Scotland 2 - Croatia 0; Wales 1 - Belgium 1; Serbia 5 - Macedonia 1

Photo by John Thys

Serbia closed their Brasil 2014 campaign at home against Macedonia in Jagodina.  Serbia caused an own goal fifteen minutes into the match.  Zoran Tosic burst into the Macedonian area and then pushed wide for Dusan Basta.  Basta played a ball that would have been tapped in by teammate Dusan Tadic if it had not been for the own goal by Macedonia.  A low cross was Aleksandar Kolarov was then bundled over the line inelegantly but effectively by Basta for 2-0.  On a Serbian corner, Boban Grncarov accidentally produced a crunching tackle on Radosav Petrovic, conceding a penalty kick.  Serbia converted for a 3-0 lead they would take with them into the locker room.

Serbia continued to steamroll their opponents in the second period.  Not even ten minutes in, Basta connected on a low poss to Tadic.  Tadic was not denied by an own goal this time, so he finished himself on the slide for 4-0.  Basta sealed his man-of-the-match status with an excellent cross to the far post that was headed in by Stefan Scepovic for Serbia's fifth and his first international goal.  Somehow, Macedonia snatched the best goal of the day through an amazing run by Adis Jahovic, who channeled his best Diego Maradona impression as he slalomed through five defenders on a run of forty-five yards from his own half of the pitch before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.  Serbia win 5-1.

Already-qualified Belgium finished their qualification slate at home against Wales in Brussels. 
Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey did his best to kept out the potent Belgian strike force.  Hennessey denied Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas (pictured, red) in the first period.  With just under ten minutes to go in the half, Belgium right back Tony Alderweireld pulled off a sombrero flick to beat Craig Bellamy before unleashing a dipping shot that struck a Welsh defender and then the crossbar and came back into the field of play.  Belgium were disappointed to be leaving the field still tied at 0-0.

A Lukaku half-bicycle pass ate up James Wilson, and the ball was met by the run of Kevin de Bruyne.  De Bruyne was able to score with his well-taken chance to put Belgium ahead 1-0 twenty minutes into the second period.  Some power dribbling by Mirallas on the edge of the penalty area produced another dangerous chance that Hennessey parried aside.  With two minutes left, Bellamy produced a fitting sendoff to his international career.  Aaron Ramsey began a one-two-one with Bellamy, with Bellamy picking out a beautiful pass that Ramsey only had to redirect from three yards out, albeit it at a sharp angle, for the equalizer.  Wales snatch an unexpected point with a 1-1 draw.

Due to results elsewhere, Croatia had already clinched a spot in the UEFA Playoffs before their match today had ended.  They were on the road in Glasgow to take on Scotland.  Scotland with a win would sweep the two games from Croatia.  Charlie Mulgrew drove the ball down the left flank for Scotland before floating a high cross into the six-yard box.  Croatia center back Dejan Lovren did not feel like winning the ball, so he allowed a motivated Robert Snodgrass to rise above him from behind to hammer a header home for a 1-0 Scottish lead.  Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa denied Snodgrass a second goal two minutes later with a diving fingertips save that needed the far post to see the ball away.  Scotland were in front 1-0 at intermission.

Eduardo latched onto a slightly too heavy through ball.  Eduardo was forced to attempt a last-ditch effort from a sharp angle at an open net, but he could not get the ball on target.  Domagoj Vida tripped Scotland winger Ikechi Anya in the box for a penalty kick to Scotland.  Pletikosa saved a very-well struck attempt by Barry Bannan, but luckily for Scotland Steven Naismith was the first to the rebound.  Naismith finished to double Scotland's lead.  The Croatians, knowing they were already in the playoffs by this point, showed little fight the rest of the way.  Scotland win 2-0 for their only home victory of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Goals
Serbia
Stefan Ristovski 16 OG
Dusan Basta 19
Aleksandar Kolvaro 38 PK
Dusa Tadic 54
Stefan Scepovic 74

Macedonia
Adis Jahovic 83

Belgium
Kevin de Bruyne 64

Wales
Aaron Ramsey 88

Scotland
Robert Snodgrass 28
Steven Naismith 73

Match Reports:
http://www.macedonianfootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5939:wcq-2014-serbia-macedonia-51&catid=13:international&Itemid=64
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/belgium-1-1-wales-aaron-ramsey-2446452
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24439786
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2461873/Belgium-1-Wales-1--match-report-Aaron-Ramsey-rescues-Wales.html
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/scotland-restore-hampden-pride-against-croatia-1-3142856
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24439813

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbNVC7YeC8c (Serbia v. Macedonia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRNpbNMY3A (Wales v. Belgium)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK145SC498U (Scotland v. Croatia)