SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2013 SPORTS19 Belgium, Germany and Swiss book World Cup tickets LONDON: Two-goal Romelu Lukaku fired Belgium’s golden generation into next year’s World Cup finals with Germany and Switzerland also sealing their tickets to the Brazil extravaganza on Friday. Belgium, boasting one of the most talented squads in Europe, will return to the global show- piece for the first time since 2002 after a 2-1 win in Croatia guaran- teed top spot in Group A. Perennial finalists Germany’s 3-0 home win over Ireland, with goals from Sami Khedira, Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil, put them through from Group C while the Swiss won 2-1 in Albania to wrap up Group E. Netherlands, with Robin van Persie hitting a hat-trick in an 8-1 demolition of Hungary to surpass Patrick Kluivert as record Dutch scorer with 41 goals, and Italy had sealed their passage to the finals before Friday’s penultimate round of qualifiers. Holders Spain moved to the brink of qualification from Group I after captain Xavi and substitute Alvaro Negredo struck in a laboured 2-1 win at home to Belarus. Group F leaders Russia, with a 4-0 victory in Luxembourg, and England, who beat Montenegro ALBANIA: Albania’s Ergys Kace (left) vies for the ball with Switzerland’s Admir Mehmeti (right) during 4-1 at Wembley with Wayne the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifying football match. —AFP MEXICO: Panama’s footballer Luis Tejada (left) celebrates after scoring against Rooney among the scorers, Mexico in their Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualifier match. —AFP remain in pole position in Group happen though. The defence on Tuesday will secure the world slip up against the Poles. Andriy H ahead of Tuesday’s final round needs to become more stable,” and European champions a berth Yarmolenko scored the only goal Spectacular late goal revives of matches. said coach Joachim Loew. in Brazil. as the Ukrainians edged Poland Victory on a wet night in Sweden captain Zlatan Russia need a point from their 1-0 in Kharkiv which all but end- Mexico’s World Cup bid Zagreb prompted joyous celebra- Ibrahimovic struck a late winner final game away at Azerbaijan to ed the Euro 2012 co-hosts’ hopes tions from the Belgian players in to earn a 2-1 victory over Austria qualify after brushing aside of progressing. LOS ANGELES: Raul Alonso Jimenez’s to 11 — three behind Honduras. front of a sizeable and vociferous that secured second place behind Luxembourg to move three Bosnia, seeking to reach their stunning bicycle kick lifted Mexico to a 2- Honduras need only to draw at last- contingent of travelling fans. the Germans and one of the play- points ahead of Portugal. first major tournament as an 1 win over Panama on Friday, breathing placed Jamaica in their final match on “I’m super happy for the team. off spots. The eight best group A late blunder from goalkeep- independent nation, and Greece new life into El Tri’s World Cup bid and Tuesday to punch their ticket to Brazil. At We always believed we could runners-up advance to a two- er Rui Patricio gifted Israel a 1-1 remain neck-and-neck on 22 keeping Honduras’ hopes on hold. worst Honduras could finish fourth, and qualify and now it’s here,” said legged playoff in November to fill draw in Lisbon to leave Portugal, points at the top of Group G after Jimenez’s splendid bicycle kick five play off for a Brazil berth against Lukaku, looking ahead to a party the last four European places. who led through a first half goal home wins on Friday. minutes from time-just two minutes after Oceania’s New Zealand. Mexico, who atmosphere in Brussels for their Goals from Xherdan Shaqiri from centre back Ricardo Costa, Bosnia, with Edin Dzeko scor- he entered the match-gave Mexico the travel to Costa Rica on Tuesday, now final game against Wales. and Michael Lang clinched staring at the playoffs. ing twice, thumped Liechtenstein much needed win, moving them into look the most likely to take on New The pacey Lukaku broke the Switzerland’s passage with their England will win their section 4-1 while a Martin Skrtel own sole possession of fourth place in the six- Zealand, although Panama, on eight deadlock from Steven Defour’s successful campaign built around with victory at home to Poland. goal handed Greece a 1-0 success nation final qualifying group in North points and hosting group winners the defence-splitting pass and dou- a rock-solid defence that has con- Roy Hodgson’s side had to at home to Slovakia. and Central America and the Caribbean. United States on Tuesday, still have a bled the lead seven