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

Giant-killing Armenia were at home in Yerevan to take on Denmark.  The Danes were out for revenge for the 4-0 loss Armenia inflicted on them earlier this year.  Denmark were nowhere close to avenging their loss looking at their play in the first half, but Armenia could not take advantage.  The half ended as it began, 0-0.

Armenia nearly had a lead midway through the period as an odd bounce off a corner kick hit Christian Eriksen and then went off the Danish woodwork.  Armenia lost Varazdat Haroyan to a second yellow in minute 73 as he committed a foul on Viktor Fischer inside the Armenian penalty area.  Denmark converted the penalty to take a 1-0 lead to go along with their extra man.  Denmark were able to see the result through to the finish.  Denmark win 1-0.

Ta'Qali was the site for Malta's home match against Bulgaria.  The Maltese were ever so close to an early breakthrough but twice were unable to push the ball over the line.  Bulgaria were thankful for the let off and went ahead themselves soon thereafter.  An overhit floated cross by Radoslav Dimitrov miraculously fell in under the crossbar in spite of a touch from Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber to give Bulgaria a 1-0 lead.  Clayton Failla nearly restored parity with a free kick for Malta, but the far post saved the day for Bulgaria.  With less than five minutes to go, Haber denied a first-time shot by Ivelin Popov, who had been put in by a pass from Georgi Milanov.  Bulgaria were ahead at the break, 1-0.

Andre Schembri nearly equalized for Malta, but his shot under heavy marking pressure hit off the outside of the near post.  Milanov tried to slip a pass across to an open Todor Nedelev, but Haber was alert and dove to parry the pass away.  Sadly, the ball rolled straight to Emil Gargorov, who nearly broke the net with his massive shot to put Bulgaria ahead by two goals.  To their credit, Malta nearly quit and they played the rest of the match with their foot on the accelerator.  Their breakthrough came off a Terence Vella drive.  Vella ran at defenders and then slipped a ball forward for Edward Herrera.  Herrera tailed wide to make a better angle for his shot, which he put away to close to gap to 2-1.  To be fair, Malta were the more creative side throughout the match, but goals win football matches.  Bulgaria win 2-1 to regain second place after Denmark had taken it earlier in the day.  The loss eliminates Malta from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Italy were in Turin to welcome the visit of Czech Republic.  The Czechs took a lead with a quick counterattack.  A through ball from midfield when to a streaking Petr Jiracek down the left flank.  When Jiracek was even with the penalty area, he rolled a fast pass across the box that beat the four Italian defenders.  Libor Kozak slid to make the finish at the far post and give the visitors the early lead.  Italy should have gone a man down shortly after conceding the first goal when Leonardo Bonucci decided to do a flying stomp kick to the groin of Kozak, but apparently the referee did not consider this sort of act to be even a minor foul.  Italian striker Mario Balotelli missed a few good chances in the first half, allowing the Czechs to take a 1-0 lead with them into their locker room.

Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech misplayed a corner, missing his punch and allowing a basic header from Giorgio Chiellini to bounce meekly into the goal for the equalizer.  But two minutes later, Balotelli had drawn a penalty kick when his movement led to a foul from Theodor Gebre Selassie.  Balotteli converted the kick himself, and Italy were ahead 2-1.  A frustrated Kozak got revenge for that earlier groin stomp by opening a gash in Manuel Pasqual's head with an elbow.  First-half substitute Daniel Kolar was sent off for a second yellow card offense with a minute left in the match, leaving the Czechs down a man at the end.  Italy win 2-1 and become the second European team to qualify for Brasil 2014.

Italy 20 pts IN
Bulgaria 13 pts +7
Denmark 12 pts -1
Czech Rep 9 pts 0
Armenia 9 pts -2
Malta OUT

Goals
Denmark
Daniel Agger 73 PK

Bulgaria
Radoslav Dimitrov 9
Emil Gargorov 59

Malta
Edward Herrera 78

Italy
Giorgio Chiellini 51
Mario Balotelli 54 PK

Czech Republic
Libor Kozak 19

Match Reports:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-agger-penalty-gives-denmark-1-0-win-184439662--sow.html
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130910/football/malta-bulgaria-world-cup-qualifier-result.485613
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=153550
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2416982/Italy-2-Czech-Republic-1-Mario-Balotelli-Giorgio-Chiellini-cancel-Libor-Kozak-strike-book-World-Cup-spot-Brazil.html
http://us.soccerway.com/news/2013/September/10/fifa-world-cup-qualifying-italy-2-czech-republic-1/n239449/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXN4vamRqjI (Denmark v. Armenia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-jQEvus8ko (Bulgaria v. Malta)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXJeYTbFu7A (Italy v. Czech Republic)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QBLZ-ltsO0 (Denmark v. Armenia 1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWorYOwtYA (Denmark v. Armenia 2nd half)