Uruguay have one foot in South Africa after claiming a 1-0 win over ten-man Costa Rica, courtesy of a first-half striker from captain Diego Lugano.
The proceedings began with plenty of niggling fouls by either side as they felt each otehr out in the first ten minutes.
The first real chance fell to Costa Rica midfielder Cristian Bolanos, who cut inside from the right, but his curling effort was straight at Lazio shot stopper Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal.
However, events took a dramatic turn on 22 minutes. Diego Forlan nearlys cored a spectacular goal with a one-time that flashed across the face of goal, that was put out for a corner. From the set-piece, Forlan got his head to the ball and the Ticos defence failed to clear the danger, allowing centre-back Diego Lugano to latch onto the loose ball and tap home from close range.
Despite intially looking shocked by the setback, Costa Rica had the better of the play in the last twenty minutes of the first 45 minutes. Bolanos, who had been one of the bright spots for the home side, put in a cross that was just too long for strikers Brian Ruiz and Alvaro Saborio.
The active Forlan did well to keep posession of 40 minutes, but his eventual attempt was well blocked. Meanwhile, Ruiz was becoming more and more involved to the delight of the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa.
A brilliant ball over the top by Randall Azofeifa found the Twente striker, but his looping header landed on top of the net with Muslera stranded as the half came to a close.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Russia 2-1 Slovenia
Two goals from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov gave Russia a 2-1 win over Slovenia in a World Cup qualification play-off.
In the first game of a two-legged tie in Moscow, the Everton playmaker stole the show with a sublime first goal five minutes before half-time.
The same player doubled Russia's lead with a less extravagant finish six minutes after half-time and that should have been the prompt for Guus Hiddink's team to all but confirm their participation at South Africa 2010.
However chances came and went for the home side and two minutes from full-time Slovenian substitute Nejc Pecnik headed into an empty net to give the visitors a chance ahead of next Wednesday's second leg.
Slovenia were not without their chances in the first half either. Valter Birsa's shot was deflected wide after a break down the left by Milivoje Novakovic while strike partner Zlatko Dedic shot into the side netting after attempting to round Igor Akinfeev.
Russia were predictably the more fluid in possession but, apart from a Yuri Zhirkov run and shot that was turned aside by Samir Handanovic, the Muscovites had had little to get excited about before their side took the lead five minutes before half-time.
There was, however, a lot to get excited about with the execution of Bilyaletdinov's opener.
The Everton man's turn would not have looked out of place at the nearby Bolshoi theatre, the forward's fleet of foot deceiving two defenders at once before he picked his spot - the top left-hand corner of Handanovic's goal.
If Russia could have been accused in the first half of being overly cautious, the same charge could not have been levelled at Guus Hiddink's side at the start of the second.
The hosts attacked Slovenia from the off and within seven minutes of the restart had the cushion of a second goal.
Roman Pavlyuchenko had already seen a close-range shot deflected into the arms of Handanovic and Sergei Ignashevich a fierce free-kick tipped over the bar by the Slovenian shot-stopper before Bilyaletdinov doubled his team's lead.
Lacking the artistic grace of the first goal, Bilyaletdinov did the necessary from eight yards with a low shot that found the bottom corner of the goal via a deflection.
Pavlyuchenko continued his search for a goal but was unable to beat Handanovic, either with a fierce shot or a diving header.
Bilyaletdinov could have claimed his hat-trick with his head but, moments after skewing a shot wide, substitute Pecnik headed into an unguarded net to set up a frantic finale.
Incredibly, Slovenia could even have equalised, but defender Marko Suler's shot was saved brilliantly by Akinfeev two minutes into time added on at the end of the game.
In the first game of a two-legged tie in Moscow, the Everton playmaker stole the show with a sublime first goal five minutes before half-time.
The same player doubled Russia's lead with a less extravagant finish six minutes after half-time and that should have been the prompt for Guus Hiddink's team to all but confirm their participation at South Africa 2010.
However chances came and went for the home side and two minutes from full-time Slovenian substitute Nejc Pecnik headed into an empty net to give the visitors a chance ahead of next Wednesday's second leg.
Slovenia were not without their chances in the first half either. Valter Birsa's shot was deflected wide after a break down the left by Milivoje Novakovic while strike partner Zlatko Dedic shot into the side netting after attempting to round Igor Akinfeev.
Russia were predictably the more fluid in possession but, apart from a Yuri Zhirkov run and shot that was turned aside by Samir Handanovic, the Muscovites had had little to get excited about before their side took the lead five minutes before half-time.
There was, however, a lot to get excited about with the execution of Bilyaletdinov's opener.
The Everton man's turn would not have looked out of place at the nearby Bolshoi theatre, the forward's fleet of foot deceiving two defenders at once before he picked his spot - the top left-hand corner of Handanovic's goal.
If Russia could have been accused in the first half of being overly cautious, the same charge could not have been levelled at Guus Hiddink's side at the start of the second.
The hosts attacked Slovenia from the off and within seven minutes of the restart had the cushion of a second goal.
Roman Pavlyuchenko had already seen a close-range shot deflected into the arms of Handanovic and Sergei Ignashevich a fierce free-kick tipped over the bar by the Slovenian shot-stopper before Bilyaletdinov doubled his team's lead.
Lacking the artistic grace of the first goal, Bilyaletdinov did the necessary from eight yards with a low shot that found the bottom corner of the goal via a deflection.
Pavlyuchenko continued his search for a goal but was unable to beat Handanovic, either with a fierce shot or a diving header.
Bilyaletdinov could have claimed his hat-trick with his head but, moments after skewing a shot wide, substitute Pecnik headed into an unguarded net to set up a frantic finale.
Incredibly, Slovenia could even have equalised, but defender Marko Suler's shot was saved brilliantly by Akinfeev two minutes into time added on at the end of the game.
Greece held by Ukraine
Greece and Ukraine are at stalemate after a goalless draw in the first leg of their World Cup qualification play-off.
