Zimbabwe Lights out for stumble against Uzbeks as Pakistan Jordan wins shoot-out

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER17 11, 2013 19 In Egypt, even football struggles to unite Page 19

KIEV: England’s goalkeeper Joe Hart punches the ball away during the World Cup Group H qualifier soccer match between England and at the Olympiyskiy national stadium. — AP England on track despite Ukraine ordeal Italy overcome scare to stamp World Cup ticket

KIEV: England inched closer to qualifying for next year’s World 3-1 victory over Israel in their 2014 World Cup qualifier and Sweden 1 Kazakhstan 0 the bar from Andre Schembri’s precise cross in the fourth Cup after surviving a number of scares to record a potentially top spot in Group F yesterday. In Astana, Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted after just 27 seconds minute. However, the visitors took the lead only five minutes crucial 0-0 draw against Ukraine in Kiev yesterday. Ukraine had Defender Vasiliy Berezutsky opened the scoring from as he led his side to a 1-0 win over Kazakhstan in a World Cup later when right back Dimitrov fired in a cross from the right, an early penalty appeal waved away and gave the visitors inside the box in the 50th minute. Striker Aleksandr Kokorin qualifier to consolidate second place in Group C. Captain which keeper Justin Haber attempted to clear but ended up several nervous moments on a tense night at the Olympic doubled the lead two minutes later and Denis Glushakov Ibrahimovic notched up Sweden’s fastest goal since Hjalmar flicking into his own net. Stadium, but Roy Hodgson’s men held on to move a point snapped up the rebound after Roman Shirokov hit the post Lorichs scored 12 seconds into a friendly against Finland in clear in European qualifying Group H. with a penalty kick in the 74th. 1912. Bosnia 2 Slovakia 1 Victories over Montenegro and Poland in their final two Eran Zahavi headed in a consolation goal for the visitors Kazakhstan attacked down the flanks but failed to trouble In Zilina, goals from unlikely sources steered Bosnia to a home games next month will give England a place in Brazil, in injury time. Russia leads the standings with 18 points from Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson. Ibrahimovic had several comeback 2-1 win over Slovakia in a rip-roaring World Cup but they will hope for improved performances after a mud- eight games. Portugal, which did not play on Tuesday, is one opportunities to put the game out of reach but the PSG strik- Group G qualifier yesterday and kept them on course to dled display in the Ukrainian capital. The point means Ukraine point behind. Israel is third with 12 points. Northern Ireland er wasted several chances from free kicks around the penalty reach their first major tournament as an independent remain within a point of England-although they are now in was playing with Luxembourg in a later game. area. “We didn’t play quite as we wanted but I honestly don’t nation.The result left the Bosnians top of their section with second place, above Montenegro on goal difference-and with care about that now,” Sweden coach told TV station Kanal 5 19 points from eight games, three more than Greece who games against Poland and San Marino to come, they are Denmark 1 Armenia 0 after the game. were hosting Latvia later in the day. Third-placed Slovakia ready to pounce if the leaders stumble. In Yerevan, captain Daniel Agger scored a second-half With Austria due to host Ireland and Germany playing the have 12 points. As expected, England manager Hodgson awarded a 100th penalty as Denmark kept alive their slim World Cup hopes Faroe Islands later on Tuesday, the result strengthened Defender Ermin Bicakcic and second-half substitute Izet cap to Frank Lampard and replaced the suspended Danny with a 1-0 win over Armenia in their Group B qualifying Sweden’s grip on second place in the standing with 17 Hajrovic delighted several thousand visiting Bosnian fans in Welbeck with James Milner in the only alteration to the team match in Yerevan yesterday. Agger converted from the spot points. a packed Zilina stadium after Marek Hamsik had given the that beat Moldova 4-0 on Friday. There were four changes to in the 73rd minute after Denmark forward Viktor Fischer, hosts a 42nd-minute lead. Both sides missed a hatful of good the Ukraine side that had thrashed San Marino 9-0, with cap- who had been on the field for only six minutes, was brought Bulgaria 2 Malta 1 chances, with Slovakia keeper Jan Mucha producing a string tain Anatoliy Tymoshchuk among the players dropping out, down in the area by a two-footed challenge from Varazdat In Ta’ Qali, defender Radoslav Dimitrov scored his first of superb saves before Hamsik got on the end of but as England captain Steven Gerrard had predicted, they Haroyan. Denmark had struggled to create any chances in international goal as Bulgaria kept a firm grip on second an Adam Nemec pass and beat Asmir Begovic