Saint Petersburg was the site of Israel's trip to face Russia. The first half was a very quite one without anything to highlight in particular. The half ended 0-0.A deflection inside the Israeli box led to a perfect bounce for Vasili Berezutskiy, who took advantage of the good fortune and shot between the legs of Bebras Natcho to give Russia a 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, the Russians struck again. Alexander Samedov slotted across to the top of the half circle from where Alexander Kokorin smacked a ball into the upper ninety for a goal. Yuri Shirokov missed a penalty kick chance to put Russia ahead 3-0, but his miss ricocheted heavily off the post for a long rebound to Denis Glushakov, who pushed home into the now vacant net for the third goal. Israel scored a consolation goal in stoppage time. Ofir Davidzada swung in a cross that was headed in by Eran Zehavi in spite of the tight coverage from Vladimir Bystrov. Russia win 3-1 in spite of the late goal against. The result eliminates Northern Ireland from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Luxembourg were home to Northern Ireland in Luxembourg. The visitors went ahead just before the quarter hour mark when a Shane Ferguson angled through ball gave Martin Paterson a running start with which to work. Paterson's shot was taken just before the desperate block of Laurent Jans could block it, and the shot was in the goal soon thereafter. Stefano Bensi dribbled straight at Northern Ireland defender Lee Hodson and created space for Lars Gerson, but the shot curled into the crossbar and back into the field of play. On the stroke of halftime, Luxembourg were level. A fast breakaway needed only two passes to get from the Luxembourg box to the opposite box. A ball forward from David Turpel gave Aurelien Joachim a shot at goal from outside the box. A deflection off the block of Daniel Lafferty did the work for Joachim as the ball fell perfectly into the goal. The score at the break was 1-1.
Bensi scored on a fast counter with a low, driven shot from twenty-two yards out to put Luxembourg out front 2-1. Oliver Norwood responded with a free kick cross that was nodded into the ground and then into the goal off the bounce by Gareth McAuley to even the match again. With three minutes to go, Luxembourg secured their first win of the tournament. Joachim won a tough header off a corner, and the ball fell for an outside-of-the-boot effort from Mathias Jaenisch that secured Luxembourg's first competitive win since defeating Albania in September 2011.
Russia 18 pts +11
Portugal 17 pts +8
Israel 12 pts +5
N. Ireland OUT
Azerbaijan OUT
Luxembourg OUT
Goals
Russia
Vasili Berezutskiy 50
Alexander Kokorin 52
Denis Glushakov 74
Israel
Eran Zehavi 90+3
Luxembourg
Aurelien Joachim 45+2
Stefano Bensi 78
Mathias Jaenisch 87
Northern Ireland
Martin Paterson 14
Gareth McAuley 82
Match Reports:
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/9/10/4715614/russia-israel-2014-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-result
http://www.jewishjournal.com/sports/article/russia_overtakes_portugal_in_world_cup_qualifying_with_3_1_win_over_Israel
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24007945
http://www.wscountytimes.co.uk/news/luxembourg-stun-northern-ireland-1-5475246
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skJmrqnUeoA (Russia v. Israel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIH91ZgGG84 (Luxembourg v. N. Ireland)
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