The second leg in Kiev next Wednesday will decide which team progresses to South Africa but on this performance neither side has particularly strong claims to involvement in world football's most celebrated competition.
The Athens crowd were on very short commons, with only a Theofanis Gekas header threatening a goal for the home side in the first half.
Ukraine's attacking intent was similarly limited and they will be happy with a draw, particularly after Sotiris Kyrgiakos headed wide in added time.
An industrious if unengaging first half saw chances at a premium. The away side's best opportunity of the first period was wasted on 19 minutes when Ruslan Rotan shot wide from the edge of the area.
Ukraine might have been handed the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot though had the referee thought ill of a clumsy challenge by Kyrgiakos as Rotan's cross threatened to reach Artem Milevsky.
For all the sporadic promptings of winger Dimitris Salpigidis and the menace of striker Gekas, the home side had even less to shout about - at least until a minute before half-time.
Then the 10-goal top scorer in World Cup qualification 2010 almost had another goal to his tally but his header from Giorgos Karagounis's free-kick was clutched low to his right by Andriy Pyatov.
Pyatov's opposite number, Alexandros Tzorvas, was a virtual spectator until the 68th minute when a fiercely struck shot by Taras Mykhalyk required the keeper to paw the ball away.
Greece coach Otto Rehaggel replaced Gekas with Angelos Charisteas midway through the half but the change did little to alter the pattern of the game.
Arguably the closest Ukraine came to scoring was when the Greek goalkeeper Tzorvas let a backpass roll under his foot. Fortunately for the home side he was not stood between the posts when it happened.
Giorgios Samaras shot narrowly over the bar in the closing stages, while Kyrgiakos should have done much better than head wide in added time but the thought that these two teams will do it all again in five days' time will excite very few.
The second leg in Kiev next Wednesday will decide which team progresses to South Africa but on this performance neither side has particularly strong claims to involvement in world football's most celebrated competition.
The Athens crowd were on very short commons, with only a Theofanis Gekas header threatening a goal for the home side in the first half.
Ukraine's attacking intent was similarly limited and they will be happy with a draw, particularly after Sotiris Kyrgiakos headed wide in added time.
An industrious if unengaging first half saw chances at a premium. The away side's best opportunity of the first period was wasted on 19 minutes when Ruslan Rotan shot wide from the edge of the area.
Ukraine might have been handed the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot though had the referee thought ill of a clumsy challenge by Kyrgiakos as Rotan's cross threatened to reach Artem Milevsky.
For all the sporadic promptings of winger Dimitris Salpigidis and the menace of striker Gekas, the home side had even less to shout about - at least until a minute before half-time.
Then the 10-goal top scorer in World Cup qualification 2010 almost had another goal to his tally but his header from Giorgos Karagounis's free-kick was clutched low to his right by Andriy Pyatov.
Pyatov's opposite number, Alexandros Tzorvas, was a virtual spectator until the 68th minute when a fiercely struck shot by Taras Mykhalyk required the keeper to paw the ball away.
Greece coach Otto Rehaggel replaced Gekas with Angelos Charisteas midway through the half but the change did little to alter the pattern of the game.
Arguably the closest Ukraine came to scoring was when the Greek goalkeeper Tzorvas let a backpass roll under his foot. Fortunately for the home side he was not stood between the posts when it happened.
Giorgios Samaras shot narrowly over the bar in the closing stages, while Kyrgiakos should have done much better than head wide in added time but the thought that these two teams will do it all again in five days' time will excite very few.
Portugal 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bruno Alves's first-half goal gave Portugal an unconvincing first-leg win at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup qualifying play-off.
Alves (pictured) bundled the ball in at the far post after Nani's right-wing cross was allowed to fizz across goal on 31 minutes.
The Bosnians were very unfortunate not to bag an away goal after hitting the woodwork three times, including twice in succession with only a minute left.
Portugal, with four foreign-born players in their starting line-up, dominated possession but laboured in front of goal, while Bosnia's dangerous strikers were a constant threat on the break.
The hosts started the brighter although Bosnia soon found a counter-attacking rhythm and Hajduk Split midfielder Senijad Ibricic went close with a header wide from a ninth-minute corner.
For all their possession, Portugal did not truly threaten Kenan Hasagic's goal until Raul Meireles forced the Bosnia keeper to tip over just after the half hour.
They were ahead soon afterwards when defender Alves stole in unmarked at the far post after Nani's wicked centre evaded both attack and defence.
Bosnia rallied as Vedad Ibisevic bicycle-kicked just over and Sejad Sahilovic was foiled by Portugal keeper Eduardo.
Two minutes before half-time Ibricic was agonisingly close to equalising from another corner but his power-header crashed off the bar.
The second half followed a similar pattern of Portugal bossing the ball but Bosnia dangerous on the counter.
Liedson, Sporting's naturalised striker, should have made it 2-0 after his outrageous flick set him clear but he fired over from close range.
Within seconds fellow Brazilian-born expatriate Deco tried a long shot that just cleared the bar but, for all their territorial dominance, the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and any cutting edge up front meant they were as toothless as they were stylish.
The visitors were desperately unlucky not to equalise. With a quarter of an hour left Wolfsburg hit-man Edin Dzeko fired into the side netting after leaving Paulo Ferreira for dead, but the real drama came in the latter stages.
On 89 minutes Dzeko - who with Wayne Rooney was joint-second top scorer in qualifying with nine goals - dived in at the far post to head a right-wing cross past Eduardo but, in doing everything right by putting the ball low into the ground, his finish bounced up off the crossbar.
The loose ball dropped to substitute Zlatan Muslimovic, who finished low past the stranded Braga keeper but off the inside of the far post.
Portugal held on for the win on the night but the second leg in Sarajevo on November 18 might not see Bosnia so forgiving.
Alves (pictured) bundled the ball in at the far post after Nani's right-wing cross was allowed to fizz across goal on 31 minutes.
