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Established 1961 15 Sports Monday, October 9, 2017 France on brink of World Cup, Dutch hopes hang by a thread Cristiano Ronaldo sets up Swiss showdown PARIS: Blaise Matuidi’s early goal saw off Bulgaria 1- ference to 12. Trailing the Scandinavians by three 0 on Saturday and kept France top of European World points, only a massive victory over Sweden in Cup qualifying Group A, while the Netherlands’ hopes Amsterdam next week will save the three-time World are hanging by a thread despite a 3-1 win in Belarus. Cup runners-up. France took the lead in only the third minute as mid- fielder Matuidi curled home a fantastic shot from a tight RONALDO SPARES PORTUGAL’S BLUSHES angle into the far top corner. Portugal struggled for long periods in Andorra, Bulgaria more than held their own in Sofia, though, needing the rested Cristiano Ronaldo to come on as a as they looked to repeat the famous win over France half-time substitute and help them stumble to a 2-0 win that sent them to the 1994 World Cup, and Hugo Lloris and set up a winner-takes-all showdown with was forced into a point- Switzerland in Lisbon blank save to deny tomorrow. Georgi Kostadinov. But The European cham- Didier Deschamps’s side pions had to wait until closed out the vital win, Greece moves the 63rd minute for and three points at home Ronaldo to break the to Belarus on Tuesday into second deadlock on the artificial would book their ticket place with pitch, before Andre Silva to Russia. “It was a diffi- finally put their nerves to cult match with lots of 2-1 victory bed. Real Madrid star mistakes, commitment,” Ronaldo, who started on said coach Deschamps. the bench to help avoid “We’re still first-that’s collecting a yellow card important-we’ve got one that would have seen match left and (qualifica- him suspended for tion) remains in our hands, so we have to win on tomorrow’s game, is now level on 15 goals for the cam- Tuesday.” The Dutch needed a victory in Barysaw to paign with Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, a record for keep alive any hopes of a top-two finish, but despite a European World Cup qualifying. third goal in two games from Brighton and Hove Albion “Thank God that he scored,” said Portugal coach ANDORRA LA VELLA: Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) falls while challenging midfielder Davy Propper, Belarus equalised through Fernando Santos. “Cristiano Ronaldo was decisive for Andorra’s midfielder Victor Rodriguez during the FIFA World Cup 2018 football qualifier Maksim Volodjko. us in this match, but that’s why he’s the best player in between Andorra and Portugal at the Municipal Stadium in Andorra la Vella, on Saturday.—AFP Captain Arjen Robben came to his side’s rescue by the world. “On that type of pitch, we were not able to netting a penalty with only six minutes remaining, really play our game, but we took advantage of the best before Memphis Depay added some gloss in injury- player in the world.” Steven Zuber scored twice in FC Copenhagen striker Pieros Sotiriou put Cyprus the play-offs as the worst second-placed team. time. The Netherlands are looking to avoid failing to Basel as Switzerland made it nine wins from nine by ahead early on as they looked for a win to maintain Goals from Haris Medunjanin and Edin Visca put the qualify for successive major tournaments for the first thrashing Hungary 5-2. Switzerland lead Portugal by hopes of a play-off place, but two goals in three first- Bosnians ahead in Sarajevo after Belgium full-back time since 1986, having also missed out on Euro 2016. three points but have an inferior goal difference. half minutes from Kostas Mitroglou and Alexandros Thomas Muenier’s early strike, but Michy Batshuayi But they now face a near impossible task, as Sweden In Group H, Greece moved into second place with a Tziolis sent Greece two points clear of Bosnia. and Jan Vertonghen turned things around. thrashed Luxembourg 8-0 earlier on Saturday, with come-from-behind 2-1 victory in Cyprus after Bosnia Michael Skibbe’s side are almost certain to finish Dario Dumic’s 82nd-minute equaliser gave Bosnia forward Marcus Berg scoring four goals, to extend and Herzegovina had suffered a stunning 4-3 home second as they host pointless Gibraltar in their last hope, but Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Carrasco their advantage over Dick Advocaat’s men on goal dif- defeat by already-qualified Belgium. game tomorrow, although