2014 World Cup Qualifying: Full recap of Friday’s UEFA matches
Missed some or all of today’s World Cup qualifiers in UEFA? Here’s a recap of all the results.
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Group B
Czech Republic 3-1 Malta
The Czech Republic fought off a spirited effort from Malta to claim their first win of World Cup qualifying. Goals from Theodor Gebre Selassie, Tomas Pekhart and Jan Rezek did the damage for the Czechs, while Alex Muscat scored the lone goal for Malta. Michael Mifsud had a chance in stoppage time to add a second, but missed his penalty chance. During qualifying for the 2010 World Cup Malta didn’t score a single goal, so in some way, this is at least a level of progress right?
Bulgaria 1-1 Denmark
Dimitar Rangelov put Bulgaria ahead in the 7th minute, but a goal before halftime by Nicklas Bendtner pulled Denmark even. Bulgaria was able to hold on in the second half, earning a point and further diminishing Denmark's qualification hopes. The draw was enough to keep Bulgaria in second place in the group behind Italy, one point ahead of the Czech Republic.
Group C
Faroe Islands 1-2 Sweden
For 65 minutes, the Faroe Islands were living the dream. They led Sweden 1-0 thanks to Rogvi Baldvinsson's goal in the 57th minute. They had a chance to earn an historic result...unfortunately, the match lasted 90 minutes. Alexander Kacaniklic equalized in the 65th minute and the mighty Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the match winner ten minutes later.
Kazakhstan 0-0 Austria
Austria controlled the play but they simply couldn't solve the Kazakhstan defense and had to settle for a scoreless draw. It's Kazakhstan's first point on qualification, while the result puts Austria's hopes of making it on life support.
Group D
Estonia 0-1 Hungary
Tamas Hajnal’s 46th minute goal was all Hungary needed to get the win away against Estonia.
Netherlands 3-0 Andorra
Group E
Albania 1-2 Iceland
A late goal from Tottenham's Gylfi Sigurdsson in the 81st minute gave Iceland the full three points over Albania. Birkir Bjarnason staked Iceland to an early 1-0 lead that lasted only ten minutes before Albania's Edgar Cani equalized.
Slovenia 2-1 Cyprus
Slovenia survived a late goal from Efstathios Aloneftis, holding on to earn the victory over Cyprus. Tim Matavz scored twice for Slovenia.
Group F
Luxembourg 0-6 Israel
Isreal cruised past Luxemborg behind a Tomer Hemad hat-trick and goals from Maharan Radi, Eden Ben Basat and Maor Melikson.
Group G
Liechtenstein 0-2 Lithuania
A second half brace by Edgaras Cesnauskis gave Lithuania the full three points away over Liechtenstein.
Slovakia 2-1 Latvia
Marek Hamsik scored on a penalty in the 6th minute and Marek Sapara scored three minutes later as Slovakia built an early 2-0 lead and held on for the victory. Latvia's Maris Verpakovskis made things interesting with a 85th goal on a penalty, but they couldn't finish the comeback.
Greece 0-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
There was essentially nothing to report from this scoreless draw. Sorry to be blunt, but sometimes the truth is an ugly and/or boring thing.
Group H
Moldova 0-0 Ukraine
Ukraine’s qualifying campaign went from bad to worse as they were held to a scoreless draw by Moldova.
Group I
Finland 1-1 Georgia
Literally everything of note in this match occurred in a five minute span during the second half. Guram Kashia put Georgia ahead 1-0 in the 57th minute and two minutes later Finland’s Aleksei Eremenko was sent off after being shown his second yellow card. It was not to be for Georgia though as Kasper Hamalainen scored in the 62nd minute to rescue a point for Finland.
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