LUXEMBOURG -- Russia remained unbeaten at
the top of World Cup qualifying group one but had to fight hard
for a 2-1 win over Luxembourg on Wednesday.
They now lead the group with 17 points from seven matches
ahead of Slovenia who have 13 and Switzerland on 11.
Russia went ahead on 16 minutes when Dmitry Khokhlov crossed
from the right for Dmitry Alenichev to rifle the ball home.
The Russians then dominated the rest of the first half and
were only prevented from increasing their lead by some inspired
goalkeeping from Luxembourg's Stephane Gillet.
In the second half Luxembourg -- without a point from their
previous six qualifying games -- came more into the game.
They snatched a surprise equaliser in the 48th minute when
Sacha Schneider took advantage of a mix-up between Victor Onopko
and goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin to slot the ball home.
Gillet then kept Luxembourg in the game again with two fine
saves from Vladimir Beschastnykh.
But the Russians took the lead once more in the 76th minute
through Sergei Semak and then played possession football for the
rest of the game to protect their lead.
Yugoslavia trounce plucky Faroe Islands 6-0
TOFTIR, Faroe Islands -- Yugoslavia beat
the Faroe Islands 6-0 in a World Cup group one qualifier on
Wednesday with striker Mateja Kezman grabbing a hat-trick.
The win greatly improves Yugoslavia's goal difference as
they chase second-placed Slovenia, who beat Switzerland 1-0 in
Basle earlier on Wednesday.
Russia beat the basement team, Luxembourg, to extend their
lead at the top to four points from Slovenia who have 13, the
Swiss on 11 and Yugoslavia on nine. The Yugoslavs still have a
game in hand of the teams they are chasing.
The North Atlantic Faroe Islands, who fielded only three
professionals, suffered one of their worst defeats at the hands
of the Yugoslavs and stay second from bottom on four points.
Yugoslavia's Lazio midfielder Dejan Stankovic opened the
scoring after only 20 minutes, putting a header past Faroese
goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen from a corner by Sinesa Mihajlovic.
PSV Eindhoven striker Kezman, the top scorer in the Dutch
league, scored his first goal just before the half-hour mark to
put the Yugoslavs 2-0 ahead by the break.
The Faroese played bravely in the first half and almost
scored on three occasions but they collapsed under pressure from
the vastly superior Yugoslavs in the second period.
Stankovic scored his second goal 10 minutes after the break
before Savo Milosevic added the fourth on 68 minutes.
Kezman left it late to score his hat-trick with two goals in
the last three minutes to wrap up a convincing away victory.
The next match in the group sees Yugoslavia playing the
Faroe Islands at home on August 15.
Cimirotic gives Slovenia 1-0 win over Switzerland
BASLE, Switzerland -- A late goal from
substitute Sebastjan Cimirotic earned Slovenia a key 1-0 win
over Switzerland in a World Cup European group one qualifier on
Wednesday.
Cimirotic, who came on in the 32nd minute, broke open a
tight contest in the 83rd minute when he ran on to a sloppy back
pass from Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz and neatly slotted the
ball past keeper Marco Pascolo.
Switzerland had dominated the opening half but were unable
to convert any of their opportunities, including two by Servette
striker Alexander Frei, who scored a hat-trick in his first full
international against Luxembourg in March.
The victory moves Slovenia into second place in the group
standings, two points clear of Switzerland and four back of
leaders Russia.
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