Greece finish second after Liechtenstein win

Greece will feature in the FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs after a 2-0 victory at home to Liechtenstein proved insufficient to overhaul group winners Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dimitris Salpingidis set the home side on their way by scoring after seven minutes in Piraeus. Captain Giorgos Karagounis completed the formalities nine minutes from full time, yet the Bosnians still sealed top spot by virtue of a superior goal difference after their 1-0 success in Lithuania.

Greece's early enthusiasm had been rewarded when José Holebas and Giorgios Samaras combined on the left, the former crossing for Salpingidis to net from close range. The visitors launched only sporadic raids forward, though when they did advance Sandro Wieser's goal-bound effort deflected narrowly wide. Salpingidis then flashed a shot past a post as Greece finished the opening half with a flourish.

Fernando Santos's men dominated for long periods after the restart but struggled to crack Liechtenstein's stern resistance. They nonetheless continued to probe and finally broke through again when 36-year-old Karagounis curled in a sublime free-kick for his tenth international goal.