Top Moments from Tuesday's World Cup Qualifiers

Another night of international football saw more national teams make a place in next summer's World Cup their own.

Now, with under 240 days until the finals in Brazil kick off, the list of attending nations is starting to take shape, while others, like France and Portugal, still have some work left to do before their place is secure.

With that being said, here's a look at five of the great moments from last night's World Cup qualifiers:

USMNT Salvage Mexico 2014 Hopes with Late, Late Win in Panama

The CONCACAF section of 2014 World Cup qualifying ended with the United States breaking the hearts of Panama while, simultaneously, salvaging Mexico in the tournament.

At almost exactly the same moment on Tuesday, Panama took a 2-1 lead over Jurgen Kilnsmann's team, while Mexico fell behind to Costa Rica to the same scoreline.

The fates appeared to have colluded against El Tri, but a late, late twist saw the United States produce a stunning fightback with goals from Graham Zusi and Aron Johansson in injury time.

Panama, who have never qualified for a World Cup finals, were left devastated by the 3-2 loss, which saw Mexico, who lost 2-1 to Costa Rica, claim fourth place and claim a playoff against New Zealand.

Wayne Rooney Leads by Example to Ensure England's Place

In the face of 18,000 Polish supporters at Wembley, Wayne Rooney gave the kind of performance that adds weight to the argument that he remains England's most important player.

The Manchester United forward was excellent throughout, and it was his goal towards the end of the first period which set Roy Hodgson's side on the way to booking their place in Brazil next summer.

Poland had offered threat throughout the first period, but the longer the game went on, the greater Rooney's influence became and just as the home supporters in Wembley began to start feeling a bit edgy, Rooney popped up with the all-important opening goal.

An intelligent pass from Michael Carrick found Leighton Baines in acres of space down England's left, and his pinpoint cross found Rooney who comfortably headed past Wojciech Sczcesny.

Steven Gerrard would later add a second to wrap up the win, but it was Rooney who had made the difference and his opener which had settled the nerves and allowed the Three Lions to express themselves.

"

7 - Wayne Rooney has now netted seven goals in his last six World Cup qualifiers. Timely.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 15, 2013"

Vedad Ibisevic Guides Bosnia-Herzegovina to Finals Debut

With Greece at home against a dire Liechtenstein and expected to win (they did), Bosnia-Herzegovina needed a victory in Lithuania to ensure their first appearance at a major finals since their independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1992.

Bosnia have come close in recent times, only to fall at the last hurdle: qualification for Euro 2004 was one such occasion, while their last two qualification runs have both been halted at the play-off stage by Portugal.

However, under the guidance of Safet Susic, a side featuring the likes of Roma's Miralem Pjanic, skipper Emir Spahic and playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic have taken 25 points from a possible 30 this time round, scoring 30 times in the process.

And following a run to the byline and cutback from Manchester City's Edin Dzeko, Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic converted from six yards to hand Bosnia a 1-0 win in Kaunas and a first ever World Cup finals spot.

"

Congratulations to Bosnia, who reach the World Cup finals for the first time ever pic.twitter.com/xnDLI2Aa7K

— MailOnline Sport (@MailOnlineSport) October 15, 2013"

Iceland Make the Play-Offs

The dream remains alive for Iceland. Needing to match the result of Slovenia to ensure a second-place finish in Group E, Lars Lagerback's side went to Norway in search of such a result.

With a population of little over 320,000, Iceland would become the smallest nation to ever reach a World Cup finals if they reach Brazil 2014. And they made the best possible start to their game in Oslo, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson firing home after a deft through pass from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Daniel Braaten equalised in the 30th minute and the match ended as a 1-1 draw.

However, over in Switzerland at the Stade de Suisse, a 73rd-minute goal from Granit Xhaka handed Ottmar Hitzfeld's side a 1-0 win, thus ensuring that Sigthorsson's goal was more than enough and that the Icelanders will make their way into November's European play-off round.

