Switzerland maintain perfect record, Greece hold Belgium
Saturday, March 25, 2017
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Josip Drmic earned Switzerland their fifth straight win in the European Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, Greece ended Belgium's 100% record and Andorra celebrated a long-awaited point.
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- Switzerland make it five wins from five in Group B by defeating Latvia
- Romelu Lukaku salvages hitherto perfect Belgium draw against Greece
- France remain three points clear of Sweden at the top of Group A after both win
- Andorra draw with Faroe Islands, claiming first point in 59 qualifiers
- Next fixtures in these groups: Friday 9 June
Group A
Bulgaria 2-0 Netherlands (Delev 5 20)
Spas Delev's first international goals inspired Bulgaria to a win that lifts them above the Oranje to third. The Pogoń Szczecin striker capitalised on an error from 17-year-old debutant Matthijs de Ligt for an early opener before a fine second. The Dutch dominated from there on but could not find a way back.
Luxembourg 1-3 France (Joachim 34pen; Giroud 28 77, Griezmann 37pen)
Unbeaten France registered their fourth win in five Group A fixtures, although they were pushed all the way by Luxembourg, who lost keeper Anthony Moris to injury after 21 minutes. Olivier Giroud's second of the night, from debutant Benjamin Mendy's cross, confirmed victory.
Sweden 4-0 Belarus (Forsberg 19pen 49, Berg 57, Kiese Thelin 78)
Emil Forsberg scored his first double for Sweden as they eased to victory at the Friends Arena. The Leipzig midfielder converted a penalty then fired through Andrei Gorbunov's legs. Marcus Berg outjumped the goalkeeper to head in the third before substitute Isaac Kiese Thelin burst through to add number four.
Group B
Andorra 0-0 Faroe Islands
The hosts ended a run of 58 competitive defeats in Andorra la Vella against a Faroese side that played the last 16 minutes with ten men after Jóan Edmundsson saw red. Hallur Hansson squandered a fine chance to snatch it for the visitors as Andorra claimed a first qualifying point since September 2005.
Portugal 3-0 Hungary (André Silva 32, Ronaldo 36 65)
The European champions kept the pressure on Switzerland as they made light work of Hungary. André Silva got the ball rolling with a tap-in, the Porto man then turning provider with a lovely back-heel that Cristiano Ronaldo smashed in from the edge of the box. A trademark Ronaldo free-kick sealed the points.
Switzerland 1-0 Latvia (Drmic 66)
Josip Drmic's header broke Latvia's resistance and maintained Switzerland's perfect record. The Mönchengladbach forward, making his first international appearance since November 2015, had been on the field less than two minutes when he rose at the far post to power in Admir Mehmedi's hanging cross.
Group H
Belgium 1-1 Greece (R. Lukaku 89; Mitroglou 46)
Romelu Lukaku's late drive rescued a draw and kept Belgium two points clear of Greece at the summit. The hosts were caught cold in the opening 30 seconds of the second half when Kostas Mitroglou burst through before finishing clinically. Panagiotis Tachtsidis saw red for two bookings in the 65th minute but Greece held firm until the in-form Everton striker turned and drove in the equaliser. Greece then had Giorgos Tzavellas dismissed in added time.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 Gibraltar (Ibišević 4 43, Vršajević 52, Višća 56, Bičakčić 90+4)
Goals at either end of the first half from Vedad Ibišević set a home side shorn of the suspended Edin Džeko on course for a comfortable win in Zenica. Two goals at the start of the second period killed off the visitors, with Ermin Bičakčić completing victory late on.
Cyprus 0-0 Estonia
Both sides hit the woodwork in Nicosia, the visitors in the first half through Sergei Zenjov and Cyprus via Dimitris Christofi nine minutes from time. Cyprus, who enjoyed 61% possession, failed to make the most of a promising opening in which Christofi twice tested Mihkel Aksalu.