Italy 1 - Bulgaria 0; Armenia 2 - Czech Republic 1; Denmark 2 - Malta 1

Czech Republic were at home in Prague to face Armenia and create a gap between themselves and their challengers for second place in Group B.  Armenia were looking for a second straight upset on the road, having downed Denmark away in the previous fixture.  At the half hour mark, Armenia left their stamp on the game.  Karlen Mkrtchyan drove a ball from twenty-five yards that spun inside out and in toward the near post to put the visitors ahead 1-0.  Armenia took that 1-0 advantage into their dressing room.

With twenty minutes to play, the Czechs found some fantastic fortune.  A basic shot from distance by Tomas Rosicky found the knee of Armenia defender Varazdat Haroyan for a heavy deflection that found its way to goal.  In stoppage time, Yura Movsisyan robbed the ball and drove into the box, from where he pushed the ball into the path of teammate Gevorg Ghazaryan.  Ghazaryan shot off the body of Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech, but the rebound hit Ghazaryan in the head and somehow trickled over the line.  Armenia win 2-1.

Ta'Qali was the site as Denmark visited Malta.  In the second minute of play, Martin Braithwaite settled a long cross to him with his first touch before passing into the box with his second.  Leon Andreasen did well with the finish to put the Danes ahead 1-0.  Simon Kjaer nearly gifted the goal back to Malta with a poor header back to his goalkeeper, but Denmark netminder Stephan Andersen was able to save a shot from Andre Schembri.  Malta were granted a free kick straight-on from twenty yards after Kjaer tripped Schembri.  The duty to take the kick fell to Clayton Failla.  Failla found the top left corner to send the stadium into a frenzy.  The score was 1-1 at the half.

In the early stages of the second period, the Danish lead was restored.  Christian Eriksen made a darting run up the left side of the pitch and cut into the box.  He did his best dance to drag out Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber, and then Eriksen shot at goal.  The ball hit the crossbar and deflected in off the back of a Maltese player for the second Danish goal.  Denmark withstood the influx of Maltese attacking pressure and hold on to win 2-1.

Italy were looking for a win at home in Palermo against second-place Bulgaria.  The match was a wide open affair with both sides free to fire from distance at will.  Both goalkeepers had a few comfortable saves to make, but eventually it would be Italy with the breakthrough.  Antonio Candreva rocked Yordan Minev to the floor with a hesitation move and cross, and Alberto Gilardino was wide open in the box, having left his marker Veselin Minev behind.  Gilardino finished with a simple header, giving Italy a 1-0 to take with them into halftime.

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon proved the savior in the second half.  A Todor Nedelev volley found Ivelin Popov near the goalmouth.  Popov's sliding shot had actually made it behind Buffon, but Buffon arched backwards to pop the ball off the goal line.  Buffon next had to save a near own goal with quick reflexes.  Finally, Buffon robbed Dimitar Rangelov of a headed goal with a diving block.  The pressure finally relented.  Italy nearly had a goal through a horrid mistake by Bulgaria goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov.  Mihaylov came to collect on a simple slide, but he dropped the ball, allowing the Italian attacker to shoot at the vacant net.  However, Nikolay Bordurov came to the rescue with a kick block during his desperate retreat.  Bulgaria had a half-chance at the end of stoppage time, but no luck was to be had on this night by the visitors.  Italy win 1-0.

Italy 17 pts +9
Bulgaria 10 pts +6
Czech Rep 9 pts +1
Armenia 9 pts -1
Denmark 9 pts -2
Malta 3 pts -13

Goals
Armenia
Karlen Mkrtchyan 31
Gevorg Ghazaryan 90+2

Czech Republic
Tomas Rosicky 70

Denmark
Leon Andreasen 2
Ryan Camilleri 53 OG

Malta
Clayton Failla 38

Italy
Alberto Gilardino 38

Match Reports:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/06/armenia-shocks-czech-republic-to-further-muddy-group-b/
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/06/uk-soccer-world-czech-idUKBRE9850YV20130906
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130906/football/malta.485089
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008572/postmatch/report/index.html
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/9/6/4702624/italy-vs-bulgaria-2014-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-result
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/92554/italy-vs-bulgaria/report?

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJu3Wb9JAVA (Armenia v. Czech Republic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hapIMLE1E (Denmark v. Malta)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ7vXHSgIBw (Italy v. Bulgaria)