with a crisp flew out of the blocks. The hosts might have been awarded a the first hour and almost fell behind midway through the place in their World Cup qualifying group with a 2-1 win over left-footed shot from 10 metres. penalty within seconds, after tumbled under second half when an Armenia corner bounced awkwardly off Malta yesterday. a challenge from England goalkeeper Joe Hart, but referee Christian Eriksen before rebounding off the Danish crossbar. Italy top Group B with 17 points from seven matches, fol- Austria 1 Ireland 0 Pedro Proenca diplomatically awarded a corner. In response, The win lifted Denmark to second in Group B with 12 points. lowed by Bulgaria with 13 points from eight games. In Vienna, David Alaba kept Austria’s World Cup qualifying Ukraine goalkeeper fielded a 30-yard effort They could find themselves back outside the top two lat- Denmark, who beat Armenia 1-0 earlier on Tuesday, are third hopes alive by firing an 84th minute goal to give them a 1-0 from Gerrard and saved at the feet of Theo Walcott, while er in the day, however, with group leaders Italy hosting with 12 points. win over Ireland yesterday. Gary Cahill had a goal-bound header blocked by Artem Czech Republic and Bulgaria, currently third with 10 points, Malta, who are bottom with three points from eight The 21-year-old collected the ball and rifled into the roof Fedetskiy. away at bottom-placed Malta. matches, started brightly as Andrei Agius headed just over of the net with his weaker right foot from 12 metres after the Ireland defence failed to clear a cross, effectively ending the Netherlands 2 Andorra 0 visitors’ hopes of qualifying. The goal was just reward for the In Netherlands, forward Robin van Persie scored twice as hosts who burst into life after a scrappy opening hour. the Netherlands qualified for the 2014 World Cup finals in Austria, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1998, Brazil with a 2-0 away win over Andorra in Group D yester- stayed third in European Group C with 14 points, three day. Van Persie’s stinging shot from outside the area in the behind second-placed Sweden who they visit next month. 49th minute opened the scoring for the Dutch - the first Ireland have 11. team from Europe to book a place at next year’s finals - and Ireland had two good chances in the first half as Robbie four minutes later he scored with a tap-in after a defensive Keane got clear of his marker and shot across the face of the blunder. The win in Andorra-la-Velle against a defensive goal on the turn before Anthony Pilkington shot into the home side put the Netherlands on 22 points and beyond the side-netting after Austria lost possession in the penalty reach of their group rivals after Romania earlier lost 2-0 at area.Austria repeatedly tried to chip passes over the Ireland home to Turkey. It is the 10th time the Netherlands have defence for Andreas Weimann and Martin Harnik to run on qualified for the World Cup finals. They were runners-up in to, but with little success. 1974, 1978 and at the last tournament in South Africa in 2010. Germany 3 Faroe Islands 0 In Faroe Islands, Germany are now just one win away from Switzerland 2 Norway 0 securing their Brazil 2014 berth after a 3-0 win at 10-man In Oslo, Switzerland took a big step toward reaching the minnows the Faroe Islands in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier. World Cup in Brazil, winning 2-0 at its closest challenger Germany stay five points clear at the top of Group C, but Norway in a qualifying match yesterday. Sweden’s 1-0 win over Kazakhstan earlier in the day means Fabian Schaer scored twice with headers from free kicks that, despite dropping two points in eight games, the delivered by Gokhan Inler to extend an excellent run of Germans must beat the Republic of Ireland in Cologne next results away from home for the unbeaten Swiss. month to confirm automatic qualification. The Basel defender struck in the 12th and 51st minutes, A single first-half strike by Arsenal defender Per after also scoring last Friday against Iceland in a 4-4 draw at Mertesacker was all Germany had to show for 74 minutes of home. Switzerland provisionally leads Group E by seven endeavor until his Gunners’ team-mate Mesut Ozil netted a points ahead of two later matches — Iceland vs. Albania and late penalty. Bayern ’s Thomas Mueller then added a Cyprus vs. Slovenia. Iceland or Albania can close to five third in the dying stages. The hosts from the remote north- points with victory in Reykjavik. west Atlantic archipelago, ranked 175th in the world com- pared to the second-placed Germans, succumbed to their Russia 3 Israel 1 TURIN: Italy’s forward Mario Balotelli (third left) celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during the FIFA World Cup Qualifying eighth straight defeat in the group, but produced some In Moscow, a flurry of second-half goals earned Russia a group match against Czech Republic. — AFP dogged resistance. —AFP