The Bosnians were very unfortunate not to bag an away goal after hitting the woodwork three times, including twice in succession with only a minute left.
Portugal, with four foreign-born players in their starting line-up, dominated possession but laboured in front of goal, while Bosnia's dangerous strikers were a constant threat on the break.
The hosts started the brighter although Bosnia soon found a counter-attacking rhythm and Hajduk Split midfielder Senijad Ibricic went close with a header wide from a ninth-minute corner.
For all their possession, Portugal did not truly threaten Kenan Hasagic's goal until Raul Meireles forced the Bosnia keeper to tip over just after the half hour.
They were ahead soon afterwards when defender Alves stole in unmarked at the far post after Nani's wicked centre evaded both attack and defence.
Bosnia rallied as Vedad Ibisevic bicycle-kicked just over and Sejad Sahilovic was foiled by Portugal keeper Eduardo.
Two minutes before half-time Ibricic was agonisingly close to equalising from another corner but his power-header crashed off the bar.
The second half followed a similar pattern of Portugal bossing the ball but Bosnia dangerous on the counter.
Liedson, Sporting's naturalised striker, should have made it 2-0 after his outrageous flick set him clear but he fired over from close range.
Within seconds fellow Brazilian-born expatriate Deco tried a long shot that just cleared the bar but, for all their territorial dominance, the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and any cutting edge up front meant they were as toothless as they were stylish.
The visitors were desperately unlucky not to equalise. With a quarter of an hour left Wolfsburg hit-man Edin Dzeko fired into the side netting after leaving Paulo Ferreira for dead, but the real drama came in the latter stages.
On 89 minutes Dzeko - who with Wayne Rooney was joint-second top scorer in qualifying with nine goals - dived in at the far post to head a right-wing cross past Eduardo but, in doing everything right by putting the ball low into the ground, his finish bounced up off the crossbar.
The loose ball dropped to substitute Zlatan Muslimovic, who finished low past the stranded Braga keeper but off the inside of the far post.
Portugal held on for the win on the night but the second leg in Sarajevo on November 18 might not see Bosnia so forgiving.
Ireland 0-1 France
Nicolas Anelka's deflected goal gave France a 1-0 win against Republic of Ireland at Croke Park in their World Cup play-off first leg.
The Chelsea striker ensured the 2006 World Cup runners-up enter the home leg in Paris as big favourites, scoring the only goal on 72 minutes - although his shot needed a cruel deflection off Sean St Ledger to beat Irish goalkeeper Shay Given.
The return fixture will have added spice following a melee after the final whistle, with Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews the leading protagonist.
Raymond Domenech's side deserved their victory after dominating the second period, and Giovanni Trapattoni will have to instill his charges with greater attacking ambition if they are to achieve a famous victory at the Stade de France.
Trapattoni named 10 of his starting 11 on Friday, but left it until the last minute before plumping for Liam Lawrence ahead of Aiden McGeady on the right side of midfield, and the Stoke City player had a starring role in the first half.
Given hit a long clearance in the 28th minute that Kevin Doyle flicked on to Robbie Keane inside the box. The Ireland captain's close range shot was parried by Hugo Lloris but the rebound fell to Lawrence, whose shot went wide off the heel of Bacary Sagna with the goal gaping.
Sagna's touch notwithstanding, Lawrence should still have scored with the goalkeeper stranded, and his miss will go down as a key moment in the tie.
In the 11th minute, Andre-Pierre Gignac put the ball in the net only to see his effort disallowed. Hesitant Irish defending had allowed a long ball to bounce through to the striker, who was flagged offside as he lofted the ball past Given.
Ireland's much-maligned central midfield duo of Andrews and Glenn Whelan performed their usual unfashionable job, crowding France, denying them space and time on the ball.
The visitors were restricted to half-chances, such as a speculative Yoann Gourcuff effort straight at Given, and a Gignac shot wide from the edge of the box.
Domenech's 4-3-3 formation did not get the best out of Thierry Henry, whose devastating goal threat was effectively neutralised by his position wide on the left, or delivering set pieces from deep.
While Henry often drifted to the left for Arsenal, he used his licence to roam much more freely than in the national team. Baffling, given the France captain's status as his country's record goalscorer.
His one first-half opportunity came after he lost possession to Andrews, only for the Blackburn man to dawdle and return the ball to Henry who volleyed well wide.
However, the visitors stepped up the pace after the break, as Lassana Diarra went close with a long-range volley after 56 minutes.
Midway through the second period, a Richard Dunne slip allowed Patrice Evra to race through onto the through ball. He reached the ball a split-second ahead of the onrushing Given but left his leg in and made the most of minimal contact.
Referee Felix Brych said no penalty - it would have been a harsh award, but it was a close-run thing.
But the breakthrough was not long in coming. Anelka, who spent much of the night dropping deep, was allowed space to come forward and his shot left Given with no chance following its cruel touch off St Ledger.
Gignac had a golden opportunity to effectively end the tie when the ball fell to him after an Irish defensive mix-up, but the Toulouse striker contrived to put the ball out for a throw when presented with a virtually open goal.
Ireland might have levelled late on after Eric Abidal gave the ball away to substitute Leon Best. The Coventry City man found Keane who helped the ball on to Whelan, whose shot was superbly saved at close range by Lloris.
The Chelsea striker ensured the 2006 World Cup runners-up enter the home leg in Paris as big favourites, scoring the only goal on 72 minutes - although his shot needed a cruel deflection off Sean St Ledger to beat Irish goalkeeper Shay Given.
The return fixture will have added spice following a melee after the final whistle, with Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews the leading protagonist.
Raymond Domenech's side deserved their victory after dominating the second period, and Giovanni Trapattoni will have to instill his charges with greater attacking ambition if they are to achieve a famous victory at the Stade de France.
