Round Up Of Last Nights World Cup Qualifiers

Published by djmick on April 2nd, 2009

Here’s a round up of a few games that were played last night in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for South Africa 2010.

Bolivia v Argentina
Argentina were thrashed 6-1 in Bolivia – a historic defeat which may make Diego Maradona rethink his support of playing international football in La Paz.

Most of the Argentine squad had never played in the Bolivian capital, which is 3,600 meters above sea level, and they arrived only two hours before kick-off.

Maradona, who last year defended playing football at altitude following a Fifa decision to ban international games above 2,500 metres, refused to use altitude as an excuse.

Spain v Turkey
Spain’s continued their unbeaten run to a record-equalling 31 games.

Alonso equalised with a 63rd-minute penalty and Riera hit a last-gasp winner to sink Turkey 2-1 — the run matches Hungary’s streak set between 1950 and 1954.

Wales v Germany
Germany cruised to a 2-0 Group Four victory over a brave, if outclassed, Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

The Germans went ahead after 11 minutes with a 30-yarder from captain Michael Ballack, and capitalised on an unlucky own-goal early in the second half from defender Ashley Williams.

Italy v Republic of Ireland
Robbie Keane kept the Republic of Ireland’s hopes of automatic qualification alive with a last-gasp equaliser to hold ten-man Italy to a 1-1 draw in their Group Eight match in Bari.

Scotland v Iceland
Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher claimed their first international goals to keep Scotland’s qualification hopes alive with a crucial 2-1 win over Iceland at Hampden.

Indridi Sigurdsson had levelled for the visitors but George Burley’s men managed to claim the three points, allowing them to put distance between them and their nearest rivals in second place in Group Nine.

Holland v Macedonia
Liverpool star, striker Dirk Kuyt, bagged a double as Holland beat Macedonia 4-0 in Group Nine

Northern Ireland v Slovenia
Northern Ireland’s World Cup dream is still alive after they snatched a 1-0 victory against Slovenia.

On-loan Dundee United striker Warren Feeney sent Belfast into raptures as he grabbed the winner in the 73rd minute in their World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland remain top of Group Three after a remarkable run and they are still in with a chance of making it to South Africa next year.

Poland v San Marino
Ebi Smolarek scored four goals as Poland smashed San Marino 10-0 in Group Three — Southampton star Marek Saganowski completed the rout

Share On |