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The mouse that scored: Tiny Luxembourg stuns soccer world with World Cup qualifying win

Ireland has gone from green to embarrassed red faces after Luxembourg's astonishing victory.

Ireland has gone from green to embarrassed red faces after Luxembourg's astonishing victory. Photo: Twitter/Kelly's Kids

Ireland has suffered an “embarrassing” 1-0 home defeat to Luxembourg in a shock World Cup qualifying result, while Belgium and Portugal both dropped points.

Gerson Rodrigues condemned the Irish to defeat in Dublin as Luxembourg won a World Cup qualifier for just the sixth time in its history.

The striker blasted home an 85th-minute winner to all but end Ireland’s hopes of making it out of Group A after two losses to start its campaign.

Ireland captain Seamus Coleman admitted the defeat was unacceptable.

“It’s a horrible night, an embarrassing night as international footballers,” he told Sky Sports.

“We didn’t deserve anything from the game, so I think that says it all, really.”

The defeat piles the pressure on Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, who has not had a win in his first 10 matches at the helm.

Serbia, which accounted for Ireland earlier this week, tops the group after its 2-2 draw with European champions Portugal.

Diogo Jota’s double put the visitors firmly in control at the break but second-half goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Filip Kostic saw the game finish all square, despite Nikola Milenkovic being sent off in stoppage time.

Mitrovic became his country’s all-time top scorer on 39 goals from 63 internationals.

World No.1 Belgium drew 1-1 with Group E leaders the Czech Republic.

Lukas Provod put the hosts ahead early in the second half before Romelu Lukaku levelled things up after an hour.

In the group’s other game, Belarus beat 10-man Estonia 4-2.

In Group G, the Netherlands got their qualifying campaign back on track with a 2-0 home win over Latvia in front of 5000 spectators in the Amsterdam Arena.

Turkey triumphant

Steven Berghuis and Luuk de Jong scored in each half as the Dutch responded to a surprise loss to Turkey in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Turkey maintained its 100 per cent record with a comfortable 3-0 win over Norway, which had substitute Kristian Thorstvedt sent off late on.

Stevan Jovetic was on target in Montenegro’s 4-1 victory against Gibraltar.

Luka Modric became Croatia’s most-capped player as he captained the 2018 World Cup finalists to an uninspiring 1-0 Group H win over Cyprus.

Russia tops the group with six points after it beat Slovenia 2-1.

Artem Dzyuba scored twice for the hosts before Josip Ilicic pulled a goal back.

Slovakia came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at home against Malta.

– with AAP

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