Belgium 3 - Serbia 0; Croatia 2 - Macedonia 1; Wales 2 - Scotland 1

On a rainy day in Belgrade, hosts Serbia took on group co-favorites Belgium.  Christian Benteke nearly put the visitors one to the good, but Serbia goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic knocked it away.  However, Belgium were not to be denied on this night, and a Kevin de Bruyne swinging cross found Benteke at the far post behind two defenders.  Benteke headed in at the near post for 1-0.  Belgium took that lead into the break.

In the second period, a desperate Serbia pushed many men forward, leaving themselves susceptible to multiple counterattacks.  Mousa Dembele dragged the only two defenders to his side, allowing de Bruyne to run unguarded with the ball for twenty-five yards before slotting home from inside the box, an embarrassing defensive lapse that left the hosts down 2-0 midway through the half.  Serbia continued to push forward and were caught on the break one last time in stoppage time, though the goal in all fairness should have been called back for offside as it was not even that close of a call.  Belgium win 3-0.

Macedonia played before their fans in Skopje against Croatia.  Croatia had won the first match between the two side 1-0 at home.  It took fifteen minutes for 1-0 in this match, but it was Macedonia who found the opener.  Agim Ibraimi (pictured, red #19) took a pass and cut across his defender before finishing in the bottom corner near post to give his side the lead.  Croatia kept plugging away undeterred, and their equalizer came one quarter hour later.  A corner kick fell to an unmarked Vedran Corluka at the back post.  Corluka had to to settle the ball before slotting home for 1-1.  That would be the score at the half.

Ivan Rakitic gave Croatia the lead at the hour mark from a misread free kick.  Macedonia goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov came out ready to punch a cross off the heads of the tall players in the box, but the ball played by Rakitic floated on target.  Bogatinov was helpless to return to his line and the ball floated in for a 2-1 lead to Croatia. In stoppage time, Croatia almost had a third, but Darijo Srna's free kick clanged a post.  Goran Pandev tried to equalize in the dying seconds, but his shot was saved.  Croatia win 2-1 to go joint-top with Belgium.

Wales returned to Cardiff after a horrid start to their 2014 FIFA World Cup to take on Scotland.  The much was an open affair from the opening whistle.  A Gareth Bale cross found Steve Morison's head, but he flashed wide of the far post with a header that could have put Wales up 1-0.  Scotland ended up getting the opener after a flick-on header from a long goal kick led to scoring chance for James Morrison that Morrison converted for a 1-0 lead.  Scotland would take that lead into their locker room.

In the second period, Wales began their tactic of simulation in the box.  Aaron Ramsey tried but failed early in the second half.  Morrison nearly made it two for Scotland, but his close-range effort merely stung the hands of Welsh goalkeeper Lewis Price. A Charlie Adam cross from the left side floated to Darren Fletcher's head inside the Welsh six-yard box, but the resulting goal was disallowed after Adam's cross was incorrectly deemed to have gone out-of-bounds while on its flight.  In the final ten minutes, Bale brought Wales out of the doldrums.  Bale feigned getting tripped in the box and slid through the rain-soaked box.  He was awarded the penalty, which he converted.  With two minutes left in the match, Bale stole all three points for the Dragons with a running twenty-two yard bomb that screamed into the side net.  Wales win the match 2-1 while Scotland are left to wonder what the outcome would have been with a different set of officials.

Belgium 7 pts +5
Croatia 7 pts +2
Serbia 4 pts +2
Wales 3 pts -6
Scotland 2 pts -1
Macedonia 1 pts -2

Goals
Belgium
Christian Benteke 34
Kevin de Bruyne 68
Kevin Mirallas 90+1

Croatia
Vedran Corluka 33
Ivan Rakitic 61

Macedonia
Agim Ibraimi 16

Wales
Gareth Bale 81 PK, 89

Scotland
James Morrison 27

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784268/index.html
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Belgium-beats-Serbia-3-0-in-WCup-qualifier-3944186.php
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784177/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/10/12/2080.ap.soc.wales.scotland.1st.ld.writethru.255/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784224/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784814/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlUIqu4qD4 (Belgium v. Serbia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shdjp9YUWvA (Croatia v. Macedonia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z53cnJOhylc (Wales v. Scotland)