New Zealand 3 - Tahiti 0; New Caledonia 5 - Solomon Islands 0

Photo by Martin Hunter

Christchurch was the scene as hosts New Zealand were looking for a win that would eliminate visiting Tahiti from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  A nervy start from Tahiti saw a couple of poor passes at the back lead to a turnover that gave the All Whites an opening chance.  Chris Killen's initial shot was blocked, but Michael McGlinchey finished far post from the half circle, putting New Zealand up a goal within three minutes.  The half ended with the hosts up 1-0.

The second period continued the trend of few attacking possibilities. Only in the final minute of regulation did the scoreline change again. A Kosta Barbarouses (pictured, white) shot was spilled by Tahiti goalkeeper Mikael Roche, and Killen was there to tap home the rebound immediately over the offside protests of the Tahitian defenders.  In stoppage time, a long rebound off a good save rolled out to McGlinchey who floated a curling ball from the half circle into the upper ninety for the finishing touch.  New Zealand win 3-0 to remain top of the group, and in the process Tahiti have been eliminated from Brasil 2014.

With the earlier result in New Zealand, Solomon Islands knew that anything less than a win would eliminate them from Brasil 2014.  Their hosts New Caledonia were none too sympathetic, and they did not provide very much hospitality in Noumea.  A throw-in at the five-minute mark led to a break down the right flank by Bertrand Kai, who hit a cross to George Gope-Fenepej.  Gope-Fenepej headed in before the goalkeeper could touch the ball away, giving Les Cagous a 1-0 lead.  It took only seven minutes for New Caledonia to find the second, with Roy Kayara making a solo run through the middle of the defense, shaking the two center backs with a juke, and dribbling around the goalkeeper before finishing into an open net.  On the half hour mark, Les Cagous found through a wonder strike from Iamel Kabeu.  The ball had fallen loose after a blocked shot twenty-five yards from goal, so the oncoming Kabeu fired first-time off the bottom of the crossbar in the upper ninety.  On the stroke of halftime, Cesar Loholea made it four with a chip goal from eighteen yards over a caught-out goalkeeper.  Les Cagous took the 4-0 lead into the break.

The majority of the second half saw little action.  Georges Bearune, a late substitute for Les Cagous, made a long cross that floated over the Bonitos' back line and into the airspace of Loholea, who volleyed the cross into the goal from sixteen yards to finish the scoring.  New Caledonia win 5-0 to eliminate the Solomon Islands from Brasil 2014.  New Caledonia next play New Zealand in March in a match that may very well decide the group championship.

New Zealand 12 pts +12
New Caledonia 9 pts +11
Solomon Islands OUT
Tahiti OUT

Goals
New Zealand
Michael McGlinchey 3, 90+4
Chris Killen 90

New Caledonia
Georges Gope-Fenepej 5
Roy Kayara 12
Iamel Kabeu 31
Cesar Loholea 45, 90

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/415784f3-4589-48aa-aeee-411d0a0422e5/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/7823580/All-Whites-too-good-for-Tahiti
http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/football/230666/football-all-whites-take-scrappy-win-over-tahiti
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/0b0b60d7-0622-4686-80b6-16932e895f67/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/785bf075-52ef-438a-aba9-56ce291dd8e9/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T-mwC4_3X4 (New Zealand v. Tahiti)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLppeCJxm0k&feature=g-all-u (New Caledonia v. Solomon Islands)

New Zealand 2 - Tahiti 0

Photo by Federation Tahitienne de Football employee

Tahiti kicked off their home match in Pirae against New Zealand twenty-six hours after the other OFC Third Round Matchday Three match but on the same date.  Such occurrences only are seen in Oceania, where the International Date Line plays tricks with the schedule.  Tahiti were showing good skill on the ball, but as always the no-nonsense Kiwis were nonplussed.  A free kick for the Kiwis turned into a mad scramble in the box.  Following an initial save, the rebound happened to spill to the far post for a Shane Smeltz tap-in and a New Zealand lead.  The halftime score was 1-0 to the visitors.