Trapattoni named 10 of his starting 11 on Friday, but left it until the last minute before plumping for Liam Lawrence ahead of Aiden McGeady on the right side of midfield, and the Stoke City player had a starring role in the first half.
Given hit a long clearance in the 28th minute that Kevin Doyle flicked on to Robbie Keane inside the box. The Ireland captain's close range shot was parried by Hugo Lloris but the rebound fell to Lawrence, whose shot went wide off the heel of Bacary Sagna with the goal gaping.
Sagna's touch notwithstanding, Lawrence should still have scored with the goalkeeper stranded, and his miss will go down as a key moment in the tie.
In the 11th minute, Andre-Pierre Gignac put the ball in the net only to see his effort disallowed. Hesitant Irish defending had allowed a long ball to bounce through to the striker, who was flagged offside as he lofted the ball past Given.
Ireland's much-maligned central midfield duo of Andrews and Glenn Whelan performed their usual unfashionable job, crowding France, denying them space and time on the ball.
The visitors were restricted to half-chances, such as a speculative Yoann Gourcuff effort straight at Given, and a Gignac shot wide from the edge of the box.
Domenech's 4-3-3 formation did not get the best out of Thierry Henry, whose devastating goal threat was effectively neutralised by his position wide on the left, or delivering set pieces from deep.
While Henry often drifted to the left for Arsenal, he used his licence to roam much more freely than in the national team. Baffling, given the France captain's status as his country's record goalscorer.
His one first-half opportunity came after he lost possession to Andrews, only for the Blackburn man to dawdle and return the ball to Henry who volleyed well wide.
However, the visitors stepped up the pace after the break, as Lassana Diarra went close with a long-range volley after 56 minutes.
Midway through the second period, a Richard Dunne slip allowed Patrice Evra to race through onto the through ball. He reached the ball a split-second ahead of the onrushing Given but left his leg in and made the most of minimal contact.
Referee Felix Brych said no penalty - it would have been a harsh award, but it was a close-run thing.
But the breakthrough was not long in coming. Anelka, who spent much of the night dropping deep, was allowed space to come forward and his shot left Given with no chance following its cruel touch off St Ledger.
Gignac had a golden opportunity to effectively end the tie when the ball fell to him after an Irish defensive mix-up, but the Toulouse striker contrived to put the ball out for a throw when presented with a virtually open goal.
Ireland might have levelled late on after Eric Abidal gave the ball away to substitute Leon Best. The Coventry City man found Keane who helped the ball on to Whelan, whose shot was superbly saved at close range by Lloris.
Africa Zone have 1 spot left
Four of the five qualifying slots in the Africa Zone have now been taken, with Cameroon and Nigeria joining Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire on a highly dramatic day. While the Indomitable Lions won as expected in Morocco, the Super Eagles produced a late rally in Kenya to steal a ticket to South Africa 2010 from under the noses of Tunisia.
There was even more drama in the day’s final game as Egypt recorded a thrilling 2-0 win over Algeria to set up a play-off between the two in Sudan on Wednesday.
FIFA.com rounds up all the action on the final day of qualifying in the Africa Zone.
Game of the day
Egypt 2-0 Algeria
Goals: Amr Zaki 2, Emad Moteab 90+5
Needing to win by two clear goals to force a play-off against the Algerians next week, Egypt did just that on a tense evening at the International Stadium in Cairo. And if the excitement the two sides generated in this Group C finale is anything to go by, the showdown in Sudan on Wednesday should be a cracker.
The Pharaohs took an early lead in a helter-skelter opening, though the Desert Foxes recovered their poise and had chances to equalise either side of half-time though Antar Yahia and Rafik Saifi. The visitors paid for their profligacy in injury time, however, and could even have been eliminated altogether had Egypt’s Mohamed Barakat not missed a gilt-edged chance in the sixth-minute of stoppage time.
Surprise of the day
Mozambique 1-0 Tunisia
Goal: Dario 83
The Carthage Eagles led the way in Group B right from the start, taking a sixth-minute lead in their opening game in Kenya and running out 2-1 winners to take to the top of the section. Still out front at the start of this the final game, the Tunisians came within just seven minutes of seeing the job through and claiming a place in the finals. At just about the same time that Dario capped Mozambique’s domination in Maputo with the only goal of the match, Obafemi Martins was netting Nigeria’s winner in Kenya, capping a cruelly deflating afternoon for Humberto Coelho’s luckless side.
Player of the day
Obafemi Martins (NGA)
To reach the finals Nigeria needed to win in Kenya and pray that Mozambique did them a favour at home to group leaders Tunisia. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the Super Eagles were indebted to the Wolfsburg striker for pulling them level on the hour mark. And with the score tied at 2-2 with just seven minutes remaining, Martins popped up again to score the winner. The former Inter Milan forward could hardly have chosen a better game to open his account in the qualifying competition and when news filtered through that the Mozambicans had won 1-0, the Nigerians celebrated their late escape.
The stat
1 - Togo ended a wait of 25 years and eight matches as they beat Gabon for the first time. Following five defeats and two draws against the Gabonese, the Sparrowhawks ran out winners on Saturday thanks to Floyd Ama Ayite’s 70th minute strike, which also secured them a ticket to the 2010 CAF African Cup of Nations.
What they said
"It was a very good outing - very explosive. But we fought to win and despite going down 1-0 we still came bac. Qualifying is fantastic. Now we have to go back home and map out the preparations," Shaibu Amodu, Nigeria coach.
Saturday’s results:
Mozambique 1-0 Tunisia
Kenya 2-3 Nigeria
Rwanda 0-0 Zambia
Morocco 0-2 Cameroon
Togo 1-0 Gabon
Burkina Faso 1-0 Malawi
Côte d'Ivoire 3-0 Guinea
Sudan 1-2 Benin
Egypt 2-0 Algeria
There was even more drama in the day’s final game as Egypt recorded a thrilling 2-0 win over Algeria to set up a play-off between the two in Sudan on Wednesday.
