SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 SPORTS Ronaldo rescues Portugal as Spain and Germany win

LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo rescued tions to answer after they saw a first- points but have played one game Telecinco. Portugal with a speedy hat-trick to minute lead secured by Arjen Robben more than England, could only man- Spain have 14 points from six avoid a slip-up in Northern Ireland, evaporate in where they stood age a 1-1 draw in Poland although it matches and play their final two qual- while Netherlands dropped their first seconds away from an embarrassing could have been even worse as ifiers at home to Belarus and Georgia points as Spain and Germany took 2-1 defeat after a Konstantin Vassiljev Jakub Blaszcykowski had a 94th next month. They are already assured easier steps towards World Cup quali- double for the hosts. minute effort disallowed for offside of at least a place in the playoffs. fication. The Dutch, who until this game for the hosts. Group A pacesetters Belgium England moved level on points at had a perfect record of six wins from Third-placed Ukraine stayed in the stretched their lead at the top with a the top of Group H with Montenegro six matches, snatched a point in the chase with a 9-0 thumping of San 2-0 win away to Scotland as second after marching to a 4-0 home win over third minute of stoppage time when Marino, who have conceded 38 goals and third-placed Balkan rivals Serbia Moldova that came as their rivals were was sent off and a penalty in seven qualifiers, and have 14 points and Croatia drew 1-1 in . held 1-1 in Poland. was awarded which Robin van Persie ahead of Tuesday’s home match with The Belgians, whose goals came Italy and Belgium were among the converted. England. from Steven Dafour and Kevin group pacesetters to take full points, “We know we are better so it The only blot on the night for Mirallas, lead the standings by five while Group E leaders Switzerland makes it a frustrating evening,” England was a yellow card for points from Croatia with two could only draw 4-4 with Iceland and Group G table-toppers Bosnia surpris- ingly lost 1-0 at home to Slovakia. In , Portugal were in serious danger of being knocked off the top of Group F, after second-placed Russia had earlier thumped Luxembourg 4-1, as they found themselves trailing 2-1 to Northern Ireland. Their hosts had previous form for upsets having stunned Russia 1-0 last month and it looked like they were heading for another when Portugal’s Helder Postiga was shown a straight red card for a headbutt on Gareth McAuley just before halftime. Northern Ireland, already out of qualifying contention, made the man advantage count early in the second half when Jamie Ward scored after a corner but Portugal’s fortunes turned MEXICO: Hector Moreno (right) of Mexico vies for the ball with Carlos Costly when Kevin Brunt was shown a sec- (left) of Honduras, during the match for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 ond yellow to make it 10 against 10. qualifying round. —AFP Then followed 15 minutes of trademark Ronaldo brilliance as he headed in two goals and scored another from a free kick to turn the Mexico, US suffer match around and put Portugal on 17 points from eight games with Russia on 15 having played one game fewer. WCup setbacks There were more individual plau- dits in Germany’s 3-0 win over Austria in Group C as forward Miroslav Klose MEXICO: Mexico suffered only their second ever out, Chepo out” from the home crowd, who were opened the scoring in the 34th BELFAST: Portugal’s Helder Postiga (right) vies for the ball with Northern Ireland’s Oliver qualifying defeat in the Azteca Stadium with a 2- demanding his resignation while chanting his minute to equal Gerd Mueller’s record Norwood (second right) during the 2014 World Cup European zone Group F qualifying football 1 loss to Honduras on Friday that increases the nickname. of 68 goals for the country. The clean match. —AFP pressure on coach Jose Manuel de la Torre and “To resign would be a failure, to fail is to stop sheet banished concerns over recent leaves ‘El Tri’ with plenty of work to do to qualify fighting for things, we can’t give up our project,” German defensive frailties as they Robben told Dutch NOS radio with Welbeck, who had a fantastic game, matches left. for Brazil. he told reporters. “Not to deliver adequate results stayed in control of the group on 19 his side on 19 points from seven which rules the Manchester United Group B leaders Italy moved to Costa Rica, who top the CONCACAF region is something that worries us, it’s something men- points from seven matches, five games - a six-point lead over striker out of the trip to Kiev. within one win of qualifying for next standings, took a step towards booking their tal we have to correct... We’re in debt with every- ahead of Sweden who beat Ireland 2- Romania who leapfrogged Hungary World champions Spain were 2-0 year’s finals in Brazil after a nervy 1-0 place at next year’s finals with an impressive 3-1 one, with our football, and that’s very worrying.” 