These are the final two matches in the second season of the UEFA Nations League.
The winners of these play-outs will remain in League C, while the losers are relegated to League D.
First leg scores: Moldova 1-2 Kazakhstan. Estonia 0-0 Cyprus.
📰 Table Of Contents
Kazakhstan vs Moldova
Following Thursday’s first meeting in Chișinău, it it Kazakhstan who are in the catbird seat.
Having said that, five night ago, it was Moldova who dominated the first half and eventually took the lead in first half stoppage time.
Ion Nicolaescu pounced on some slack defending by Nuraly Alip and raced through before smashing home the opener.
The latter came about when Baqtiiar Zainutdinov fired the ball across goal and Veaceslav Posmac could only turn it into his own net.
So, Kazakhstan left Zimbru Stadium with a 2-1 advantage, looking to convert that into a victory.
Before that, Andrei Karpovich’s side were winless in nine competitive games, only beating San Marino, Scotland and Andorra since October 2015.
Moldova meanwhile have now lost ten consecutive competitive internationals and are now winless in 24, losing 22 of those.
Thus, Kazakhstan will be confident of victory at Astana Arena.
Under 2.5 goals is 2/5. Kazakhstan to win and both teams to score NO is 9/4.
Cyprus vs Estonia
There was nothing to separate these two at A. Le Coq Arena but there must be a winner as they reconvene in Larnaca.
On Thursday night, in a game of very few chances, Estonia thought they’d made the vital breakthrough in Tallinn.
With just six minutes remaining, Konstantin Vassiljev played it through to Rauno Sappinen and he slotted home cooly.
However, the goal was ruled out because Sappinen was, narrowly, offside so it finished goalless in the Estonian capital.
Thus, with the away goals rule having been abolished, it’s winner takes all.
However, neither team is particularly used to winning international football matches.
Cyprus are now winless in eight competitive games, only beating Slovenia, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan and San Marino since August 2017.
Likewise, Estonia have only won one of their last 23 competitive games, last winning away from home in Greece in November 2018.
Will Cyprus make home advantage count at AEK Arena – Georgios Karapatakis?
Both teams to score NO is 4/6. Cyprus to win and both teams to score NO is 9/4.
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