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FIFA World Cup qualifying: Ecuador 1 Uruguay 0

Ecuador have ended a four-match winless run with a 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Uruguay on Friday.

Jefferson Montero´s goal on the half-hour mark at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa was all the hosts needed in Quito to earn the three points, and move one step closer to Brazil.

Second-half substitute Joao Rojas had all but sealed the result in the final 20 minutes, but his goal was controversially ruled out for offside despite seemingly being played on by two Uruguay defenders.

The Uruguayans remain in fifth spot in the group table - and must beat the already-qualified Argentina in the final game and arrest a four-goal differential on Chile to gain an automatic spot.

Oscar Tabarez´s men are guaranteed of a least a playoff place, though, which would see them play off against Jordan in a two-leg contest in November.

Ecuador and Chile play one another in their final group game - and a draw would send both parties to next year´s finals, while a result either way would leave the loser vulnerable to being overtaken by Uruguay.

A healthy Uruguay win over Argentina seems unlikely, however, given Tabarez´s men lost 3-0 to them last time out.

http://www.youtube.com/w…abkMWk8oiT4

FIFA World Cup qualifying: Venezuela 1 Paraguay 1

Venezuela equalised late on to earn a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Paraguay in San Cristobal on Friday.

Paraguay were already eliminated from qualifying for a spot in Brazil next year heading into the contest, but they were out to get a result at the Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo regardless.

Edgar Benitez fired the visitors ahead on 28 minutes, as Paraguay eyed just their fourth win in qualifying of the lengthy campaign.

But Venezuela denied them that joy on 82 minutes, when Luis Seijas beat Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar to earn a point for the home nation.

The Venezuelans´ hopes of qualifying for Brazil were officially extinguished on Friday, although they were virtually already under water given their inferior goal difference to fifth-placed Uruguay.

Venezuela finish their campaign with five wins, five draws and six losses from 16, while Paraguay will host Colombia - who guaranteed their spot in Brazil on Friday - in their group finale on Tuesday.

http://www.youtube.com/w…uTJqt1DPXa0

FIFA World Cup qualifying: Colombia 3 Chile 3

A pair of Radamel Falcao penalties has seen Colombia snatch a 3-3 draw with Chile and clinch a berth at the 2014 World Cup finals.

Chile blitzed the home side early to lead 3-0 before the half-hour mark with Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez central to the visitors´ start as he scored his team´s second and third goals.

But a red card to Chilean midfielder Carlos Carmona in the 66th minute allowed Colombia to recover with Teofilo Gutierrez scoring the home side´s first three minutes later before James Rodriguez was fouled in the box on two occasions and, both times, Falcao converted from the spot.

The draw saw Colombia move to 27 points and ensured they will be a part of Brazil 2014 - the first time they have qualified for a World Cup since France 1998.

Meanwhile, Chile missed the opportunity to qualify and will need to claim at least a point at home against Ecuador on the final matchday in South American qualifying to secure a berth at next year´s tournament.

Chile started brilliantly with Arturo Vidal putting the visitors ahead at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Barranquilla in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after Eduardo Vargas had been brought down in the area by David Ospina.

Just three minutes later and Jorge Valdivia set up Sanchez for Chile´s second and the visitors were flying in the 29th minute when the Barcelona striker struck again, finishing off Marcos Gonzalez´s pass.

The game turned around after the hour mark as Carmona received his second yellow card for halting a Colombia counter-attack by handling the ball.

Soon after Gutierrez struck from Pablo Armero´s cut-back and in the 73rd minute Rodriguez went down easily under pressure from Francisco Silva and Falcao scored to make it 3-2.

Colombia´s comeback was complete in the 84th minute when Rodriguez was brought down by Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and Falcao again made no mistake from the spot.

The result leaves Chile with 25 points and in the fourth and last automatic qualifying position in South America.

Uruguay sit on 22 points after their 1-0 loss to Ecuador, who moved up to third on 25.

If the Ecuadorians draw with Chile on Tuesday they will both qualify for Brazil, while Uruguay will be consigned to an intercontinental playoff against Jordan.


http://www.youtube.com/w…p5LXdKIAokg

FIFA World Cup qualifying: Honduras 1 Costa Rica 0

Honduras have taken a big step towards qualification to Brazil 2014 with a 1-0 home victory over Costa Rica.

Jerry Bengtson scored the only goal of the game to take Honduras to 14 points in CONCACAF´s final round of World Cup qualifying, six points clear of both Panama and Mexico, who are set to play later on Friday.

