Greece through to World Cup

Greece have progressed to the 2014 World Cup finals with a 4-2 aggregate victory over Romania.

The Euro 2004 winners were held to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff tie in Bucharest, but their 3-1 home victory on Friday proved enough for them to go through.

© AFP

The Greeks made a positive start to the second leg and created the first meaningful chance of the contest in the 16th minute when Ciprian Tatarusanu was forced to turn away Jose Holebas's left-footed effort.

Six minutes later the visitors surged ahead through Kostas Mitroglou, who latched on to Giorgos Karagounis's through-ball and shot home with his left foot.

The Romanians did equalise nine minutes after the half-time interval when the ball ricocheted off Vasilis Torosidis and looped beyond goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis for an own goal.

That spurred on the hosts, who stepped up their game for the remainder of the second half but in vain.