Croatia and Italy stayed on course to reach Euro 2016 after a pulsating 1-1 draw in their Group H qualifier played behind closed doors at the Poljud stadium yesterday.
Fans were not allowed into the ground after the Croatians were handed a one-match crowd ban for repeated offences by their supporters earlier in the campaign.
Croatia fans shouted racist chants during a 5-1 home win over Norway in March which followed incidents in last November’s 1-1 draw with Italy in Milan, when they twice halted play by hurling flares on to the pitch.
The result of yesterday’s entertaining clash left Croatia top with 14 points from six games, two more than Italy who stretched their unbeaten run in European Championship and World Cup qualifying to 46 games.
Mario Mandzukic gave Croatia a controversial 11th-minute lead before Antonio Candreva equalised with a cheeky penalty in the 36th.
Mandzukic, who missed an early spot-kick, scored seconds after Italy’s Stephan El Shaarawy had an effort disallowed for offside.
With the replay suggesting the forward had scored a good goal and the visitors arguing with the linesman, Croatia launched a swift break and Mandzukic stroked in a low cross by Ivan Rakitic.
Mandzukic then gave away a penalty when he handled a teasing Andrea Pirlo cross and Candreva clipped the ball down the middle as he wrongfooted Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic.
Both sides missed plenty of chances in either half in a high-tempo encounter as instructions from both benches echoed in an empty stadium.
Croatia had captain Darijo Srna sent off in stoppage time after a second booking for a foul.
Wales moved closer to their first major tournament in 57 years as Gareth Bale’s classy first-half goal gave them a 1-0 win over Belgium to go three points clear at the top of their group.
Bale made the most of a defensive howler from Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan to calmly finish past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after 25 minutes, allowing the hosts to pull up the defensive drawbridge and see out the game.
It was Bale’s 50th match for his country and he further underlined his status as their talismanic player as Chris Coleman’s well-drilled side moved on to 14 points in Group B, three clear of Belgium who are now second.
Kolbeinn Sigthorsson scored a sublime winner as Iceland completed a superb comeback to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 and go top of Group A in Reykjavik.
The home side dominated the game with their physical play, but Borek Dockal gave the Czech Republic the lead 10 minutes into the second half, thumping home a rising right-foot shot into the top left corner.
Jolted into life, Iceland equalised five minutes later when Aron Gunnarsson dived to head home, and when Sigthorsson danced around Petr Cech and slotted the winner in the 76th minute, the home crowd went wild.
The result puts Iceland within touching distance of qualifying for their first major tournament, as they now top the group on 15 points after six games, with the Czechs in second place on 13.
Group A
Played yesterday
Kazakhstan 0
Turkey 1
Turan 83;
Iceland 2
Gunnarsson 60, Sigthorsson 76;
Czech Rep.1
Dockal 55;
Latvia 0
Netherlands 2
Wijnaldum 67, Narsingh 71;
Group B
Played yesterday
Andorra 1
Junior 2 og;
Cyprus 3
Mitidis 13, 45, 53;
Missed penalty: Junior (C) 51.
Bosnia 3
Visca 42, 75, Dzeko 45 pen.;
Israel 1
Ben Haim 41;
Wales 1
Bale 25;
Belgium 0
Group H
Played yesterday
Croatia 1
Mandzukic 11;
Italy 1
Candreva 36 pen.;
Missed penalty: Mandzukic (C) 7.
Malta 0
Bulgaria 1
Popov 55;
Missed penalty: Micanski (B) 45.
Norway 0
Azerbaijan 0