1. Austria dropped to third on 11, lev- into second place after beating them winners in Finland as they tightened home victory against second-placed win over the United States, while Panama were Mexico travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the el with the Irish. 3-0 at home. their grip on top spot in Group I, with Bulgaria, while in the same group held to a goalless draw at home to Jamaica in the United States on Tuesday with both teams feel- “We did our homework, we “We have to be a little down on their cause helped by second-placed Czech Republic were stunned 2-1 at other game. ing the pressure to get back to winning ways defended well, we played with the ourselves if we lead in the first minute France’s 0-0 draw in Georgia. home by Armenia. After seven rounds of matches, Costa Rica quickly. right aggression and intensity,” and then walk off the pitch with the The holders stretched their lead Group G was pushed wide open lead the way on 14 points with the United States The US suffered a blow even before the game Germany coach Joachim Loew told score at 2-2.” over France to three points with two after leaders Bosnia’s unbeaten run on 13 and Honduras on 10, while Mexico sit in began when key midfielder Michael Bradley ZDF television. Spirits were much higher at matches remaining as goals from came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at fourth place, outside the automatic qualification limped off the field with an ankle injury picked The same could not be said of Wembley where England outclassed Jordi Alba and Alvaro Negredo either home to Slovakia. slots, on eight points in the final stage group. up during the warmup. Group E leaders Switzerland, who let Moldova after two goals from Danny side of halftime secured a comfort- They stay top on goal difference Panama are on seven and Jamaica are bot- Costa Rica grabbed the lead in the third slip a 4-1 lead to draw 4-4 with Welbeck and one each from captain able win. over Greece, who also have 16 points tom of the six-team standings on three points. minute when Jhonny Acosta headed in a corner Iceland, allowing second-placed Steven Gerrard and Rickie Lambert “We have a three-point lead now after a 1-0 win in Liechtenstein, with Mexico’s biggest worry going into Friday’s game at the near post past DaMarcus Beasley on the Norway to close the gap on them to propelled Roy Hodgson’s side to the and we’re in a great position to quali- Slovakia - on 12 - also in contention was a lack of firepower at home after their three line. four points after they beat Cyprus 2-0. top of Group H on goal difference. fy,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque for first place and direct qualification previous qualifiers at the Azteca had all ended in Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Cristian Netherlands also had defensive ques- Montenegro, who also have 15 told Spanish television broadcaster into next year’s finals. —Reuters goalless draws. Bolanos floated a ball towards the back post and Seeking to address the issue, De la Torre left rose superbly above Beasley to Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez on head home. the bench and started with Oribe Peralto in Playing in his 100th international game, Clint Trapattoni still attack with the move paying off instantly. Dempsey converted a penalty shortly before the Giovani dos Santos burst down the left flank break to give Juergen Klinsmann’s side hope of a believes in and picked out Peralto with a low cross, which second half comeback. But a goal on the break- the striker calmly slotted home to end Mexico’s away by the lively with 13 minutes Ireland’s chances home goal drought after just six minutes. remaining secured victory for Costa Rica. Mexico seemed in control but the introduc- Panama will be kicking themselves for not : Giovanni Trapattoni refused to give up on tion of Jerry Bengtson to the Honduran attack taking advantage of Mexico’s stumble after they Ireland’s World Cup dreams despite a disappointing 2-1 changed the game. Carlos Costly’s powerful failed to defeat a Jamaica team that played most defeat to Sweden in Dublin on Friday night. drive was parried out by Jose Corona and of the second half with 10 men. It was the first The result puts Sweden