Mats Hummels scored in the 88th minute to keep Germany perfect in their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win at Czech Republic on Friday night.
Germany needed fewer than four minutes to find the breakthrough as Mesut Ozil played in Timo Werner, who took a touch before scoring.
But Germany could not widen their advantage and the hosts made them pay as Vladimir Darida's shot from the top of the box got past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
A draw seemed to be on the cards before Hummels found the winner with a header following a late set piece, and Germany maintained their 100 percent record through seven games.
Northern Ireland remained five points back in second place, though they were forced to wait 70 minutes to find a breakthrough in a 3-0 win at San Marino.
Josh Magennis eased Northern Ireland's nerves, then made the lead comfortable with his second of the night five minutes later, and Steven Davis added a penalty three minutes after that to put the result beyond doubt.
Also in Group C, Norway beat Azerbaijan 2-0 to keep their slim hopes of a playoff spot alive.
Josh King drew and converted a penalty on on 32 minutes before a second-half Rashad Sadygov own goal sealed the result.
Harry Kane scored twice as England ran out to a 4-0 win at Malta to stay atop Group F.
After a frustrating first half, Kane found the opened on 53 minutes after he was played in on goal by Tottenham teammate Dele Alli.
England added gloss to the scorline late on, as Bertrand's long-range shot took a slight deflection and eluded the dive of goalkeeper Andrew Hogg in the 86 minutes.
Danny Welbeck added a third in stoppage time when he latched on to Kane's lofted through ball ahead of the Maltese goalkeeper, before Kane added his second of the night by running onto Marcus Rashford's long pass.
However, Slovakia kept the pressure on England, staying just two points back after managing a 1-0 home win over Slovenia.
Adam Nemec scored the only goal in the 81st minute, tapping the ball over the line after Marek Hamsik struck the crossbar, to set up a crucial game at Wembley on Monday.
Scotland stayed in contention with a 3-0 win away to Lithuania.
Stuart Armstrong rose highest to head home following a corner on 25 minutes, and five minutes later Andy Robertson found the top corner from 20 yards out to double the lead.
James McArthur added a third goal in the second half as Scotland moved into third place, four points behind Slovakia for the playoff spot.
Poland were dealt a major blow as the Group E leaders fell 4-0 away to Denmark.
Thomas Delaney headed home following a corner for the 16th-minute opener, and Andreas Cornelius doubled the lead with a volley from Christian Eriksen's cross shortly before the break.
Nicolai Jorgensen turned in a third before the hour mark before Eriksen got on the scoresheet himself to complete the rout -- Poland's first defeat of the campaign.
Denmark are now just three points back of the top, level on points with Montenegro, who won 3-0 at Kazakhstan earlier in the day.
Marko Vesovic chipped the keeper to provide a 31st-minute lead, before Fatos Beciraj and Marko Simic both headed home following free kicks in the second half.
Romania are a further four points back in fourth place after a 1-0 win over Armenia.
Taron Voskanyan was sent off for Armenia nine minutes into the second half, and the minnows' resolve finally broke when Alexandru Maxim scored with a back heel in the first minute of stoppage time.