FIFA.com rounds up all the action on the final day of qualifying in the Africa Zone.
Game of the day
Egypt 2-0 Algeria
Goals: Amr Zaki 2, Emad Moteab 90+5
Needing to win by two clear goals to force a play-off against the Algerians next week, Egypt did just that on a tense evening at the International Stadium in Cairo. And if the excitement the two sides generated in this Group C finale is anything to go by, the showdown in Sudan on Wednesday should be a cracker.
The Pharaohs took an early lead in a helter-skelter opening, though the Desert Foxes recovered their poise and had chances to equalise either side of half-time though Antar Yahia and Rafik Saifi. The visitors paid for their profligacy in injury time, however, and could even have been eliminated altogether had Egypt’s Mohamed Barakat not missed a gilt-edged chance in the sixth-minute of stoppage time.
Surprise of the day
Mozambique 1-0 Tunisia
Goal: Dario 83
The Carthage Eagles led the way in Group B right from the start, taking a sixth-minute lead in their opening game in Kenya and running out 2-1 winners to take to the top of the section. Still out front at the start of this the final game, the Tunisians came within just seven minutes of seeing the job through and claiming a place in the finals. At just about the same time that Dario capped Mozambique’s domination in Maputo with the only goal of the match, Obafemi Martins was netting Nigeria’s winner in Kenya, capping a cruelly deflating afternoon for Humberto Coelho’s luckless side.
Player of the day
Obafemi Martins (NGA)
To reach the finals Nigeria needed to win in Kenya and pray that Mozambique did them a favour at home to group leaders Tunisia. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the Super Eagles were indebted to the Wolfsburg striker for pulling them level on the hour mark. And with the score tied at 2-2 with just seven minutes remaining, Martins popped up again to score the winner. The former Inter Milan forward could hardly have chosen a better game to open his account in the qualifying competition and when news filtered through that the Mozambicans had won 1-0, the Nigerians celebrated their late escape.
The stat
1 - Togo ended a wait of 25 years and eight matches as they beat Gabon for the first time. Following five defeats and two draws against the Gabonese, the Sparrowhawks ran out winners on Saturday thanks to Floyd Ama Ayite’s 70th minute strike, which also secured them a ticket to the 2010 CAF African Cup of Nations.
What they said
"It was a very good outing - very explosive. But we fought to win and despite going down 1-0 we still came bac. Qualifying is fantastic. Now we have to go back home and map out the preparations," Shaibu Amodu, Nigeria coach.
Saturday’s results:
Mozambique 1-0 Tunisia
Kenya 2-3 Nigeria
Rwanda 0-0 Zambia
Morocco 0-2 Cameroon
Togo 1-0 Gabon
Burkina Faso 1-0 Malawi
Côte d'Ivoire 3-0 Guinea
Sudan 1-2 Benin
Egypt 2-0 Algeria
New Zealand qualify for South Africa
Rory Fallon's goal on the stroke of half-time ensured New Zealand's progression to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, ending a 28 year absence.
A first half header from Rory Fallon gave New Zealand a 1-0 win over Bahrain in Wellington on Saturday to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1982.
The goal late in the first half in the second leg of the intercontinental play-off sent 36,000 fans wild with excitement.
It wasn’t a smooth ride however as Bahrain missed a penalty in the second half that would have sent them to South Africa instead... more to come
A first half header from Rory Fallon gave New Zealand a 1-0 win over Bahrain in Wellington on Saturday to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1982.
The goal late in the first half in the second leg of the intercontinental play-off sent 36,000 fans wild with excitement.
It wasn’t a smooth ride however as Bahrain missed a penalty in the second half that would have sent them to South Africa instead... more to come
Costa Rica and Uruguay dreams
After over two years of travelling, Costa Rica and Uruguay are finally reaching the end of the road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. In the wake of next Wednesday’s return leg, the world will know which of the pair will be heading for South Africa, with both teams are hoping to lay the foundations for progress with a positive result in Saturday 14 November’s first leg.
The Costa Ricans are due to play the first encounter on home soil and take on the two-time world champions knowing that they were mere seconds away from securing a direct passage to next year’s showpiece. Denied by a last-gasp United States equaliser in Washington DC, Los Ticos’ supremo Rene Simoes has had his work cut out trying to lift his charges’ battered morale.
Uruguay too had automatic qualification within their grasp: a win over arch-rivals Argentina at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario in their final game would have seen them through. However, in a fiercely contested encounter of few chances, La Albiceleste struck late on to take the spoils and send La Celeste to the play-offs.
The stakes
Costa Rica have been regular visitors to the FIFA World Cup since reaching their first finals at Italy 1990. Despite missing out on USA 1994 and France 1998, the Central Americans returned to world football’s top table for Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006, with Simoes’ current squad boasting two players who appeared at both those events: Walter Centeno and Luis Marin. A third finals for the veteran pair would be a regional first.
Uruguay, for their part, are steeped in footballing heritage. Winners of the first ever FIFA World Cup in 1930 on home soil, as well as the famous Maracanazo triumph at Brazil 1950, Los Charrúas have supplied some of the greatest players ever to grace the game in the likes of Jose Nasazzi, Juan Schiaffino, Obdulio Varela, Víctor Esparrago and Enzo Francescoli.
Recent global success has been hard to come by, however, with La Celeste reaching only Korea/Japan 2002 out of the last four FIFA World Cups. Even that came courtesy of a play-off victory over Australia, opponents who defeated them at the same stage four years later.
The build-up
Coach Simoes has put together a careful strategy for his team to follow over the two-legged tie, and Los Ticos’ domestic-based contingent were brought together two weeks ago to ensure no stone has been left unturned. This core of players were subsequently joined on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 November by Costa Rica’s foreign-based performers, with the experienced Brazilian tactician choosing to focus mainly on confidence-building exercises.