If Mexico and Panama draw, Honduras will qualify for next year´s World Cup finals, while if either of those teams win, the Hondurans will need just a point away to bottom side Jamaica to secure a berth at Brazil 2014.

In a tight clash between second-placed Costa Rica and home side Honduras, the hosts dominated with nine shots on goal to the visitors´ two but had to wait until the 65th minute to hit the back of the net.

Midfielder Roger Espinoza showed good strength to hold off an opponent and then slid the ball through the middle of Costa Rica´s defence to Bengtson, who finished first time past visiting goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Bengtson´s fourth goal in qualifying extended Honduras´ unbeaten streak to three games and means they are on the verge of reaching their second consecutive World Cup finals

http://www.youtube.com/w…qYrspIrquco

FIFA World Cup qualifying: United States 2 Jamaica 0

The United States have claimed their 14th victory in 15 games with a 2-0 triumph over Jamaica in World Cup qualifying (CONCACAF).

In a dull contest at Sporting Park in Kansas City, the home side had to wait until the final quarter of an hour to break down Jamaica with Graham Zusi and Jozy Altidore scoring within four minutes of each other to wrap up victory for the USA.

The result of Friday´s World Cup qualifier was basically irrelevant as the USA had already qualified for next year´s tournament in Brazil, while Jamaica had no chance of qualifying.

And the game seemed to reflect that for the opening 70 minutes with a lack of urgency meaning there were only four shots that tested either goalkeeper in that time.

With World Cup qualification already secure, the USA´s head coach Jürgen Klinsmann took the opportunity to give a starting debut to Icelandic-born striker Aron Johannson.

But it was not until Johannson was substituted that the hosts finally hit the back of the net with Zusi finishing off a nice cutback by Alejandro Bedoya in the 77th minute.

The Americans then opened up Jamaica´s defence in the 81st minute with Edgar Castillo getting free on the left-hand side to set up Altidore for a simple tap in from close range.

The victory continued the USA´s incredible run of form that stretches back to June, while Jamaica suffered their fifth defeat in seven World Cup qualifiers.

Klinsmann´s team moved to 19 points at the top of CONCACAF´s standings, four points clear of second-placed Costa Rica, while Jamaica (four points) remain bottom of the six-team group.

http://www.youtube.com/w…buIQg1uWQVk

FIFA World Cup qualifying: Argentina 3 Peru 1

Argentina have come from behind to continue their unbeaten run at home in World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 win over Peru.

The CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying leaders, who have already secured a spot at Brazil 2014, fell behind to Claudio Pizarro´s fine finish for Peru in the first half.

But thanks to Ezequiel Lavezzi´s brace before half-time and Rodrigo Palacio´s strike two minutes after the break, Argentina made it nine games without a loss in home qualifiers.

The win ensured Argentina will finish the South American qualifying group on top as they rose to 32 points, five clear of second-placed Colombia, who wrapped up a spot at next year´s finals on Friday.

Peru had entered the match in Buenos Aires knowing they could not qualify for Brazil 2014 and finished the game still on 14 points in seventh position.

The visitors started strongly, however, with Pizarro bursting onto a through-ball by Gianmarco Gambetta in the 21st minute and then finishing inside the far post of Sergio Romero´s goal.

Peru´s joy did not last long though as Lavezzi equalised two minutes later, tapping home from close range after Federico Fernandez´s header from a corner was saved.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker put Argentina ahead in the 35th minute, after a flowing move down the right ended with Palacio cutting the ball back from the byline and Lavezzi had no trouble side-footing into the net.

Argentina almost had a third goal just before half-time as Sergio Aguero hit the back of the net only to be ruled out for offside.

Coach Alejandro Sabella and his Argentine players did not have to wait much longer to make it 3-1, however, with Aguero linking up with Marcos Rojo in the 47th minute and the latter crossed for Palacio to finish from close range.

Palacio hit the bar soon after with a delicate chip but the home side failed to add to their tally, while Peru were barely in the contest as they copped their fourth loss in five international matches.

http://www.youtube.com/w…tS3vBkuOFNM

pause.

Mexico - Panama 1-0 (oribe peralta)

Drama på El Azteca, brændt straffesåark osv. Panama var et par minutter fra overraskelsen indtil Jimenez satte trumf på med en sublim kasse.

http://www.youtube.com/w…LwaAKO6WTuE


FIFA World Cup qualifying: Mexico 2 Panama 1

Raul Jimenez´s stunning bicycle kick has given Mexico a 2-1 win over Panama, keeping their hopes alive of automatic World Cup qualification.

