Dutch double ends Turkey hopes

Turkey failed to cling onto second place in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group D as a climactic defeat by the section winners ensured they missed out on the play-offs.

A packed Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium was ready to roar Fatih Terim's side to victory, but the arena was swiftly silenced by Arjen Robben's early strike. Turkey laboured to get back into it and Wesley Sneijder's second-half effort, coupled with Romania's success against Estonia, guaranteed that Terim's men must sit out the finals in Brazil.

With three successive victories since the coach took over in August, the hosts had belief they could make the trip to South America, but coming into their last qualifier on the back of an 8-1 triumph against Hungary, the Netherlands were always going to be dangerous. So it proved as, just eight minutes in, Robben curled in a beautiful free-kick from right of centre.

Turkey battled back and Umut Bulut headed over before Burak Yılmaz squandered a great chance to level when sent clean through, unable to find the target two minutes before the half-time whistle.

Turkish hopes then took a massive blow in the 47th minute when Dirk Kuyt released Sneijder and the No10 doubled the advantage with ease. The home team had no choice but to attack, with Terim throwing on the adventurous Olcay Şahan and Gökhan Töre, yet there was no way back for Turkey who will be absent from a third successive World Cup.