three points clear in second Bengtson reacted quickly to tap in the loose ball game in charge for Jamaica’s new German coach place in Group C, behind runaway leaders Germany, for a 64th minute equaliser. Winfried Schaefer and he had keeper Donovan with Ireland meeting Austria on Tuesday night in Two minutes later, Costly grabbed the winner Ricketts to thank for some superb saves. Vienna. when he bustled past Diego Reyes before Jamaica had Rodolph Austin sent off for a The veteran Italian coach, who led Ireland to a first unleashing a superb shot into the far corner. second bookable offence in the 58th minute but major tournament in 10 years when they qualified for De la Torre left the field to a chorus of “Chepo held on for a point. —Reuters Euro 2012, had insisted his side needed four points from the two games. But with three now the maximum return, he was in Worries mount for Hodgson defiant mood post-match. “We play Austria next and Sweden must play in Kazakhstan, and after that they LONDON: Roy Hodgson admitted he had a dilem- have Germany too, [so] there is an opportunity,” he ma on his hands after the England manager’s argued. “Maybe this qualification will be decided in the attacking selection crisis deepened following the 4- last two games. 0 win over Moldova in World Cup qualifying. “We have to watch what happens with Austria as we England moved to the top of European qualifying need to win there and see what happens with Sweden. Group H on goal difference above Montenegro “The other teams play each other too, so we need six after sweeping past Ion Caras’s side at Wembley on points for sure. Friday, but victory came at a price. “Sweden must lose, so it depends on what the oth- LIMA: Peru’s goalkeeper Raul Fernandez soars to catch a high ball during Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck, ers do.” Trapattoni left the pitch to a chorus of boos from their FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup South American qualifier match played who claimed a sweetly taken double, was shown a a packed Lansdowne Road, but had no intentions of against Uruguay. —AFP yellow card that rules him out of Tuesday’s key trip walking away from the job, insisting that he’d stay on to Ukraine, who trail England by a point. for Euro 2016 if the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) With Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll unavail- allowed him. Uruguay keeps Argentina, able due to injury and Daniel Sturridge likely to “Will I walk? No,” he said. “I think we have done a very miss out with a thigh problem, it leaves Hodgson great job, not a good job, a great job. “We changed with Rickie Lambert and Jermain Defoe as his only many players in the team. We are in a group with great Colombia waiting fit strikers. Lambert at least is taking to international LONDON: England manager Roy teams like Germany and Sweden. football well, having scored his second goal in two Hodgson looks on ahead of the “Many of their players play in great teams but our BUENOS AIRES: World Cup qualification celebra- half by 20 more minutes when the floodlights games with a first-half header, but Hodgson was game against Moldova. —AFP players play or not play. “The supporters when you lose, tions in Argentina and Colombia were put on failed. Chile beat Venezuela 3-0 in Santiago to angry about the circumstances that led to here or in England or Italy, they boo when you lose. hold until at least the next round of South climb above Ecuador into third place, two points Welbeck’s first-half booking. Southampton striker, who scored on his interna- “If I look at what we did in the last two years then American fixtures after Uruguay eked out a vital behind the leading duo, with a win that severely The 22-year-old was cautioned for making an tional debut against Scotland last month, laid on sure I want to stay, but it is not my duty. It is up to the 2-1 victory over Peru in Lima on Friday. dented the visitors’ hopes of finals qualification attempt at goal after the whistle had gone for off- both of Welbeck’s goals, either side of half-time. federation.” Erik Hamren’s post is looking more secure Luis Suarez netted twice to keep Uruguay for the first time. “We made a huge step... We’re side and Hodgson felt that Slovakian referee Ivan “Lambert was a selection which obviously people following the crucial victory, and the Sweden boss very much in the picture for next year’s finals in close (to qualifying). The best thing is that we Kruzliak reached for his card too quickly. saw to some extent as a selection which came admitted he expected more from Ireland. Brazil as he moved top of the scorers’ standings depend only on