In the second period, a Leo Bertos blocked shot a Tahiti shot to preserve the lead.  Later, striker Chris Wood shook Angelo Tchen and fought off a second Tahiti defender before blowing his shot well over the crossbar.  With under ten minutes to play, New Zealand turned a corner kick into 2-0 when Tony Lochhead's ball was volleyed goalward by Ben Sigmund.  Tchen stuck his foot out but only managed to turn the ball into the side net, angering his goalkeeper who may have been able to save had Tchen not interfered.  New Zealand win 2-0 to regain the lead in the OFC Third Round group.  The return match between Tahiti and the Kiwis will take place in four days' time on the calendar, but in three days' time in reality as the scene shifts forward a day.  Anything short of a win for Tahiti and they will be eliminated from Brasil 2014.

New Zealand 9 pts +9
New Caledonia 6 pts +6
Solomon Islands 3 pts -7
Tahiti 0 pts -8

Goals
New Zealand
Shane Smeltz 24
Ben Sigmund 82

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/4c05d9b8-e59c-46f8-ae29-c6f6fbde893f/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/7fe19fa5-1ea4-46ae-9356-ff3bd0622f01/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JmP7VARXW8&feature=g-all-u

Honduras 0 - Panama 0; Canada 3 - Cuba 0

Canada welcomed short-handed Cuba to Toronto.  Cuba showed up to the match with only eleven players as one player was ill and another three had escaped from the team hotel in order to defect to the United States.  Canada were in no position in the standings to show mercy to the Cubans even though their visitors were without substitutes; Canada needed a win to keep on track for Brasil 2014.  Canada were battering the Cuban goalmouth from the opening whistle, but three chances went begging early.  Simeon Jackson played a ball up to Ante Jazic that led to a slotted ball across the box.  Tosaint Ricketts found the ball in space and fired home for 1-0 to Canada.  Cuba goalkeeper Odelin Molina made a fine save off a close-range header to keep his team within touching distance.  The half finished 1-0 to the Canucks.

Julian de Guzman created a turnover in the Cuban defensive zone and worked his way in for a shot, but Molina was up to the task yet again, this time with a kick save.  In minute 70, Roberto Linares was sent off for a rash tackle against Andre Hainault, leaving Cuba to cope with ten men.  Will Johnson headed Canada's second goal home after a monster deflection left a jump ball up for grabs on Cuba's goal line with no Molina in site.  In the ensuing celebration, Olivier Occean was given a straight red for shoving Molina in the net as Canada tried to grab the ball the hasten the ensuing kickoff.  The final seventeen minutes plus were played ten versus ten.  Five minutes later, a Jazic cross was met on a volley by the outside of David Edgar's foot, leading to a screamer for Canada's third goal.  Canada win 3-0 and need only a draw on the road in Honduras to advance to the final six in CONCACAF.

Panama City was the site as Panama and La Marea Roja welcomed Los Catrachos of Honduras.  Panama knew that a win at home would seal their progression to the next phase of qualifying.  Armando Cooper had a golden opportunity to put Panama ahead but he let Honduras off the hook as he beat the goalkeeper but not the post on his through-ball induced breakaway.  Honduras came back with two close calls, but neither required a save to be made.  Cooper came right back and forced Donis Escober (pictured, yellow) in the Honduran goal to saved on the stretch, and the resulting rebound came too quickly for Blas Perez (pictured, red) to put the ball back on target.  The half ended poised precariously at 0-0.

Luis Tejada jumped onto the offensive in the first minute of play upon resumption, but Escober was so well placed that he had to use his hands to save his face from taking the brunt of the shot.  Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo was called into action to save at the lower corner of his goal when a turn-and-shoot from twenty yards by Carlo Costly was sent with pace at his goal.  Boniek Garcia had another chance for Los Catrachos one minute later, but this time Penedo went airborne to knock the ball to safety.  Victor Bernandez took a short angled free kick from nineteen yards, but his rocket sailed just over the crossbar.  Panama held on for dear life and the result is a 0-0 draw.

