BELFAST -- The Czech Republic reinforced
their dominance at the top of World Cup qualifying group three
with a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland whose hopes of reaching
next year's finals have all but evaporated.
Lazio playmaker Pavel Nedved was the match winner for the
visitors with the only goal of the game on 12 minutes.
Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes, at fault for a goal
against Norway last month, hesitated on the edge of the penalty
area after a run from Tomas Rosicky and livewire Nedved nipped
in to slot the ball past Roy Carroll from 12 yards.
The Czechs always looked dangerous on the counter-attack but
Sammy McIlroy's men almost snatched a draw three minutes from
time when substitute Phil Gray smashed a shot against the
crossbar and when he seemed certain to score with the second
attempt Roman Tyce cleared off the line.
The one major positive note for Northern ireland was the
crowd support for Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon who suffered
sectarian abuse from a small section of the Windsor Pak crowd
last month.
The Irish FA threat to name and shame the people abusing
Lennon obviously worked.
Denmark demolish Malta 5-0
VALLETTA -- Ebbe Sand scored a hat-trick
as Denmark trounced Malta 5-0 in a World Cup European group
three qualifier at Ta'Qali stadium on Saturday.
Sand, who plays for German first division club Schalke,
opened the scoring in the eighth minute, profiting from
confusion among four Maltese defenders.
The Danes laid siege on the Malta goal but the home side,
pulling almost everyone back in defence, denied them any more
goals in the first half.
Dennis Rommedahl was unlucky not to score on the resumption
but Jan Heintze at last made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with a
fine shot into the roof of the Maltese net from outside the
penalty area.
Sand made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute as the Danes turned the
match into a training exercise.
Substitute Claus Jensen made it 4-0 in the 75th minute
within two minutes of coming on for Martin Jorgensen and Sand
completed his hat-trick four minutes later.
The Danes, playing in what turned out to be the hottest ever
March day in Malta at 30 Celsius, were so dominant that their
new goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, taking over for the first time
from Peter Schmeichel, hardly ever touched the ball.
The Danes looked determined from the start to ensure they
were not surprised in Malta as group leaders the Czech Republic
were in October when they were held to a goalless draw.
The Czechs, who beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Belfast on
Saturday, lead the group with 10 points from four games. Denmark
are second with eight points from four games.
Malta managed to force two corners in the second half but
did not manage a single direct shot at the Danish goal.
Denmark face the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Bulgaria grab 2-1 win over 10-man Iceland
SOFIA -- Bulgaria came back from a goal
down to gain a hard-earned 2-1 win over 10-man Iceland in a
World Cup European group three qualifier on Saturday.
Iceland defender Herman Hreidarsson put the visitors ahead
following a melee in the Bulgarian defence in the 24th minute.
Bulgarian defender Krassimir Chomakov equalised 12 minutes
later, firing home from 20 metres to beat Icelandic goalkeeper
Anri Gautar Arason.
Iceland defender Larus Sigurdsson was sent off two minutes
before the interval for an off-the-ball incident with Bulgaria's
Martin Petrov.
Bulgarian substitute Dimitar Berbatov took advantage of a
misunderstanding among Iceland defenders in the 78th minute and
scrambled the ball into the net to score what turned out to be
the winner.
"The players were nervous and tense, which led to certain
mistakes. The team is young...A team cannot be built up for a
year," Bulgaria coach Stoicho Mladenov told reporters.
Goalscorer Chomakov said after the match: "I dedicate my
goal to (Bulgaria's injured Celtic midfielder) Stiljan Petrov
and wish him to join us soon."
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