Slovenia 4 - Iceland 2; Norway 1 - Albania 1

Albania looked to complete a six-point haul against Norway, having won away 1-0 in March.  A win in Tirana would see Albania take top shot in Group E.  The match was an open one as both teams looked to seize a rare opportunity to qualify out of a rather soft European qualifying group.  Valoet Rama (pictured, red #20) was a particularly persistent pest up the left wing for Albania throughout the first half.  Rama single-handedly provided the opening goal.  Rama prevented a turnover forty-five yards from goal, turned away from the defender, and dribbled quickly up the pitch into open space.  Once inside the box, he cut across his marked, faked a shot, and then rolled the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post.  It was sheer brilliance, and Albania took a 1-0 lead into the break courtesy of the Rama goal.

Albania were the livelier side to begin the second half with the raucous crowd making its presence felt.  Albanian captain Ervin Bulku crossed a ball into the box that was headed on frame by Hamdi Salihi, but Norway goalkeeper Rune Jarstein made a spectacular save reaching behind his head to tip the ball onto the crossbar.  Norway appeared to be out of ideas on offense, but set pieces can always provide danger to even the best-drilled defenses.  A Norwegian corner was headed into the goal by Tom Hogli to equalize the match with under five minutes to play, and Albania were unable to turn their superiority into three points.  The match ends as a 1-1 draw.

Reykjavik was supposed to be the site for host Iceland to surprisingly leap into first place in Group E with floundering Slovenia coming into town.  Their floundering ways did not travel, however, and Slovenia had the opener after ten minutes of play.  A beautiful backheel flick from Milivoje Novakovic played in Andraz Kirm, whose shot from the half circle blazed a trail into the Icelandic goal. Iceland responded within a dozen minutes of the opener.  Emil Hallfredsson whipped in a cross to the far post to where Birkir Bjarnason had made his run.  The resulting header just barely squirmed under the goalkeeper's hands for the equalizer.  Branko Ilic compounded Slovenia's plight three minutes later by pulling Alfred Finnbogason down by the shirt.  Although the foul occurred outside the penalty area, Iceland were awarded a penalty kick, which they converted for a 2-1 lead.  Slovenia had a dubious penalty kick of their own five minutes later when Kevin Kampl tripped over an Icelandic defender in the box.  After the conversion, the score was 2-2, and it would remain that way into halftime.

On the hour mark, set piece magic was summoned by Slovenia.  A lofted corner was met by the head of Bostjan Cesar, whose route could not be followed closely enough by Helgi Danielsson.  The header nestled itself in the goal for a 3-2 lead to the visitors.  With five minutes left in the match, Novakovic sealed the deal for Slovenia.  He slalomed up the field, in the process both nutmegging and causing Kari Arnason to fall to the ground during his run.  His pass led to a rebounded shot that was then struck home by Rene Krhin to seal the victory.  Slovenia win 4-2, and amazingly Switzerland remain top of the group at the conclusion of the day's matches.

Switzerland 11 pts +6
Albania 10 pts +1
Iceland 9 pts -1
Norway 8 pts 0
Slovenia 6 pts -2
Cyprus 4 pts -4

Goals
Albania
Valdet Rama 41

Norway
Tom Hogli 87

Slovenia
Andraz Kirm 11
Valter Birsa 31 PK
Bostjan Cesar 61
Rene Krhin 85

Iceland
Birkir Bjarnason 22
Alfred Finnbogason 26 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008636/postmatch/report/index.html
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/253608/report
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008647/postmatch/report/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTw41b0ox98 (Norway v. Albania)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV7gP48GylU (Slovenia v. Iceland)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYxq53Ctw48 (Slovenia v. Iceland)