Mexico started Friday´s World Cup qualifier at home knowing anything less than a win would mean the best they could hope for was a spot in an intercontinental play-off versus New Zealand.

The home side dominated the match at the Estadio Azteca, and deservedly led 1-0 at half-time through Oribe Peralta, but Panama looked like they might snatch a point when Luis Tejada scored with eight minutes remaining.

With the game in the balance, however, Jimenez stepped up - unleashing a bicycle kick from the edge of the penalty area to score the winner in the 85th minute.

The victory took Mexico above Panama into fourth position in CONCACAF´s fourth round standings with 11 points, three behind third-placed Honduras, who sit in the last automatic qualifying spot for next year´s World Cup finals with a round of games to play.

Mexico took nine shots to Panama´s three in the first half but could only manage the one goal in the 40th minute.

Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos and Javier Aquino had all missed gilt-edged chances to score earlier in the first half.

But Peralta made no mistake with five minutes until half-time when Carlos Pena smashed the ball into the striker´s feet and the 29-year-old played a quick one-two with Hernandez before finishing with aplomb.

After half-time, Mexico kept pushing for a second goal and looked likely to double their lead in the 56th minute after Harold Cummings had barged into the back of Aquino, only for Hernandez to hit a limp penalty too close to Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.

The penalty save seemed to inspire Panama and the visitors equalised in the 81st minute with Gabriel Torres chipping the ball through to Jairo Jimenez, who found the back of the net from a tight angle.

But the hosts responded again to pick up their first win at home in World Cup qualifying in five matches, when Fernando Arce took the ball from Hernandez and passed into the feet of Mexican substitute Jimenez for his brilliant winner.

To secure automatic qualification to Brazil 2014, Mexico must defeat Costa Rica away on Tuesday and hope Honduras lose against bottom-side Jamaica, while the Mexicans will also have to make up two goals worth of goal difference.

A draw in Costa Rica will be enough for Mexico to wrap up a spot in the intercontinental play-off versus New Zealand.

Genes dice estar satisfecho

SAN CRISTÓBAL -- El seleccionador paraguayo, Víctor Genes, dijo sentirse satisfecho con la actitud que mostraron sus jugadores en el empate a uno conseguido en San Cristóbal.

"Me voy satisfecho por la actitud y por las ganas del equipo. Además que trabajé con jugadores jóvenes de la selección. Lo otro es un análisis profundo que no puedo hacer ahora, es apenas mi tercer partido, no sería ético de mi parte hablar del proceso anterior", declaró Genes tras el partido de la penúltima jornada de las eliminatorias sudamericanas del Mundial.

El entrenador alabó el desempeño de su rival y en particular del volante Juan Arango, un jugador "muy difícil en el juego" y que "mantiene intactas sus cualidades", comentó.

"Nosotros miramos este partido nada más, nos fijamos en enfrentar a esta rival como Venezuela, que toca muy bien la pelota, que tiene jugadores muy altos, el partido nos salió muy bien aunque nos empataron", apuntó.

El estratega destacó que su selección tiene jugadores jóvenes que se "están asomando" y que "lo hacen de muy buena manera".

Paraguay acumula 12 puntos en las eliminatorias sudamericanas, ya eliminado, y cerrara su participación frente a Colombia el próximo martes en la última jornada.

Rueda destacó el corazón

GUAYAQUIL -- El seleccionador de Ecuador, el colombiano Reinaldo Rueda, resaltó "la solidaridad, cabeza fría y corazón caliente" que desbordó Ecuador para ganar por 1-0 a Uruguay en las eliminatorias sudamericanas del Mundial de Brasil.

"Felicitamos a los jugadores por lo que se venía haciendo al término del primer tiempo pero que en el segundo se tenía que ser más solidario, actuar con cabeza fría y con el corazón caliente y así sucedió", dijo Rueda a los periodistas al final del encuentro.

Aseveró que sabían "las fortalezas de Uruguay, que había que ser cuidadosos.

Aseguró que para la última jornada la meta es "cerrar bien el proceso con una buena presentación" el próximo martes en Chile.

Rueda recordó al fallecido goleador Cristian Benítez y anticipó que la inminente clasificación será como un tributo.

El seleccionador adelantó que "contra Chile será muy difícil y que el equipo no se relajará tras el paso dado hoy ante Uruguay".

Rueda terminó el contacto con los periodistas en medio de sollozos. "Se agolpan hoy los recuerdos del ´Chucho´ Benítez y también de mi padre (fallecido también este año)", dijo.