Another through ball broke the Sammarinese defense for the third Montenegrin goal. A shot from distance by Elsad Zverotic barely lifted one yard off the ground, but it did the job. A fifth goal came after a rebound was blocked into the path of a Montenegrin attacker. The sixth goal was unstoppable, as a side-footed volley by Andrija Delibasic made its way into the side net. Montenegro win 6-0.
Wroclaw was the site as hosts Poland face Moldova. Moldova, fresh off a 5-0 loss to England, were actually on the front foot in the first period. They made Poland goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton earn his keep in the first period. Tyton had to tip over a free kick from Alexandr Suvorov in the game's opening chance. Nevertheless, just beyond the half hour mark it were the Poles who ascending into the lead after drawing and converting a penalty kick. That would provide the only score in a 1-0 first half, with Igor Picusciac missing just wide for an equalizer late in the half.
Tyton had to make another save in the second half before Poland truly gathered their wits. Moldova goalkeeper Stanislav Namasco had a nice half, reacting quickly to stop Adrian Mierzejewski and then Robert Lewandowski later in the period. A downward header goal by Jakub Wawrzyniak clinched the win for Poland with ten minutes left to play. Moldova must have felt hard done by the final score since they had so many chances. Poland win 2-0 to keep pace at the top of Group H.
London's famed Wembley Stadium hosted its first match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup as home side England took on Ukraine. Jermaine Defoe appeared to have given the Three Lions a lead, but his goal was taken away for his hand to the neck of his defender. In fact, Defoe was shown a yellow. Steven Gerrard went to ground to block a goalbound shot to save England from going down 1-0. Tom Cleverley could have given the home side a first-half hat trick, but instead he came out with a clunker of finishing touch and botched his finished terribly. Ukraine's Yevhen Konoplyanka made the play of the day of the FIFA World Cup, freezing Gerrard from twenty-two yards before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable effort into the side netting. Cleverly hit the post before the half expired with the Three Lions down 1-0.
Fullback Glen Johnson came forward to shot right at the bottom corner, but Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov tipped it just off frame along the ground. Danny Welbeck hit another post for England, who really were feeling the pressure as they still trailed coming into the last five minutes. Luckily for England, Welbeck flicked a ball into the arm of a Ukraine defender for a late penalty kick. England converted the penalty kick for one-all. Gerrard was sent home for a second yellow in minute 88, leaving the hosts to cope down a man for the endgame. England and Ukraine tie 1-1.
Montenegro 4 pts +6
England 4 pts +5
Poland 4 pts +2
Ukraine 1 pts 0
San Marino 0 pts -6
Moldova 0 pts -7
Goals
Montenegro
Luka Djordjevic 24
Fatos Beciraj 25, 52
Elsad Zverotic 69
Andrija Delibasic 78, 82
Poland
Jakub Blaszczykowski 33 PK
Jakub Wawrzyniak 81
Ukraine
Yevhn Konoplyanka 38
England
Frank Lampard 87 PK
Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1699767/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1699920/index.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/sep/11/england-ukraine-world-cup-qualifier-report
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1699809/index.html
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5inJkF51RU (Montenegro v. San Marino)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0xIQBFqEWM (Poland v. Moldova)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq7m6CelQus&noredirect=1 (Ukraine v. England)
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