Uruguay boss Oscar Washington Tabarez, meanwhile, decided to help his players acclimatise to the artificial pitch at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa and avoid the negative effects of a long-haul journey by putting his squad through their paces at training camp in Guatemala, one equipped with a similar artificial surface. Los Charrúas will be without key figures including Cristian Rodriguez, Jorge Fucile and Edinson Cavani, though a quick glance at the talent in the travelling party underlines the size of the task awaiting Costa Rica.
The star players
Topping this list is one of the world’s most lethal strikers in Atletico de Madrid’s Diego Forlan who, despite his current travails at club level, remains capable of changing the course of any game. Other main men for La Celeste include imposing keeper Fernando Muslera, defensive rock Diego Lugano and young forward Luis Suarez, in prolific form this season for Dutch giants Ajax
Not that Costa Rica short on ability either, with the goals of main man Bryan Ruiz firing his club Twente to the top of the Eredivisie. Aiding and abetting the gifted attacker will be 36-year-old schemer Centeno, the intelligent promptings of midfielder Celso Borges and the safe hands of keeper Keylor Navas.
The stat
5 – The number of domestic-based players in the Uruguay squad, all of whom ply their trade for Nacional or Defensor Sporting. The remaining Charrúas play their football in Argentina or Europe.
The words
“The team’s morale level will be crucial over these games. We’ve been going over this a lot with the players because it’s vital they change their mentality and believe in themselves. There needs to be a belief that they can win and not just from the players, but from the fans and the media too,” Rene Simoes, Costa Rica coach.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, but it won’t be at all easy. The most important thing is to pick up a good result away from home so we can relax more going into the return at the Centenario. We’ve got a lot of quality in this squad and let’s hope we can win and give the whole country something to celebrate,” Diego Forlan, Uruguay striker.
The Costa Ricans are due to play the first encounter on home soil and take on the two-time world champions knowing that they were mere seconds away from securing a direct passage to next year’s showpiece. Denied by a last-gasp United States equaliser in Washington DC, Los Ticos’ supremo Rene Simoes has had his work cut out trying to lift his charges’ battered morale.
Uruguay too had automatic qualification within their grasp: a win over arch-rivals Argentina at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario in their final game would have seen them through. However, in a fiercely contested encounter of few chances, La Albiceleste struck late on to take the spoils and send La Celeste to the play-offs.
The stakes
Costa Rica have been regular visitors to the FIFA World Cup since reaching their first finals at Italy 1990. Despite missing out on USA 1994 and France 1998, the Central Americans returned to world football’s top table for Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006, with Simoes’ current squad boasting two players who appeared at both those events: Walter Centeno and Luis Marin. A third finals for the veteran pair would be a regional first.
Uruguay, for their part, are steeped in footballing heritage. Winners of the first ever FIFA World Cup in 1930 on home soil, as well as the famous Maracanazo triumph at Brazil 1950, Los Charrúas have supplied some of the greatest players ever to grace the game in the likes of Jose Nasazzi, Juan Schiaffino, Obdulio Varela, Víctor Esparrago and Enzo Francescoli.
Recent global success has been hard to come by, however, with La Celeste reaching only Korea/Japan 2002 out of the last four FIFA World Cups. Even that came courtesy of a play-off victory over Australia, opponents who defeated them at the same stage four years later.
The build-up
Coach Simoes has put together a careful strategy for his team to follow over the two-legged tie, and Los Ticos’ domestic-based contingent were brought together two weeks ago to ensure no stone has been left unturned. This core of players were subsequently joined on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 November by Costa Rica’s foreign-based performers, with the experienced Brazilian tactician choosing to focus mainly on confidence-building exercises.
Uruguay boss Oscar Washington Tabarez, meanwhile, decided to help his players acclimatise to the artificial pitch at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa and avoid the negative effects of a long-haul journey by putting his squad through their paces at training camp in Guatemala, one equipped with a similar artificial surface. Los Charrúas will be without key figures including Cristian Rodriguez, Jorge Fucile and Edinson Cavani, though a quick glance at the talent in the travelling party underlines the size of the task awaiting Costa Rica.
The star players
Topping this list is one of the world’s most lethal strikers in Atletico de Madrid’s Diego Forlan who, despite his current travails at club level, remains capable of changing the course of any game. Other main men for La Celeste include imposing keeper Fernando Muslera, defensive rock Diego Lugano and young forward Luis Suarez, in prolific form this season for Dutch giants Ajax
Not that Costa Rica short on ability either, with the goals of main man Bryan Ruiz firing his club Twente to the top of the Eredivisie. Aiding and abetting the gifted attacker will be 36-year-old schemer Centeno, the intelligent promptings of midfielder Celso Borges and the safe hands of keeper Keylor Navas.
The stat
5 – The number of domestic-based players in the Uruguay squad, all of whom ply their trade for Nacional or Defensor Sporting. The remaining Charrúas play their football in Argentina or Europe.
The words
“The team’s morale level will be crucial over these games. We’ve been going over this a lot with the players because it’s vital they change their mentality and believe in themselves. There needs to be a belief that they can win and not just from the players, but from the fans and the media too,” Rene Simoes, Costa Rica coach.
“We’ve got a great opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, but it won’t be at all easy. The most important thing is to pick up a good result away from home so we can relax more going into the return at the Centenario. We’ve got a lot of quality in this squad and let’s hope we can win and give the whole country something to celebrate,” Diego Forlan, Uruguay striker.
france and Portugal in a big test
The prospect of a FIFA World Cup™ without Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry will move a step closer if Portugal and France come unstuck in the first leg of their South Africa 2010 play-offs on Saturday.
Having failed to secure automatic qualification for the South Africa showpiece, Portugal must overcome Bosnia-Herzegovina while France face a stern test against Giovanni Trapattoni's rejuvenated Republic of Ireland. Both France and Portugal, who lost to the French in the 2006 semi-finals, have been hampered by injury, with Les Bleus deprived of the services of Franck Ribery and Portugal missing talismanic captain Ronaldo.
