The penultimate night of European World Cup qualifiers for this week saw nine more teams looking to stay on the road to Russia 2018.
To Group A first where 1998 winners France took on three-time finalists Netherlands at the Amsterdam ArenA. A single goal from Paul Pogba on the half-hour mark proved to be decisive in a 1-0 away win, and it was a goal fit to win any match (though Maarten Stekelenburg will still feel he could have done better).
SWAGGY P! RT @UtdHQ: Pogba goal #mufc pic.twitter.com/D5lMIdAJbm
— champagne khanki (@guluvabynature) October 10, 2016
At the Friends Arena, Sweden took care of Bulgaria with relative ease in a 3-0 win. Ola Toivonen, Oscar Hiljemark and Victor Lindelof were the goalscorers as Sweden stayed level on points and firmly in contention for at least a playoff place.
The final game of the group saw Belarus struggle to a 1-1 draw at home to Luxembourg. Pavel Savitskiy put the home side in front in the 80th minute, only for Aurelien Joachim to level it up five minutes later.
#WCQ GROUP A STANDINGS (Europe)
Belarus 1-1 Luxembourg
Netherlands 0-1 France
Sweden 3-0 Bulgaria pic.twitter.com/THN88KqSyA— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 10, 2016
In Group B, Portugal recorded their second 6-0 of the weekend, the Faroe Islands the unfortunate recipients this time around. André Silva scored a first half hat-trick to end the tie as a contest, before further goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Moutinho and Joao Cancelo added an extra layer of gloss to the scoreline.
Switzerland, meanwhile, didn’t have it all their own way in Andorra in a 2-1 win. Goals from Fabian Schar and Ahmed Mehmedi looked like being the perfect reward for the away side’s dominance, but a late consolation from Alexandre Martinez gave Switzerland a late scare.
In the group’s other game, Hungary dispatched Latvia with relative ease, winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from Adam Gyurcso and Adam Szalai either side of half time.
#WCQ GROUP B STANDINGS (Europe)
Andorra 1-2 Switzerland
Faroe Islands 0-6 Portugal
Latvia 0-2 Hungary pic.twitter.com/ZgqniW9y27— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 10, 2016
Finally to Group H where it was Belgium’s turn with whipping boys Gibraltar. Christian Benteke scored the fastest ever goal in World Cup qualification history after just seven seconds, before going on to net a hat-trick. Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard also scored as Roberto Martínez’s side made it three wins from three.
Greece also kept up their 100% record with a 2-0 win away at Estonia. Vasilis Torosidis and Kostas Stafylidis with the goals as Michael Skibbe’s side kept up the pace with the group leaders.
In the group’s other game, Bosnia and Herzegovina saw off the threat of Cyprus with a 2-0 win. Two goals from Roma striker Edin Dzeko in the second half secured the victory.
#WCQ GROUP H STANDINGS (Europe)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 Cyprus
Estonia 0-2 Greece
Gibraltar 0-6 Belgium pic.twitter.com/8mwRZYBTUi— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) October 10, 2016
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