Yegor Titov, 9, of Russia challenges for the ball with Yugoslavia's Slavisa Jokanovic. (AP)

The win lifted Russia on to 13 points from five matches at the top of Group One, five clear of Switzerland and six clear of third placed Slovenia. They have all played five matches.

But the result virtually ended Yugoslavia's hopes of a place in Japan and South Korea. They are back in fourth place on five points from four matches.

Beschastnykh headed the ball past Yugoslavia's keeper Sasa Ilic in the 72nd minute after a fine run and a good cross from the right by Rolan Gusev.

The striker could have added a second for the visitors ten minutes later but fired wide of the far post with only the keeper to beat.

The Yugoslavs pushed forward for an equaliser but the Russians held out without too much trouble and always looked dangerous on the break.

San Marino ends eight-year losing World Cup run

RIGA -- San Marino picked up their first World Cup point for eight years on Wednesday when Nicola Albani scored to give them a 1-1 draw with Latvia in a European group six qualifier.

The home side must have thought they were in for an easy win as skipper Marians Pahars, the Southampton striker, scored to put them ahead in the first minute of the match after being put through by Andrejs Rubins.

But although Latvia dominated the first half with the San Marino team failing to mount a single shot on goal, they were unable to add to their score.

Instead Nicola Albani eqalised after 59 minutes with a close-range header and despite all of Latvia's many attempts to regain the lead, San Marino goalie Federico Gasperoni had an inspired match and blocked their progress.

The last time San Marino gained a World Cup point was on March 10, 1993 when they drew 0-0 with Turkey in the qualifiers leading up to the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Wednesday's result had little impact in the group with San Marino staying bottom, now with one point from their five matches, and Latvia remaining one place above them with four points from five matches.

Scotland top the standings with 11 points from five, followed by Belgium (8 from 4) and Croatia (5 from 3).

Austria tops Liechtenstein 2-0 to lead Group 7

INNSBRUCK, Austria -- Austria beat Liechtenstein 2-0 on Wednesday to go top of group seven in the World Cup qualifiers.

Edi Glieder of Austrian league leaders Tirol Innsbruck scored in the 43rd minute after latching onto a through-ball from Ivica Vastic and curling his shot wide of Liechtenstein's keeper Peter Jehle.

Thomas Floegel made it 2-0 with a 75th minute header after a corner from captain Andreas Herzog which Liechtenstein failed to clear. The win gave Austria 11 points after five games, edging them ahead of Spain, who have 10 points from four games.

Ireland labours to 3-1 win over Andorra

DUBLIN -- Ireland picked up the three points they needed to move out in front of World Cup qualifying European group two on Wednesday, but they made hard going of their 3-1 victory over Andorra.

Their opponents, supposedly the minnows of the group, even took the lead in the first half, when centre half Ilderfons Lima rose to head a free kick firmly past Shay Given in the Irish goal in the 33rd minute.

The hosts struck back quickly, with Kevin Kilbane powering a shot home a minute later and Mark Kinsella putting Ireland in front with a close range effort in the 36th minute.

Captain Gary Breen finished off the scoring with another close range shot in the 76th minute to round off a disappointing game.

Ireland now head the group on 14 points, three ahead of the Netherlands and Portugal.

Irish manger Mick McCarthy was relieved to have got through a difficult night with three points.

"I hate those games," he said. "I was never going to win any friends, the players were never going to win any friends, you are never going to get any plaudits for winning or for the way we played."

He added: "They made it very, very hard for us. It's very, very hard to play against 11 men getting behind the ball, falling over all the time.

"You have got to be patient, the crowd were frustrated, I'm just glad to have won it."

McCarthy was less happy about the goal they conceded to fall behind.

He said: "I'd stressed to my players beforehand...the last thing I said was if they get a corner or a freekick make sure we defend it, and we didn't.

"I pointed out at halftime that a corner kick like that cost us a place in the European Championships last year and I don't want it to cost us a place in the World Cup.

"It hasn't - we've won."

Midfielder Mark Kinsella said it was a frustrating night for the Irish. "Every time you touched them they fell, we never got into a rhythm.

"But we did the job we set out to do. It wasn't up to the standard we've been playing but we've extended our lead which is what we set out to do.

"We needed to get this game out of the way and now we can focus on the big game against Portugal on June 2."

Iceland rallies to hammer Malta

VALLETTA -- Iceland came back from a goal down to hammer Malta 4-1 in their group three World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Maltese newcomer Michael Mifsud opened the scoring in the 14th minute but the Mediterranean islanders failed to capitalise on the lead and Iceland dominated long periods of the match.

Two goals in quick succession by Tryggvi Gudmundsson and Helgi Sigurdsson just before halftime put the visitors in control.

Smari Gudjohnsen added the third in the 83rd minute and Thordur Gudjonsson completed the rout in the final minute.

It was Malta's second successive heavy defeat at home after being beaten 5-0 by Denmark last month and kept them nailed to the bottom of the table with one point from five games.

Iceland, on six points, overtook Northern Ireland on four. However, they trail Denmark (9), Bulgaria (10) and Czech Republic (11) in the group.

Wednesday was the last match for Malta captain Carmel Busuttil, who made his debut in a match against Iceland in 1982 and has since played 113 games for Malta.