Results - World Cup Qualifiers

CONMEBOL - 1st Round

Argentina vs Colombia (3-0)

After failing to win their last 4 qualification games, it was a must win game for Argentina. 

Lionel Messi was hands down Man of the Match as with the help of his 1 goal and 2 assists, Argentina registered a comfortable win.

Messi was in different color. He opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick in the 10th minute which got into the back of the net off the underside of the bar. No chance for the keeper to stop that. 

He was a constant threat to Colombia. In the 23rd minute he set up another for Lucas Pratto, the later was given a nod ahead of Gonzalo Higuain and he justified his selection by heading a gorgeous cross from Messi into the goal. 

Messi made several other chances and he was the architect again, he caught Murillo in possession and made a run into the area and squared it for former Real Madrid man, Angel Di Maria, who put it into the empty net. 

It was given the fact that Argentina have never lost a World Cup qualifying match at home against Colombia and Colombia have never scored in a qualifying match in Argentina, conceding five.

With this win Argentina climbs above Colombia to 5th position with 19 points in 12 matches.

Peru vs Brazil (0-2)

In-form Brazil were up against Peru, who won their last match against Paraguay. Brazil also came into this match on the back of a 5 match winning streak and had they not win this game they would still be at the top of the table. 

First half was goalless with Peru coming the closest to score, hitting the post through Andre Carrillo. 

In the 58th minute Brazil got the breakthrough when young Gabriel Jesus hammered the ball home after poor defensive display from Peru. 

Brazil with their commanding display were more likely to score another goal as Peru were struggling. Neymar hit the crossbar in the 77th minute after collecting the pass from Coutinho on the left, he pushed the ball onto his right and launched a ferocious effort that rattled the post.

Brazil got their 2nd goal of the game just minutes later. Again Peru failed to clear the ball and Gabriel Jesus wasted no time in setting Renato Augusto who finished the scoring. 

Gabriel Jesus recorded one assist to go with his goal. 

Brazil are top of the pile with 27 points in 12 matches, 4 ahead of 2nd placed Uruguay. 

Chile vs Uruguay (3-1)

News was there that Arsene Wenger did not like when Alexis Sanchez was named in the squad as he had an injury and is a key man for Arsenal. 

Despite Wenger fears, he was named in the squad and also proved to be the difference among the two teams.

Uruguay opened the scoring with Edinson Cavani finding the back of the net in 17th minute. But Eduardo Vargas levelled the match on the stroke of half-time. It was Alexis' show in the second half as he put the hosts ahead on the hour-mark with a well struck volley and 16 minutes later scored his 2nd of the match to complete Chile win. 

Claudio Bravo gave away a penalty two minutes before time but he saved the effort by his former Barca teammate Luis Suarez and with this win Chile climbs to 4th position and within 3 points of 2nd placed Uruguay. 

Some other results :-

• Bolivia 1-0 Paraguay - Bolivia secured the win with an own goal from Gustavo Gomez.
• Ecuador 3-0 Venezuela - With all 3 goals scored in 2nd half, Ecuador is on 3rd position tied on points with Chile and ahead on goal difference.

AFC - 3rd Round

Group A

• South Korea vs Uzbekistan (2-1) - South Korea came from behind to defeat Uzbekistan at their home ground and move to 2nd place.

• China vs Qatar (0-0) - Bottom end teams play out a nil-nil draw.

• Syria vs Iran (0-0) - With this draw Iran remains at the top of the table one point ahead of South Korea with 11 points.

Group B

• Japan vs Saudi Arabia (2-1) - With the win over Saudi Arabia, Japan climbs above Australia and onto the 2nd position and tied on points with the table toppers Saudi Arabia. 

• Thailand vs Australia (2-2) -  The Socceroos were held for a draw and missed the chance to go top. They are currently 3rd with 9 points in 5 matches. 

• U.A.E. vs Iraq (2-0) - With this win U.A.E draw level on points with Australia. They also have 9 points in 5 matches.

So this is how the teams fared on the matchdays enroute 'Road to Russia'. 

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Results - World Cup Qualifiers

Sunday was a good day for Portugal, Belgium and Netherlands as all were winners.
There was no dearth of goals as all teams look to strengthen their position and thus giving no chance to oppositions.
Big stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Arjen Robben, Eden Hazard were all in action last night.

UEFA 

Portugal vs Latvia (4-1)

In Group B, Portugal were up against Latvia, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring from the spot after Nani was brought down in the box in the 28th minute. Portugal earned one more penalty after Andre Gomes was tipped from behind inside the box. And surprisingly Ronaldo missed the penalty, He steps up with typical confidence but his attempt came off the inside of the post, not struck well by his standards. Latvia made Ronaldo and Portugal pay for the miss as Arturs Zjuzins equalised against the run of play in the 67th minute to give Portugal a scare.  

It looked like Latvia's confidence was flowing after the equaliser but William Carvalho scored a minute after to save the blushes of the home side by heading a lovely cross from Ricardo Quaresma, who was brought in as a substitute. Portugal went ahead in the 70th minute.
Portugal sealed victory in the 85th minute and it was another Quaresma cross which Ronaldo volleyed low into the corner and made amends for penalty miss. Cristiano equalled Gerd Muller and Robbie Keane on 68 international goals and is now joint-fourth in Europe's all time list.

Game, set, match for Portugal as Bruno Alves added a fourth heading home a cracking cross from Guerreiro at the back post. Portugal are 2nd placed with 9 points.

Switzerland vs Faroe Islands (2-0)

Group B toppers ran out comfortable winners against 4th placed Faroe Islands. Goals on either side of the half, helped Switzerland making 4 wins out of 4. Eren Drediyok and Stephen Lichtsteiner scored the goals.

 Switzerland sits on top with 12 points.

Hungary vs Andorra (4-0)

Bottom placed Andorra were up against Hungary. Hungary dominated the game in terms of possession and two goals in each half helped them reach 3rd in the table. 

Luxembourg vs Netherlands (1-3)

In Group A encounter, the visitors opened the scoring in 36th minute of the game through Arjen Robben after a lapse in concentration from Luxembourg's defence when they tried playing Robben offside. 

Luxembourg responded bravely and earned a penalty just before half-time to equalise. Maxime Chanot slots past Stekelenburg. Netherlands started second half confidently.

Half-time substitute Memphis Depay scored a bullet header in the 58th minute and in 84th minute score his second goal of the game with a well-taken free kick and saved the visitors.

Bulgaria vs Belarus (1-0)

Bulgaria scored the only goal of the match in the 10th minute. 

France on top in Group A with 10 points. Netherlands and Sweden tied on 7 points but Netherlands ahead on goal difference and sits on 2nd. 

Belgium vs Estonia (8-1)

Belgium run riot in this Group H encounter. Dries Mertens stole the show by having a hand in 4 goals. He scored a brace and set up another two. Belgium were dominant from the start to finish in a deserved victory. Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco, Romelu Lukaku all got on the scoresheet. Belgium scored 5 in second half.

With this win Belgium go top in Group H with 12 points.

Greece vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-1)

Greece equalised late to earn a point after visitors went ahead in the 32nd minute through an own goal. The match also had two sent-offs as Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Eden Dzeko saw red in the 80th minute. Dzeko questioned his red card after the match. 

Greece with 10 points is 2nd in the table.

Cyprus vs Gibraltar (3-1)

Cyprus comfortably beat bottom placed Gibraltar.

CAF- 3rd round results

Group A- Guinea 1-2 DR Congo

Group E- Egypt 2-0 Ghana


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