France coach Raymond Domenech, apparently immune to the welter of public criticism which has rained down on him for much of his tenure, insists the French will go through. "I know my men are ready," said Domenech, whose side face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday prior to the return leg in Paris next Wednesday.
"Any pressure is internal. If the players don't feel it inside then there's something wrong and they have no place here." Yet even as Domenech seeks to throw a protective arm around his squad he himself has been squarely in the firing line, coming in for criticism from the Irish and his own countrymen alike.
Ireland defender Richard Dunne, whose side went unbeaten in qualifying only to be pipped to automatic qualification from Group 8 by reigning champions Italy, insists that with the likes of Henry and Nicolas Anelka on board, France should already be through.
"Every time a tournament comes round, France have all these world-class players and then a man who seems intent on messing them up," Dunne told The Guardian newspaper. "And we know that if we can get in front, they probably have not got the man at the top to pull them back around."
Domenech took time out to attend the Paris Masters tennis tournament this week and was promptly booed by fans when cameras picked him out in the crowd. And L'Equipe sports daily picked up on criticism by depicting the Irish team lined up behind Domenech beneath the headline, 'Their luck is him!'
The pressure is on them (France) more so than us, but we are both playing for a place in the World Cup finals, so it's enormous,
Republic of Ireland assistant coach Liam Brady.
Former Irish star Liam Brady, now an assistant to Trapattoni, says the men in green fear nobody. "The pressure is on them more so than us, but we are both playing for a place in the World Cup finals, so it's enormous," he said. "But if we were to carry a lead to Paris, the pressure would pile on them."
French forward Sidney Govou shrugged off the mind games regarding Domenech. "They (the critics) just want to put the pressure on - but it's not him who'll be out there on the pitch."
For Portugal's Deco, meanwhile, the loss of Ronaldo must not be allowed to weigh too heavily on Carlos Queiroz's side. "We have enough quality to plug the gap - we can't use his absence as an excuse. We know it won't be easy but we are confident," the Chelsea midfielder insisted.
As France and Portugal seek redemption in the form of tickets to South Africa, 2004 European champions Greece also face a fight as they go up against Ukraine, who edged Croatia out of the runners-up spot in England's group. The inconsistent Greeks lost out in their group to Switzerland and have the perceived disadvantage of playing the second leg away.
Guus Hiddink's Russia, who were unable to overhaul Germany in their group, host Slovenia. "We should never underestimate Slovenia on any account," Hiddink warned his UEFA Euro 2008 semi-finalists.
Having failed to secure automatic qualification for the South Africa showpiece, Portugal must overcome Bosnia-Herzegovina while France face a stern test against Giovanni Trapattoni's rejuvenated Republic of Ireland. Both France and Portugal, who lost to the French in the 2006 semi-finals, have been hampered by injury, with Les Bleus deprived of the services of Franck Ribery and Portugal missing talismanic captain Ronaldo.
France coach Raymond Domenech, apparently immune to the welter of public criticism which has rained down on him for much of his tenure, insists the French will go through. "I know my men are ready," said Domenech, whose side face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday prior to the return leg in Paris next Wednesday.
"Any pressure is internal. If the players don't feel it inside then there's something wrong and they have no place here." Yet even as Domenech seeks to throw a protective arm around his squad he himself has been squarely in the firing line, coming in for criticism from the Irish and his own countrymen alike.
Ireland defender Richard Dunne, whose side went unbeaten in qualifying only to be pipped to automatic qualification from Group 8 by reigning champions Italy, insists that with the likes of Henry and Nicolas Anelka on board, France should already be through.
"Every time a tournament comes round, France have all these world-class players and then a man who seems intent on messing them up," Dunne told The Guardian newspaper. "And we know that if we can get in front, they probably have not got the man at the top to pull them back around."
Domenech took time out to attend the Paris Masters tennis tournament this week and was promptly booed by fans when cameras picked him out in the crowd. And L'Equipe sports daily picked up on criticism by depicting the Irish team lined up behind Domenech beneath the headline, 'Their luck is him!'
The pressure is on them (France) more so than us, but we are both playing for a place in the World Cup finals, so it's enormous,
Republic of Ireland assistant coach Liam Brady.
Former Irish star Liam Brady, now an assistant to Trapattoni, says the men in green fear nobody. "The pressure is on them more so than us, but we are both playing for a place in the World Cup finals, so it's enormous," he said. "But if we were to carry a lead to Paris, the pressure would pile on them."
French forward Sidney Govou shrugged off the mind games regarding Domenech. "They (the critics) just want to put the pressure on - but it's not him who'll be out there on the pitch."
For Portugal's Deco, meanwhile, the loss of Ronaldo must not be allowed to weigh too heavily on Carlos Queiroz's side. "We have enough quality to plug the gap - we can't use his absence as an excuse. We know it won't be easy but we are confident," the Chelsea midfielder insisted.
As France and Portugal seek redemption in the form of tickets to South Africa, 2004 European champions Greece also face a fight as they go up against Ukraine, who edged Croatia out of the runners-up spot in England's group. The inconsistent Greeks lost out in their group to Switzerland and have the perceived disadvantage of playing the second leg away.
Guus Hiddink's Russia, who were unable to overhaul Germany in their group, host Slovenia. "We should never underestimate Slovenia on any account," Hiddink warned his UEFA Euro 2008 semi-finalists.
who will go to south Africa 2010?
Twenty-five months after African qualifying for the 19th edition of the FIFA World Cup™ began, its three remaining places alongside Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana will be seized this weekend.
One will go to Cameroon or Gabon, with Tunisia or Nigeria clinching another. However, the biggest attraction on the concluding matchday will unfold in Cairo, where fierce rivals Egypt and Algeria will collide for a ticket to South Africa 2010. The final ten African preliminaries will also sort out the final field for the forthcoming CAF African Cup of Nations, due to kick off in Angola in January.
