Turkey pulled off an impressive 4-2 win at home to the Netherlands, powered by a Burak Yilmaz hat-trick on Wednesday.
Elsewhere in Group A, Portugal needed an own goal to beat Azerbaijan in their ‘home’ game, which was played in Turin due to coronavirus restrictions
Croatia, 2018 runners-up, slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat away to Slovenia, while Belgium continued their remarkable run in qualifiers by coming from behind to beat Wales 3-1 at home.
The visitors held on for the draw despite having no shots on target, although Kimpembe spurned a chance to grab a last-gasp winner and make amends for his error.
The result left Didier Deschamps’s side and Ukraine level with Finland and Bosnia in Group D after they drew 2-2.
“Of course I can’t be satisfied. But let’s be honest after the break we did not exactly threaten them,” Deschamps said.
Turkey have not qualified for the World Cup since finishing third at the 2002 edition but got off to a flying start in their bid to make it to Qatar next year by beating the Netherlands in Group G thanks to a ruthless display from the 35-year-old Yilmaz.
Yilmaz opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a deflected shot, followed by a penalty, while Hakan Calhanoglu grabbed Turkey’s third goal early in the second half before goals in quick succession from Davy Klaasen and Luuk de Jong gave the Netherlands hope of a comeback.
Yilmaz emphatically ended those hopes by completing his treble from a free kick.
“That was a beautiful night. I am so proud,” said the striker, while Netherlands coach Frank de Boer described the defeat as “terrible”.
