fought back with late equalisers but settled for surprise draws, while Gareth Bale was again Wales’ hero in European Championship qualifying on Saturday.
Eder’s beautiful debut goal for Italy came late and helped earn a draw to increase their unbeaten run in qualification competitions to 45.
After a week of talk over foreign-born players in the Italy squad, Brazilian-born Eder curled home the equaliser for Italy, who salvaged a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria.
All of the other goals came in the opening 20 minutes. An own goal by Iordan Minev had given Italy an early 1-0 lead, but a long shot from Ivelin Popov and a diving header by Ilijan Micanski put Bulgaria ahead.
Sampdoria stiker Eder, making his debut for the Azzurri, came on as a substitute for Simone Zaza and leveled the score in the 84th minute with a curling shot from 20 yards.
Netherlands’s last-gasp strike sees them earn a draw at home against Turkey.
Wesley Sneijder scored on a deflected shot in stoppage time to give Netherlands a 1-1 draw at home with Turkey.
Burak Yilmaz’s goal in the first half but the visitors ahead, and the Dutch appeared second best until Sneijder’s late effort took a deflection off Klaas Jan Huntelaar in the second minute of stoppage time.
Gareth Bale inspired Wales to a convincing 3-nil victory over Israel, leapfrogging the hosts at the top of Group B in the process.
ESPN FC’s Stevie Nicol says Gareth Bale is putting Wales in prime position to qualify for the 2016 European Championships.
ESPN FC’s Stevie Nicol says Gareth Bale is putting Wales in prime position to qualify for the 2016 European Championships.
Gareth Bale scored two goals and set up another as Wales won 3-0 at Israel.
Aaron Ramsey received a pass from Bale and opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.
After the break, Bale flat-footed Israel keeper Ofir Marciano with a curling free kick into the top corner, a minute before Israel’s Eitan Tibi picked up a second yellow card for a foul on the Real Madrid man.
Ramsey set up Bale for his second in the 77th minute as Wales went top of Group B and dealt Israel their first defeat of the campaign.
Belgium picked apart Cyprus at home with goals from Benteke, Fellaini, Hazard and Batshuayi.
Also in Group B, a Marouane Fellaini brace and further strikes from Christian Benteke, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi earned Belgium a 5-0 victory over Cyprus.
Fellaini and Benteke struck in the first half to give Belgium a commanding 2-0 lead before the break, before Fellaini, Hazard and Batshuayi netted in the second to complete a commanding victory for Marc Wilmots’ side.
Edin Dzeko scored a hat-trick to guide his side to an easy 3-nil victory over Andorra.
Edin Dzeko recorded a hat trick by scoring all of Bosnia-Herzegovina‘s goals in a 3-0 win at Andorra.
Dzeko fired in his first from the top of the 18 in the 13th minute. Shortly after half-time he tapped in a low cross from Senad Lulic, and he completed his hat trick after the hour mark after another Lulic assist.
Vaclav Pilar breaks Latvia’s hearts at the death by scoring the equalising goal for Czech Republic.
In Group A, Czech Republic also dropped their first points in qualifying as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Latvia.
Aleksei Visnakovs opened the scoring for Latvia after half an hour and the hosts could not respond until the 90th minute when Vaclav Pilar salvaged a point.
Kazakhstan remain at the bottom of Group A while Iceland stay in second.
Eidur Gudjohnsen celebrated his return from international retirement by setting Iceland on their way to a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan.
The Bolton striker opened the scoring before Birkir Bjarnason’s double completed a comfortable win.
Croatia sealed a comfortable 5-1 win over Norway to continue their fine form in their European Championship qualifying campaign.
In Group H, Croatia dominated Norway 5-1 despite Vedran Corluka picking up two yellow cards in a five-minute span in the second half.
Goals from Marcelo Brozovic, Ivan Perisic and Ivica Olic put Croatia comfortably ahead, and Tarik Elyounoussi missed a penalty for Norway before Corluka was sent off.
Alexander Tettey got one back for the visitors, but Croatia’s 10 men found two more goals in the final stages to complete the rout.
Azerbaijan handle their business and earn their first points in Group H of Euro 2016 qualifying.
Javid Huseynov’s goal just four minutes in guided Azerbaijan to a 2-0 win over Malta, with Dimitrij Nazarov adding a second at the death.