February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
The pecking order in Ireland’s Group 2 assumed a more familiar format ahead of today’s 2002 World Cup qualifiers following the convincing victory by the Republic and Holland last weekend.
The Dutch, in serious danger of missing out on the finals for the first time since 1986, went for broke against Andorra and left Barcelona with a 5-0 goal haul.
The victory lifted Holland (2-1-1, 7 points) into third place, a point behind Ireland, who mauled Cyprus 4-0 in Nicosia, and three adrift of group leaders Portugal (10) who they meet in Oporto today Wednesday.
Local favorite Patrick Kluivert began the deluge in Barcelona with a ninth-minute header. This was followed by strikes by Chelsea hitman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (36th), Pierre van Hooijdonk (60th, 71st), and Mark van Bommel (85th).
There’s no respite for the Andorran part-timers, who could attract only 1,000 fans to the Holland game. They host Mick McCarthy’s fired up gang today in a match that could vault Ireland to the top of the group if Portugal and Holland tie.
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North checked
Italian-based midfielder Pavel Nedved all but ended Northern Ireland’s World Cup campaign in Group 3 with an strike (12th) in a 1-0 Czech Republic victory at Windsor Park in Belfast.
Ireland’s best chance fell to Phil Gray in the 87th minute but the substitute crashed a fierce shot against the crossbar. The rebound was cleared off the line by defender Roman Tyce before Gray could get to it.
The loss opened up a six-point gap between the fourth-placed North (2-1-1, 4) and the first-placed Czechs (10).
Bulgaria, Northern Ireland’s opponents in Sofia today, stayed in contention for a berth in next summer’s finals in Japan/Korea with a 2-1 home result over plucky Iceland.
Krassimir Chomakov (36th) and Dimitar Berbatov (78th) brought the Bulgarians (7) back after Herman Hreidarsson (24th) had shot the 10-man visitors ahead. Iceland had Larus Sigurdsson sent off two minutes before halftime.
Sand storm
Ebbe Sand’s hat trick powered Denmark, second in Group 3 with eight points, to a 5-0 rout over Malta in Valletta. Sand struck in the 8th, 63rd and 79th minutes. Jan Heintze (51st) and Claus Jensen (76th) were the other scorers.
The Danes meet the Czech Republic in a top of the table clash in Prague today.
England rally
Michael Owen (43rd) and skipper David Beckham (50th) gave England its first win in Group 9, a stirring come-from-behind 2-1 decision over Finland at Liverpool’s Anfield that revived the 1966 champs’ hitherto bleak qualification hopes.
Finland got off to a good start on Aki Rihilahti’s 26th minute heade, but were put on the back heel after Owen’s scorching left footer tied the game.
With the win, England’s first foreign coach, Swede Sven Goran Eriksson, saw his side climb into second position in the group, five points behind Germany (9), who struggled to subdue the Englishmen’s opponents in Tirana today, Albania, 2-1.
Sebastian Deisler (50th) and Miroslav Klose (88th) starred for the Teutons in Leverkusen. Albania’s Bledar Kola (65th) made it close. Germany tackles Greece today.
Glasgow blooper
Scotland blew a 2-0 lead, and an opportunity to lead Group 6, in a dramatic 2-all tie with short handed Belgium in Glasgow.
The Scots were cruising on Billy Dodds’ brace (2nd, 29th penalty) but allowed the Belgians, who had Eric Deflandre (28th) ejected, to claw back into it with goals by Marc Wilmots (58th) and Daniel van Buyten (90th).
The result kept Belgium on top, ahead of Craig Brown’s charges on goal difference. Both sides have eight points, three ahead of Croatia who beat Latvia 4-1 in Zagreb on Bosko Balaban’s hat trick (8th, 43rd, 45th) and Davor Vugrinec’s effort (89th). Andrejs Stolcers (60th) got Latvia’s face saver.
Scotland get a second chance to take over the leadership today when they host San Marino.
Hartson’s double
Wales came away from Yerevan with a point from a 2-2 tie with Armenia in Group 5, thanks to John Hartson’s two goals (40th, 49th). Artak Minasyan (32nd) and Andrei Movsesyan (71st) were on target for Armenia, whose Albert Sarkisyan was given marching orders (68th).
The result, however, did the Welsh (3) little good as they remain seven points adrift of pace-setters Poland, impressive 3-2 winners over Norway in Oslo.
Nigerian-born Emmanuel Olisadebe (23rd, 29th), the first black player capped by Poland, was the catalyst behind the Polish triumph, which was sealed by Bartosz Karwan (80th). John Carew (58th) and Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskj’r (66th) hit back for bottom side Norway.
Also in Group 5, second-place Ukraine and Belarus (both 7 points) battled to a goalless tie in Kiev. Today’s group fixtures are: Wales vs. Ukraine, Poland vs. Armenia and Belarus vs. Norway.
Russia held
Russia (7) maintained their one point edged over Slovenia at the top of Group 1 following their 1-1 tie in Moscow. Dmitry Khlestov (8th) scored for the Russians, while Aleksandr Knavs (22nd) replied for Slovenia.
In Belgrade, veteran Stephane Chapuisat (84th) snatched a late equalizer against Yugoslavia in another 1-all affair to keep Switzerland within two points of the Russians. Defender Sinisa Mihajlovic (68th) was the Yugoslav marksman.
There was also a win for Faroe Islands — the Russians’ foes today — who knocked off Luxembourg 2-0 on the road. Christian Jacobsen (75th) and Kurt Morkore (82nd) connected.
Luxembourg play in Switzerland today, while Slovenia face Yugoslavia.
Swedes climb
Anders Svensson’s only goal of the match (43rd) saw Sweden pip Macedonia 1-0 in Gothenburg and join Turkey and Slovakia in a three-way tie (8) at the top of Group 4.
The latter two drew 1-1 in Istanbul, with Hakan Sukur (53rd pen) strikingfor the Turks, and Robert Tomaschek (68th) responding for the Slovaks. Stragglers Azerbaijan and Moldova tied 0-0 in Sumgait. Moldova vs. Sweden, Slovakia vs. Azerbaijan and Macedonia vs. Turkey play today.
Spanish feast
Ivan Helguera (20th), Gaizka Mendieta (36th, 81st), Fernando Hierro (54th pen) and Raul (68th) moved Spain (10) four points clear of idle Isr’l in Group 7 with a 5-0 rout over Liechtenstein in Alicante.
Third-place Austria (5) picked up a point in Sarajevo where Michael Baur (61st) cancelled out Sergej Barbarez’ (43rd) effort for Bosnia in a 1-all draw.
Austria are at home to Isr’l today, while Bosnia travel to Liechtenstein.
Romania zapped
Filippo Inzaghi struck twice (28th, 32nd) as Group 8 leaders Italy (10) outclassed Romania 2-0 in Bucharest.
In Budapest, Vilmos Sebok (70th pen.) and Tomas Razanauskas (74th) scored for second placed Hungaria (5) and Lithuania respectively in a 1-all tie. Romania are away to Georgia while Italy welcome Lithuania today.