ourselves, that gives us tranquilli- “I don’t think there will be too many people, about because two other candidates were missing, “I was a little bit surprised how they played, the way on 10 goals, one more than Argentina’s Gonzalo ty,” Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo said. even amongst the refereeing fraternity, who will say but he took his chance and that’s all you can do,” they played the last six or seven months was more a Higuain. However, Venezuela (16 points), Peru (14) and that was a clear yellow card,” Hodgson told journal- said Hodgson, whose side took a 12th-minute lead passing game and through the midfield and today was Higuain will not be able to recover the lead in even Paraguay (11), who enjoyed a 4-0 rout of ists at his post-game press conference. through captain Steven Gerrard. next week’s fixtures as he is suspended for group Bolivia in Asuncion, could still vie for the playoff a lot of long balls and they were good at that and we “A 40-yard sprint, a ball that arrives on your foot, “I’m sure he’ll be expecting to play on Tuesday leader Argentina’s visit to improved Paraguay in berth if Ecuador (21) and Uruguay (19) stumble in had problems in the first 20 minutes,” he said. a split-second between the whistle blowing and the and I have to make a decision whether to go along Asuncion, where Lionel Messi’s team will be hop- the final matches. shot, a team (Moldova) that’s already been wasting with the expectancy or surprise him,” he added with “But we managed to defend a little bit better for the ing to secure a ticket to Brazil. “There are nine points still to play for and we time from the very first minute, so they’d have been a smile. Hodgson was less upbeat about Sturridge’s rest of the game.” Ireland led 1-0 through Robbie Colombia were on target for a first finals must fight... What’s changed is that now we don’t delighted to see the ball going behind the goal... chances of playing against Ukraine, however, after Keane’s opportunistic strike, but once Sweden levelled appearance in 16 years after their 1-0 home win only depend on ourselves, now we depend on “You’ll have to work very, very hard to persuade he missed the Moldova game with a thigh injury he through Johan Elmander in the 33rd minute, the visitors over Ecuador in a storm-lashed Barranquilla but other results,” Peru coach Sergio Markarian admit- me that in the rules of the game, that was a yellow aggravated in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester looked the more likely to get a winner and Anders Suarez’s goals mean they need to avoid defeat ted after his side’s defeat. card.” Hodgson added: “He’s got a yellow card, he’s United last Sunday. “It’s under one week since he Svensson was the man to take the glory in the second against Uruguay in Montevideo on Tuesday to What Argentina and Colombia have ensured out of the game. We’ll live with it, we’ll deal with it, finished the game against Manchester United and half after a great through ball from the increasingly advance. “This match was highly significant statis- is a place among the top five teams in the nine- but did I think it was a yellow card, did I think it was it’s five days since he had the scan which shows he influential Zlatan Ibrahimovic. “After Ireland scored we tically... We had to play with that pressure, that nation group since the bottom four can no a correct decision? No, I didn’t.” got a thigh strain,” Hodgson said. had a good game for the rest of the match and had anxiety and then all the rest,” Colombia coach longer catch them. When the 16-game campaign Hodgson, who revealed that Ashley Cole was “He would have to recover from the thigh strain some really good chances. I am really satisfied,” Hamren Jose Pekerman told reporters after his side ends next month, the top four will automatically substituted to spare him from the risk of a suspen- in seven to eight days. It’s not impossible and added. “We had the fight and attitude I wanted to see, if moved level on 26 points with Argentina. secure tickets to Brazil while the team finishing sion-incurring booking, was nonetheless able to there’s no reason why we should give up hope, but you take away the first 20 minutes. We showed strength Pekerman was referring to the kickoff in fifth will go into a two-legged playoff against salute another impressive showing from Lambert. if you’re asking me if it’s more than 50-50, the in the team.” —AFP Barranquilla being delayed for 90 minutes due to either Jordan or Uzbekistan in November for one As well as claiming England’s second goal, the answer is definitely no. —AFP a waterlogged pitch and the start of the second more berth. —Reuters