minutes ceded just six goals. remain patient to overcome stub- Nicklas Bendtner made a sen- Honduras had earlier strengthened mathematical chance of grabbing fourth before the break, racing away Iceland or Slovenia will finish born Montenegro who had not sational return from a six-month their hold on third place-and the final place. from halfway before lifting the second in the group. Iceland, 2-0 lost to the 1966 World Cup win- ban by netting both goals in direct entry from the region to next Jurgen Klinsmann’s US team made ball over prone keeper Stipe winners over Cyprus on Friday, ners in three previous meetings. Denmark’s 2-2 draw at home to year’s finals in Brazil-with a 1-0 victory sure they will finish top of the group with Pletikosa and walking the ball will secure that spot if they can Rooney, who missed the last Italy in Group B. over Costa Rica at San Pedro Sula. a 2-0 triumph over Jamaica in Kansas into the net. win in Norway on Tuesday while two qualifiers through injury, The striker was suspended by Jerry Bengtson’s 64th-minute strike City. Injury-hit Germany, boosted Slovenia, who face the Swiss in eased England’s nerves when he the Danish FA after being arrest- lifted Honduras, whose third trip to the Graham Zusi scored in the 77th by the return of midfielder Berne, stayed in contention struck soon after the restart and a ed for drink-driving but his inter- World Cup could have been sealed with minute and Jozy Altidore doubled the Bastian Schweinsteiger after a six- thanks to Milivoje Novakovic’s Branko Boskovic own goal, a national return was spoiled by a draw between Mexico and Panama-but score in the 80th as the Reggae Boyz’s month break to earn his 99th cap, hat-trick in a 3-0 drubbing of the stunning third on his debut by Alberto Aquilani’s stoppage-time Jimenez had other ideas. slim hopes of making the New Zealand still swept aside Ireland. Norwegians. Spain’s victory in Andros Townsend, and an injury- equaliser. Long the powerhouse of the region, playoff were extinguished. “I think overall we played a Palma de Mallorca put them time penalty from Daniel The Danes remain third, level Mexico have endured a dismal qualifying The United States top the table with very good qualification. We won three points clear of France with Sturridge secured victory. on 13 points with Bulgaria who campaign and went into Friday’s match 19 points. Costa Rica, also already quali- eight of nine so we can be satis- one match to play and a point Ukraine remain one point had two players sent off in a 2-1 level on points with Panama and desper- fied, are second on 15. The Americans, fied. Something still needs to against lowly Georgia in Albacete behind and must hope England defeat in Armenia.—Reuters ately needing a win. who clinched a World Cup berth with a Mexico opened the scoring in the win over Mexico in their previous qualifi- 40th minute with Manchester United for- er, looked sluggish in the first half. Townsend strike tips England towards Brazil ward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez lob- Defender Brad Evans was called on to bing a pass to Oribe Peralta who made make a last-gasp clearance of a danger- LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Andros we got the goals,” said Hodgson, whose side Hodgson displayed uncharacteristic bold- the most of his opportunity from inside ous Jamaica cross in the early going and Townsend crowned his international debut must beat Poland at home on Tuesday to ness with his team selection on a damp the area. Rodolph Austin fired a shot inches past with a fine goal as England beat Montenegro secure a place in Brazil. autumn night at Wembley Stadium, fielding But Hernandez missed a penalty in the past for the visitors. 4-1 on Friday to close on a place at next year’s “Perhaps the most important goal was Rooney, Sturridge and Danny Welbeck in the second half after his weak attempt Things finally kicked into gear for the World Cup. Andros’s goal, because that restored our two- attack and handing a debut to Townsend. The was saved by goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. hosts in the 77th minute when Alejandro The 22-year-old winger was handed his goal margin. “The job’s half-done. If we want Spurs man saw plenty of the ball in the His miss was followed by a costly mistake Bedoya was played into the penalty area first cap by manager Roy Hodgson and the to qualify directly, we’ll have to win against game’s early stages and showed commend- by keeper Guillermo Ochoa, whose fail- on the right and he pulled the ball back gamble paid off as he settled the hosts’ Poland on Tuesday night.