The Netherlands missed the chance to seal qualification for the 2022 World Cup as Montenegro produced a late comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw.

Norway's goalless draw with Latvia earlier in the day gave the Oranje a chance to win Group G with a game to spare at Podgorica City Stadium and they were well on course to grasp their opportunity courtesy of a Memphis Depay double.

Depay struck from the penalty spot in the first half before the leading scorer in European qualifying took his tally to 11 after the break to give Louis van Gaal's side breathing space.

Montenegro looked beaten, but Ilija Vukotic set up a tense finale when he halved the deficit with eight minutes to play and fellow substitute Nikola Vujnovic stunned the Netherlands when he equalised after 86 minutes.

The Oranje go into what promises to be a tense final group game against third-placed Norway on Tuesday leading their opponents and Turkey by two points.

There was a let-off for the Oranje in the 16th minute, when Vladimir Jovovic fired into the side-netting from a tight angle after Justin Bijlow was unsure whether to come for a cross.

Marko Jankovic gifted Van Gaal's men the chance to take the lead 25 minutes in, bundling Davy Klaassen over and enabling Depay to drill into the bottom-left corner from the spot.

Arnaut Danjuma flashed a first-time shot just wide after Donyell Malen rounded his man and fizzed a inviting cross into the Villarreal winger's path before Bijlow palmed away a Jankovic drive.

Steven Bergwijn replaced Malen at half-time for a Netherlands side that took another huge stride on the road to Qatar by doubling their lead nine minutes after the break.

It came as no surprise that it was Depay to find the back of the net once again, nipping in front of Stefan Savic to turn in a cross from the marauding Denzel Dumfries.

But Vukotic cooly rounded Bijlow and applied the finish to set Netherlands nerves jangling and Vujnovic rose above Daley Blind to head home, leaving the group leaders stunned.
 

What does it mean? Netherlands facing nervy finale

It looked to be job done for Van Gaal's side, but late lapses left them to rue missing a golden chance to qualify with a game to spare.

While their fate is still in their hands, they must regroup after being guilty of complacency against a Montenegro team that had looked short of ideas and knew they had no chance of qualifying.

A draw ends the Oranje's run of four consecutive wins and they would surely have faced some harsh words from Van Gaal.

Depay steps up again

If Barcelona forward Depay was nervous when he stepped up for his spot-kick, he certainly showed no signs of it.

It has been a memorable qualifying campaign for the former Lyon captain, who has now scored nine penalties for his country - the most by a Netherlands player in history, excluding shootouts.

With 13 goals from just 14 games in World Cup qualifiers, Depay has also equalled Dutch greats Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Netherlands' scoring record in that category.

Blind caught napping

Although it was a fine towering header from Vujnovic, questions should be asked of Blind's defending for the equaliser as he was beaten in the air far too easily.

The full-back also lost possession on 12 occasions on what proved to be a frustrating evening.

What's next?

Stadion Feijenoord De Kuip will be the venue for the Netherlands' crunch clash with Norway, while Montenegro are at home to second-placed Turkey.