The big game
Egypt-Algeria
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Saturday, 20:30 (CET)
Algeria have failed to qualify for the last two African Cup of Nations tournaments, which were both won by Egypt, but the tables have turned over this past year. The Desert Foxes lead Group C by three points from their arch-rivals, and have a plus-seven goal difference compared to the Pharaohs’ plus-three.
This means the latter can afford a single-goal defeat and still qualify. However, a two-goal victory for Egypt would result in the teams being tied on goal difference and goals scored, and would duly force a play-off in Sudan on 18 November.
Both sides have injury doubts, with the biggest-name potential absentee Egypt midfielder Hosni Abd Rabou, who picked up a knock to his ankle at the weekend. It was Abd Rabou who was the player of the tournament when Egypt retained their African crown in Ghana last year, and it was his goal away to Zambia last month that maintained their hopes of pipping Algeria to top spot in Group C.
Elsewhere
Tunisia have a two-point lead over Nigeria in Group B and will qualify for a fourth successive FIFA World Cup if they beat Mozambique in Maputo. However, if they slip up, the Super Eagles will finish top if they beat Kenya in Nairobi.
Cameroon have made a remarkable recovery in Group A, flying from bottom to top, and they will qualify for an African-record sixth world finals if they win in Morocco. Gabon, one point back in second, will have to overcome Togo in Lome and hope the Indomitable Lions stumble in Fes.
Group E winners Côte d'Ivoire finish their campaign at home to Guinea, while Group D conquerors Ghana will use Sunday's game at home to Mali to experiment with several players from their recent FIFA U-20 World Cup-winning side.
The player
Egyptian striker Emad Moteab has been out of action for the last six months with a serious knee injury, but has timed his return to perfection. With the Pharaohs needing at least a two-goal winning margin over Algeria to have any chance of FIFA World Cup qualification, his pace and guile could be decisive. Moteab scored twice for his country on 5 November, as they beat Tanzania 5-1 in a warm-up game to raise their confidence.
The stat
5 - The number of times Cameroon have appeared at the FIFA World Cup. They made their debut in 1982 and became the first African side to reach the quarter-finals eight years later. The Indomitable Lions were also present at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 editions.
The words
"This might surprise you, but I'm anxious to get to Cairo and soak up the atmosphere at the stadium. We are all impatient and are preparing for one of the biggest games we'll ever play in. We hope to have the right form for the game against Egypt," Algeria’s Yacine Bezzaz.
The fixtures
Saturday 14 November
Mozambique-Tunisia
Kenya-Nigeria
Rwanda-Zambia
Burkina Faso-Malawi
Côte d'Ivoire-Guinea
Morocco-Cameroon
Togo-Gabon
Egypt-Algeria
Sudan-Benin
Sunday 15 November
Ghana-Mali
One will go to Cameroon or Gabon, with Tunisia or Nigeria clinching another. However, the biggest attraction on the concluding matchday will unfold in Cairo, where fierce rivals Egypt and Algeria will collide for a ticket to South Africa 2010. The final ten African preliminaries will also sort out the final field for the forthcoming CAF African Cup of Nations, due to kick off in Angola in January.
The big game
Egypt-Algeria
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Saturday, 20:30 (CET)
Algeria have failed to qualify for the last two African Cup of Nations tournaments, which were both won by Egypt, but the tables have turned over this past year. The Desert Foxes lead Group C by three points from their arch-rivals, and have a plus-seven goal difference compared to the Pharaohs’ plus-three.
This means the latter can afford a single-goal defeat and still qualify. However, a two-goal victory for Egypt would result in the teams being tied on goal difference and goals scored, and would duly force a play-off in Sudan on 18 November.
Both sides have injury doubts, with the biggest-name potential absentee Egypt midfielder Hosni Abd Rabou, who picked up a knock to his ankle at the weekend. It was Abd Rabou who was the player of the tournament when Egypt retained their African crown in Ghana last year, and it was his goal away to Zambia last month that maintained their hopes of pipping Algeria to top spot in Group C.
Elsewhere
Tunisia have a two-point lead over Nigeria in Group B and will qualify for a fourth successive FIFA World Cup if they beat Mozambique in Maputo. However, if they slip up, the Super Eagles will finish top if they beat Kenya in Nairobi.
Cameroon have made a remarkable recovery in Group A, flying from bottom to top, and they will qualify for an African-record sixth world finals if they win in Morocco. Gabon, one point back in second, will have to overcome Togo in Lome and hope the Indomitable Lions stumble in Fes.
Group E winners Côte d'Ivoire finish their campaign at home to Guinea, while Group D conquerors Ghana will use Sunday's game at home to Mali to experiment with several players from their recent FIFA U-20 World Cup-winning side.
The player
Egyptian striker Emad Moteab has been out of action for the last six months with a serious knee injury, but has timed his return to perfection. With the Pharaohs needing at least a two-goal winning margin over Algeria to have any chance of FIFA World Cup qualification, his pace and guile could be decisive. Moteab scored twice for his country on 5 November, as they beat Tanzania 5-1 in a warm-up game to raise their confidence.
The stat
5 - The number of times Cameroon have appeared at the FIFA World Cup. They made their debut in 1982 and became the first African side to reach the quarter-finals eight years later. The Indomitable Lions were also present at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 editions.
The words
"This might surprise you, but I'm anxious to get to Cairo and soak up the atmosphere at the stadium. We are all impatient and are preparing for one of the biggest games we'll ever play in. We hope to have the right form for the game against Egypt," Algeria’s Yacine Bezzaz.
The fixtures
Saturday 14 November
Mozambique-Tunisia
Kenya-Nigeria
Rwanda-Zambia
Burkina Faso-Malawi
Côte d'Ivoire-Guinea
Morocco-Cameroon
Togo-Gabon
Egypt-Algeria
Sudan-Benin
Sunday 15 November
Ghana-Mali
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