Russia 1 - Portugal 0; Israel 6 - Luxembourg 0

Russia welcomed Portugal to Moscow in the most anticipated match of the day.  Russia took an early Portuguese turnover inside of their own half and turned it into a two-pass fast break that left Alexander Kerzhakov alone with an onrushing goalkeeper Rui Patricio after a perfect one-timed curled pass on the ground into space by Igor Denisov.  Patricio dove to one side as Kerzhakov's shot was hit straight at where his body would have been, allowing Russia to take a 1-0 lead.  Five minutes on, a Portuguese corner eventually led to a close-range header from Helder Postiga, which was sent over the bar.  Five minutes from that, a Portuguese free kick from the side of the box was met violently by the head of center back Bruno Alves from seven yards out, but Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev read the bounce and parried away to safety.  The half would end with Russia ahead 1-0.

In the first twenty minutes of the second period, Russia center back Sergey Ignashevich blocked three shots, one from a runner at the far post, one from an attacker winding up for a power shot at the edge of the penalty area, and one from Nani off a volley attempt from fourteen yards.  However, the continued involvement of the Russia defense was a sign that Portugal had commandeered the game and were the likelier side to breach the other's goal.  Kerzhakov was left more and more on an island in attack, tiring him out to the point that he was substituted midway through the period.  With under ten minutes left to play, Russia broke on the counterattack with a three-on-three, but Alexander Kokorin's shot was saved on the stretch by Patricio.  In spite of conceding more than four times as many corners as they earned, Russia win the match 1-0 and take control of Group F.

Israel paid a visit to Luxembourg to face surprisingly potent Luxembourg in a match that would allow one of the teams to rise into third place behind Portugal with a win.  It took less than five minutes for a Gal Alberman through ball to beat a five-man offside trap and put Mahran Radi one-on-one with Luxembourg's goalkeeper, a battle which Radi won for 1-0.  Maor Melicoshn sent a through ball beyond the trap eight minutes later, and this time Eden Ben Basat calmly finished for a 2-0 lead to the visitors and his first international goal.  Luxembourg were nowhere near their form from September, and Israel began to pile on the goals.  A Yuval Shpungin cross was smacked home on the fly by the outstretched leg of Tomer Hemed, and Israel were up 3-0 at the break.

In the second period, nothing changed in terms of the flow of the match.  After thirty minutes without a score, Melicsohn dribbled away from the goalie and rolled a shot in from a tight angle for 4-0.  Hemed scored two more goals of his own later in the match to complete a hat trick and a 6-0 win for Israel, their first of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Luxembourg had a penalty kick for 5-1, but Daniel Da Mota could not make it three goals from three games as he skied well over the bar.

Russia 9 pts +7
Portugal 6 pts +3
Israel 4 pts +2
Northern Ireland 1 pts -2
Azerbaijan 1 pts -3
Luxembourg 1 pts -7

Goals
Russia
Alexander Kerzhakov 6

Israel
Mahran Radi 4
Eden Ben Basat 12
Tomer Hemed 27, 73, 90+1
Maor Melicsohn 60

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783770/index.html
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/world/story/ussia-1-0-portugal-world-cup-qualifier-2014-match-report-alexander-kerzhakov-scores-winner-101212
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784353/index.html
http://www.jpost.com/Sports/Article.aspx?id=287621

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c74eNYB-cxg (Russia v. Portugal)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpHSCfSmtu8 (Israel v. Luxembourg)