Czech Republic first to advance

Perfect record
Victories in their first two games against Latvia and first qualifying round Group 4 hosts F.Y.R. Macedonia put the Czech Republic in control of the pool and top spot was secured today with a 2-0 win against Poland. F.Y.R. Macedonia could still progress to the draw on 19 November as one of the six runners-up in the ten groups with the best record against the teams in first and third in their pool.

Five for Bartoňová
On Saturday the Czech Republic announced themselves with a 10-1 defeat of Latvia. Eva Bartoňová scored five goals with Svetlana Burešová claiming two and Katerina Podaná, Danuta Zelnicková and substitute Michaela Jačisková also on target. Olga Ivanova struck a consolation with Latvia eight down. In the day's other game, F.Y.R. Macedonia beat Poland 3-2 with a Natasa Andonova hat-trick. Klaudia Grodzka had put Poland ahead but Andonova scored on 49, 65 and 74 minutes and the hosts held on despite Mladena Petrova's own goal seconds after they went 3-1 up.

Konopiková winner
Poland bounced back on Tuesday with a 5-0 win against Latvia. After Klinta Kulite's first-half own goal, Grodzka and Ewelina Wolosiewicz both struck twice in the second half. But it was the Czech Republic who took control of the group by overcoming F.Y.R. Macedonia 2-1. Podaná put through a 26th-minute own goal only to equalise on the half-hour and Alena Konopiková won the game with 16 minutes left.

Decisive games
That left Poland needing a two-goal win against the Czech Republic to be sure of competing in spring for the four finals berths but instead they suffered a 2-0 defeat. That allowed F.Y.R. Macedonia to clinch second place by beating Latvia 3-0 with first-half goals from Ina Miloseska and Andonova before Petrova had the last word in the 58th minute.