Rangers star denied World Cup spot despite Hearts transfer target's red card as teammate caught up in major shock

A win for the Red Devils would have booked their spot at next summer’s finals with a game to spare, but they were left frustrated by the Kazakhs at the Astana Stadium, recovering from the concession of an early goal to earn a point away from home.

Belgium now need a positive result in their final Group J match at home to Liechtenstein on Tuesday to top the standings. They remain at the summit on 15 points, two clear of North Macedonia in second place. Wales, who face Liechtenstein later on Saturday, can also move on to 13 points with a victory going into the last set of fixtures.

Wales and North Macedonia meet in Cardiff on Tuesday evening while the Belgians are in action at Maurice Dufrasnestadion in Liege. Rudi Garcia’s men have a significantly superior goal difference in +15 to the Welsh (+3) and the North Macedonians (+9). so a draw against Liechtenstein would likely be enough to ensure qualification.

Nevertheless, Belgium were left frustrated by Kazakhstan, who finish the campaign in fourth place on eight points. They took the lead on nine minutes through Chelsea-bound teenager Dastan Satpaev and held out until the 48th minute when Hans Vanaken levelled.

Belgium were given a numerical advantage when forward Islam Chesnokov, who is due to join Hearts on a free transfer in January, was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku with 11 minutes to go. However, the visitors could not capitalise.

Winning his eighth cap for Belgium, Raskin started in midfield and was replaced on 89 minutes by forward Romeo Vermant as Garcia chased a winner.

Shock result in Helsinki

Meanwhile, another Rangers player was involved in one of the surprise results of the European World Cup qualifiers so far.

Winger Oliver Antman was in the starting XI for Finland as their Group G campaign came to a conclusion with a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Malta.

Finland dominated proceedings at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, with Antman one of a number of home players denied by in-form Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello before he was replaced by Aberdeen’s Topi Keskinen on 78 minutes.

Bonello’s exploits between the sticks paid off handsomely when in a rare foray forward on 81 minutes, substitute Jake Grech took in a pass from Ylyas Chouaref and drilled a low shot beyond helpless Finland and Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.

The Maltese held on for only their fourth away win in the past four years and one of the best result’s in their history.

Malta conclude their campaign at home to Poland on Monday and will finish fourth if they win in Valetta or Lithuania fail to defeat Netherlands away from home. Finland, meanwhile, are guaranteed to finish third and cannot feature in the play-offs.