VILNIUS -- Romania staked their claim to
the runners-up spot in World Cup qualifying group eight on
Wednesday with a 2-1 away victory over Lithuania.
The win gave Romania 12 points, narrowing the gap on leaders
Italy who have 16 after six games. Romania also have a
seven-point lead over third-placed Hungary, who have two games
in hand and were playing Georgia at home later on Wednesday.
Valencia forward Adrian Ilie opened the scoring for Romania
in the 39th minute with a deft lob over keeper Gintaras Stauce.
Lithuania nearly equalised when a 30-metre shot from
defender Tadas Graziunas was only just saved by Bogdan Stelea in
the Romania goal. That resulted in three dangerous corners, but
Lithuania failed to capitalise on some poor clearances.
The Romanians put the result beyond doubt in the 49th minute
when Nantes forward Viorel Moldovan converted a cross from
Alaves defender Cosmin Contra.
Lithuania's substitute striker Arturas Fomenko pulled one
back in the 87th minute to set up a frantic last minute attack
but it was too late to force an equaliser.
"It was a hard game because we've had to play two difficult,
consecutive games over the past few days and at the end we made
several mistakes allowing Lithuania to score," Romania head
coach Ladislau Boloni said.
"The most important thing is that after this victory we have
a big chance to make it to the World Cup (finals) and I am
extremely happy that in the last two games we got six points,"
Boloni added.
Romania beat Hungary 2-0 at home on June 2. The group
runners-up go into the play-offs for a place in the finals.
Hungary crush Georgia 4-1 to regain some pride
BUDAPEST -- Hungary regained some pride
with a fine all-round performance for a 4-1 victory against
Georgia in their World Cup group eight qualifier on Wednesday.
But they remain rooted in third in the group with only vain
hopes, still four points behind Romania and eight adrift of
Italy.
Hungary produced a fine passage of play when they grabbed
all four goals between the 40th and the 62nd minutes.
Videoton left-winger Attila Korsos scored twice and defender
Vilmos Sebok converted a penalty after Janos Matyus had given
them the lead. Levan Kobiasvili scored the consolation goal for
Georgia with 13 minutes left.
Georgian coach David Kipiani said: "Hungary deserved a win
because they were better in every element of the game."
Hungarian counterpart Bertalan Bicskei was satisfied,
although he knew Romania, second-placed in the group, had won
2-1 in Lithuania earlier in the evening.
"We started slowly but after the second goal we picked up the
gears and played really well," Bicskei said. "In a game of two
disappointing teams we won because our will was stronger."
Hungary's next match is in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital on
September 1.
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