they could still miss out on struck to break the hosts’ hearts. — AFP Alex Iwobi sends Nigeria to Russia, Wales, Ireland Ghana eliminated face World ABUJA: Alex Iwobi’s goal saw Nigeria become the first Cup shootout African team to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia, while Ghana were eliminated in the qualifiers. A 73rd-minute strike by Arsenal forward Iwobi handed the LONDON: Wales manager Chris Coleman says his side Super Eagles a 1-0 success over Zambia in Uyo, ensuring will embrace the pressure of today’s knife-edge World top spot in Group B with a game to spare. Cup qualification shootout against the Republic of “It was my goal to qualify this team to an amazing tour- Ireland in Cardiff. Victory for either team will guarantee nament like the World Cup,” said Nigeria captain Mikel them a play-off berth at their opponents’ expense and Obi. “I’m proud to captain this team of great players and could yield an automatic qualifying spot if Group D lead- coaches. “My wife is Russian and she and the kids will be ers Serbia falter in their last game at home to Georgia. in Russia to cheer us at the World Cup.” Nigeria now have For Wales, a draw at Cardiff City Stadium would be 13 points with second-placed Zambia on seven. Cameroon enough to finish above Ireland in the table, but Coleman are on six points after defeating Algeria 2-0. says his players will only be thinking of victory. Ghana, quarter-finalists at the 2010 World Cup in South “We’re on dangerous ground if we go in with a game Africa, were eliminated after managing only a goalless plan of trying to soak the pressure up for 90 minutes,” draw in Uganda when needing a win to keep their slim said Coleman, who will be without his attacking talisman hopes alive. It means Egypt can join Nigeria with victory Gareth Bale due to injury. at home to winless Congo yesterday. “We are too good to do that. We’ll go and attack, go Failure to do so would mean Uganda can still pip them ABUJA: Nigeria’s forward Mikel John Obi (L) fights for the ball with Zambia’s midfielder and score goals. We have to do that-it’s our strength. “A to top spot in Group E, with both facing away trips next Simon Silwimba during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying football match between Nigeria point may be OK, but we’ll go for three points. That’s the month. Uganda, who were promised $3,000-a-man to and Zambia.— AFP way it’s set up. “I think it will be a sensational atmosphere beat Ghana, created the better first-half chances in in Cardiff and these are the games you want to be Kampala but William Kizito spurned the best of those. involved in. Derrick Nsibambi could have headed the Cranes ahead three minutes from time. Senegal top group D after late by the Ghanaian referee. “We always seem to play other countries who are in the 64th minute, but somehow missed the target from goals from Diafra Sakho and Cheikh N’Doye earned them DR Congo’s 2-1 win in Libya ensured Group A will go involved and celebrating, but we welcome the pressure.” inside the six-yard box. South Africa recorded their first a 2-0 win at Cape Verde. down to the wire, although Tunisia need only a point at Celtic cousins separated by the Irish Sea, Wales and win in Group D with a 3-1 success against Burkina Faso They now need to win one of next month’s double- home to Libya to secure qualification after Youssef Ireland are more accustomed to facing off on the rugby despite losing Bongani Zungu to a red card in the second header against South Africa to qualify, but all four teams M’Sakni’s hat-trick fired them to a 4-1 win at Guinea. pitch and have never previously tackled each other in a half for retaliation. remain in contention. Senegal have eight points with In Group C, Khalid Boutaib’s hat-trick sent Morocco football match of such magnitude. Surprise semi-finalists Bafana Bafana raced to a 3-0 first-half lead with a Burkina Faso and Cape Verde on six and South Africa on top with a 3-0 win over Gabon, who were eliminated. at Euro 2016, Wales have not played at a World Cup highly controversial Percy Tau goal, followed by strikes four. Senegal and South Africa have an extra game left Ivory Coast dropped to second after drawing 0-0 in Mali since 1958 and could finish a qualifying campaign from Themba Zwani and Sibusiso Vilakazi. Burkina Faso’s because they must replay a match originally won 2-1 by on Friday but they host Morocco in a winner-takes-all unbeaten for the first time in their history.