GOTHENBURG, Sweden -- Henrik Larsson scored
four goals, three of them penalties, as Sweden crushed 10-man
Moldova 6-0 in a World Cup group four qualifier on Wednesday.
The win put Sweden top of the group, two points clear of
Turkey, who could only draw 3-3 at home against Macedonia.
Moldova lost defender Alexandru Covalenco to a red card
after he handled the ball on the goal line to prevent Patrik
Andersson scoring with a header in the 37th minute.
Larsson, who scored 53 goals for his club Celtic last
season, stepped up to convert the penalty for the only score of
the first half.
Larsson struck again on 58 minutes, using his speed and
control to cut diagonally through the Moldovan defence and score
from a precise low shot from a tight angle.
Ten minutes later Larsson again tormented Moldova down the
left, nutmegged a defender and was dragged down by Vladimir
Gaidamascliuc.
English referee Stephen Dunn pointed to the spot and Larsson
stepped up to claim his hat-trick.
In the next ten minutes Sweden were rampamt. Niclas
Alexandersson and Daniel Andersson added two more goals before
Larsson added his fourth, when Sweden were awarded another yet
another penalty in the 79th minute for what seemed to be an
unintentional handball.
Azerbaijan shocks Slovaks with 2-0 win
BAKU -- Azerbaijan scored a shock 2-0 win
over Slovakia on Wednesday, their best result in a major
competition and their first win in World Cup qualifying group
four.
Vadim Vasilyev put the home side ahead when he slotted past
Slovak goalkeeper Miroslav Konig after 26 minutes.
Zaur Tagizade added the second just 10 minutes into the
second half and the hosts managed to hold on to their lead
despite concerted attacks by the Slovaks.
Azeri fans were celebrating only their first win in a major
competition since a 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein in a European
championship qualifier in June 1999.
The result dealt a severe blow to Slovak hopes of getting a
play-off spot, leaving them third on 11 points, with Turkey and
Sweden, both on 14 points, playing later in the day.
Azerbaijan advanced to four points, putting them
provisionally second from bottom, ahead of Moldova, on three
points.
Alpay saves Turkey against 10-man Macedonia
BURSA, Turkey -- Aston Villa defender Alpay
Ozalan scored a hat-trick but Turkey could still only scramble a
3-3 draw with 10-man Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier on
Wednesday.
Turkey went into the match as group four leaders but their
rickety defence conceded goals from Artim Sakiri and Zarko
Serafimovski in the seventh and 20th minutes.
Inter Milan and Trabzonspor strikers Hakan Sukur and Oktay
Derelioglu both missed chances against reserve Macedonian keeper
Antonio Filevski, but the burly Alpay twice appeared at the
right spot in the penalty area to make it 2-2.
Macedonia were down to 10 men when Mile Krstev was sent off
for a second yellow card in 48th minute but it did not stop Igor
Nikolovski scoring for them in the 62nd minute from a goalmouth
scramble.
Alpay levelled in the 70th minute to complete his hat-trick,
leaving Turkey's place in the group at the mercy of Sweden's
match underway against Moldova.
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