"

Iceland, a country with a population of 320k, advance to the World Cup playoffs for the first time in history #Scenes pic.twitter.com/lBE8l6v7lp

— KICKTV (@KICKTV) October 15, 2013"

Another Goalfest Between Sweden and Germany

So maybe this wasn't a moment, but my word it was just too good to leave out.

Exactly a year ago, Germany and Sweden met in Berlin in the most ludicrous of eight-goal thrillers. Die Mannschaft were four goals to the good after 56 minutes and cruising but somehow contrived to throw away their lead and draw 4-4 with their visitors.

This time round, much of the jokes on Twitter involved lightning striking twice and another 4-4 cracker. Tongue-in-cheek such predictions may have been, but my word they were close. 

Without their suspended talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden set off at breakneck speed in the Friends Arena, scoring inside six minutes through Tobias Hysen. Alex Kacaniklic made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute, a simple pass circumventing a terrible German back line, allowing the Fulham winger to race through and fire home.

Two down, Germany hit back in spectacular style. Mesut Ozil clinically reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time, before substitute Mario Goetze levelled the scores in the 53rd minute.

Four minutes later Andre Schuerrle made it 3-2 to Jogi Loew's side, before the same player coolly added a fourth in the 66th minute.

Six goals, but still there was more to come. Hysen made it 4-3 in the 69th minute, firing a tremendous volley past Manuel Neuer.

However, the final say and the match ball belonged to Chelsea forward Schuerrle, whose beautiful arching 20-yarder was so good Swedish 'keeper Johan Wiland just watched it find the top corner.

"

Andre Schurrle scored a hat trick for Germany against Sweden. He has now scored 11 goals in 28 apps for his country #CFC #WCQ

— EPL Facts (@PremFact) October 15, 2013"

Final Score: Sweden 3-5 Germany. Another epic between the pair.

Uruguay Beat Argentina but Still Need Playoff to Qualify for Finals

Uruguay claimed a 3-2 victory over Argentina, but it was still not enough to avoid the playoff spot in the CONMEBOL section of the World Cup qualifiers.

Cristian Rodriguez gave Uruguay a sixth-minute lead before Maxi Rodriguez hauled Argentina level nine minutes later.

Luis Suarez gave the home side a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot, earned after Sebastian Dominguez challenged the Liverpool striker inside the area.

But again former Anfield man Rodriguez was on hand to bring Argentina level before half-time.

Four minutes after the break, though, Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani was on target for Uruguay to establish a 3-2 lead which Argentina could not claw back.

Ghana Hammer Egypt

Four of the five African play-off first-leg matches took place at the weekend, but arguably the most highly anticipated waited until Tuesday, when Ghana met Egypt.

Supposedly, it was meant to be the battle of the two heavyweights, a fight between two evenly matched sides at the Baba Yara Stadium for an advantage ahead of next month's second leg.

However, it didn't quite turn out that way.

The match was barely four minutes old when Ghana striker and captain Asamoah Gyan plundered an angled right-footed shot across the 'keeper into the far corner, and the Black Stars continued to push, claiming a second goal in the 22nd minute, an own goal from Wael Gomaa. 

Egypt were handed a lifeline before half-time when experienced creator Mohamed Abou Treika scored from the penalty spot, only for Abdul Waris to almost instantly restore the home side's two-goal advantage.

Whatever the Pharoah's coach Bob Bradley said at half-time to his players didn't work as the rout continued in the second period.

Gyan headed in his second and Ghana's fourth, before a Sulley Muntari penalty and a tremendous distance effort from young flier Christian Atsu made it 6-1 in the dying minutes.

For Ghana, only a miracle will stop them reaching a third successive World Cup finals.

For Egypt, after a 15-year spell where having won three Africa Cup of Nations titles they've failed to reach a World Cup, it's almost certainly the end of an era.

"

My goodness. That's curtains for Bob Bradley and Egypt. 6-1. Tie over. The Ghana jinx strikes again.

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) October 15, 2013"