Belgium beat the Czech Republic to a place in next year's finals as Marc Wilmots's penalty deadened Prague spirits.
The substitute slammed in the spot-kick four minutes from the end, while both Pavel Nedved and Milan Baros were sent off for the Czechs late on.
The Belgians' appearance next summer will be their sixth in succession at the World Cup.
Despite their status as overwhelming favourites to progress, the Czechs slipped to a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Brussels on Saturday. They dominated the early stages last night, with Karel Poborsky prominent on the right wing and Nedved proving a dangerous provider of incisive passes in the centre of midfield. But the Belgians, coached by Robert Waseige, soon fought their way back into the game and Czech goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek was forced into a flying save from Wesley Sonck's powerful header just before the half-hour mark.
After a balanced start to the second period, the expected siege on the Belgian goal began with Nedved, Marek Jankulovski and Sonck all firing in shots from long range.
But they were unable to make an impact in the penalty area due to a lack of height presence in the absence of the suspended Jan Koller, and Wilmots's spot kick ended their hopes.
Having been unfit to start the match, he entered the fray in the 63rd minute and hammered into the roof of Srnicek's net after Gert Verheyen had been felled by Jankulovski.
Nedved was shown a second yellow card for dissent shortly afterwards, while a clattering late challenge from Baros earned him a second yellow. Belgium goalkeeper Geert de Vlieger said afterwards: "If you look at this game, it proves that we would even walk to Japan and Korea if necessary."
CZECH REPUBLIC: Srnicek; Johana (Jarosik, 58), Huebschmann, Novotny, Jankulovski; Poborsky (Sionko, 45), Hasek (Smicer, 67), Rosicky, Nedved; Baros, Lokvenc.
BELGIUM: De Vlieger; Deflandre, Clement, de Boeck, Kerckhoven; Vermant (Vanderhaeghe, 90), Simons, Goor, Walem (Boffin, 84); Verhayen, Sonck (Wilmots, 63).
Referee: A Frisk (Sweden)
