Denmark 2 - Italy 2; Armenia 2 - Bulgaria 1; Czech Republic 4 - Malta 1

Yerevan was the site of Armenia's home date with Bulgaria.  Only a win would keep Armenia alive in the competition.  Nikolay Bodurov was given a straight red in minute 44 for a bad tackle just outside of his penalty area on Aras Ozbiliz, leaving Bulgaria to cope a man down.  Ozbiliz lofted a soft free kick up and over the wall that left the keeper flatfooted and the Armenians ahead by a goal.  The halftime score was Armenia 1, Bulgaria 0.

Bulgaria were asserting themselves nicely at the start of the half.  At the hour mark, they earned a short-range free kick from the half circle.  Bulgaria captain Ivelin Popov curled the ball into the net off the free kick to even the match at 1-1.  Svetoslav Dyakov made the bid to earn the point extremely difficult for Bulgaria when he earned a second yellow card in minute 63, leaving Bulgaria with only nine men on the pitch.  Yura Movsisyan finished the match off with a chip goal as he was sandwiched between the goalkeeper and his marker.  Armenia went close to adding a third on a couple occasions, but they will be pleased with the 2-1 victory.

Czech Republic made the trek south to Ta'Qali to take on Malta.  A deflection carried a Tomas Hubschman shot into the Maltese goal within three minutes of the opening whistle to settle the nerves of the visiting Czechs.  A Frantisek Rajtoral lofted cross floated tantalizingly for Malta goalkeeper Justin Haber, but he could not get to the ball before David Lafata did.  Lafata hit his header into the vacant net to put the Czechs ahead by two.  The halftime score was 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

Roderick Briffa sparked Malta with a nice chip forward into the path of Michael Mifsud.  Malta's all-time leading scorer added the finish to bring his side within 2-1.  A shanked shot inside the Maltese area rolled slowly between two defenders and Haber before Vaclav Kadlec flicked the ball on target with his back to goal.  Luke Dimech was too close to be able to react to the unorthodox shot, so the Czech Republic were ahead 3-1.  Andrei Agius lost out on a header in the final minute to Tomas Pekhart, whose shot went into the top corner to seal the game for the visitors.  Czech Republic win 4-1.

Denmark hoped the friendly confines of Copenhagen would propel them to victory against group winners Italy.  Italy centerback Thiago Motta sent a long ball forward for Pablo Osvaldo, who did the rest of the work by nutmegging Daniel Agger and then finishing into the far corner to put Italy ahead before the half hour mark.  In stoppage time, Michael Krohn-Dehli sent a cross to the far post.  Nicklas Bendtner rose above Federico Balzaretti to send a bouncing header crashing into the Italian net.  The teams went into their locker rooms tied at one goal apiece.

With little more than ten minutes remaining, Denmark executed a carbon copy of their first goal.  A Krohn-Dehli cross was led to a bouncing header goal by Bendtner, who again rose above Balzaretti for the finish.  A frantic Italy pushed forward in stoppage time and were rewarded with good fortune.  An Osvaldo shot to the far post would have easily been saved, but the shot deflected off the shins of teammate Alberto Aquilani and into the net to even the score.  Denmark did not have enough time to respond, and the teams settle for a 2-2 draw that leaves Denmark clinging to their tournament lives.

Italy 21 pts IN
Bulgaria 13 pts +6
Denmark 13 pts -1
Czech Rep OUT
Armenia 12 pts -1
Malta OUT

Goals
Armenia
Aras Ozbiliz 45
Yura Movsisyan 87

Bulgaria
Ivelin Popov 61

Czech Republic
Tomas Hubschman 3
David Lafata 33
Vaclav Kadlec 51
Tomas Pekhart 90

Malta
Michael Mifsud 47

Italy
Pablo Osvaldo 28
Alberto Aquilani 90+1

Denmark
Nicklas Bendtner 45+1, 79

Match Reports:
http://asbarez.com/114949/armenia-beats-bulgaria-2-1/
http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2013/10/12/Bulgarias-playoff-hopes-hit-by-21-defeat-in-Armenia.aspx
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/czechs-beat-malta-4-1-keep-alive-qualifying-195057302--sow.html#m89fp9M
http://www.goal.com/en/match/92560/denmark-vs-italy/report
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/10/11/4828570/italy-denmark-2014-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-result

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVEeJa8qlMQ (Armenia v. Bulgaria)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb5_oQYJbG4 (Czech Republic v. Malta)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_A2bTP8QhM (Denmark v. Italy)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDjQ_--83gw (Armenia v. Bulgaria 1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88JZWCQ3STA (Armenia v. Bulgaria 2nd half)