Panama 10 pts +4
Canada 10 pts +3
Honduras 8 pts +2
Cuba OUT

Goals
Canada
Tosaint Ricketts 14
Will Johnson 73
David Edgar 79

News Reports:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/10/13/missing-cubans.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc

Match Reports:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/article/1270979--world-cup-soccer-cuba-faces-canada-with-no-subs-in-qualifying
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/canada-beats-undermanned-cuba-3-0-in-world-cup-qualifying/2012/10/12/1a2aafda-14d9-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Canada+final+World+qualifying+game+Honduras/7387071/story.html
http://fepafut.com/noticias_detail.asp?id=3095

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrIMpvJCRCY (Canada v. Cuba)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKtJZRuxzP0 (Honduras v. Panama)

Guatemala 2 - Jamaica 1; United States of America 2 - Antigua and Barbuda 1

North Sound and its tiny pitch was the site as the Benna Boys of Antigua and Barbuda hosted group favorites United States of America.  Much had been made of the American's decision to leave striker Jozy Altidore at home, but his replacement Eddie Johnson seemed intent on making all the pundits pipe down.  A Graham Zusi cross allowed Johnson to raise up and meet it with his head, giving the Americans a lead after twenty minutes.  However, Antigua would not allow themselves any time for pity.  Forward Peter Byers bolted to the endline, beating American center back Geoff Cameron in time to slot back across the box for an onrushing Dexter Blackstock to equalize with his first ever international goal.  Seven minutes elapsed before another Zusi cross found Johnson's head, but this time there would be no goal as the header went wide.  Tim Howard was forced into a diving catch by a long-distance effort from Randolph Burton.  The half ended with the teams level at 1-1.

The Americans controlled possession in the second half, but the lion's share of attacking chances went to Antigua.  None of the Antigua chances truly bothered Howard, but their frequency must have been disconcerting.  American midfielder Jermaine Jones picked up a yellow card in his appearance as a substitute for an intentional handball, thereby getting himself suspended for the game against Guatemala on Tuesday.  In the final ten minutes, the tide of momentum turned. Substitute Sasha Kljestan hit a knuckling curveball from twenty-five yards, but Antigua goalkeeper Molvin James was able to parry it away.  James then tipped a well-struck header from Michael Bradley onto his crossbar and out of play five minutes later.  Just when it seemed the spoils would be shared, a cross from Alan Gordon found Johnson's head for a stoppage time winner for the United States.  The Americans win 2-1 on their first trip to Antigua and take the lead in Group One.

Guatemala City was the scene as Guatemala welcomed Jamaica to town.  Carlos Figueroa received a pass twenty-six yards from goal and then proceeded to slalom through five defenders before finishing from eight yards over an oncoming goalkeeper to give Los Chapines a 1-0 lead.  The Reggae Boyz had a chance at the equalizer after a lofted through ball beat the offsides trap, but an amazing recovery run by Elias Vasquez allowed him to make a saving tackle and clearance.  The half ended with Guatemala up 1-0.

Dane Richards, a first-half substitution, made a world of difference in the second half for the Reggae Boyz.  Richards beat Jose Contreras to a loose ball on the hour mark and was tripped just inside the top of the box, giving Jamaica a penalty.  After the conversion, the match was tied at one goal apiece.  With five minutes to go, the all-time leading goal scorer for Guatemala Carlos Ruiz (pictured, white) came through in the clutch.  He ran to the near post on an inswinging corner kick and rose before his defenders to head home with authority.  Los Chapines held on through to the end, and Guatemala win 2-1 to move within one point of the CONCACAF Fourth Round.

USA 10 pts +3
Guatemala 10 pts +3
Jamaica 7 pts 0
Antigua OUT

Goals
United States of America
Eddie Johnson 20, 90

Antigua and Barbuda
Dexter Blackstock 25

Guatemala
Carlos Figueroa 16
Carlos Ruiz 85

Jamaica
Luton Shelton 61 PK

Match Reports:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/10/12/us-soccer-survive-antigua-barbuda.ap/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a1
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/grant_wahl/10/12/us-survives-antigua-barbuda/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a0
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/avi_creditor/10/12/us-player-ratings-antigua-barbuda/index.html?sct=sc_t12_a2
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/1064?cc=5901
http://boxscorenews.com/late-ruiz-goal-lifts-guatemala-over-jamaica-in-world-cup-qualifying-p49185-68.htm

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uNjawxKPzw (USA v. Antigua)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0fQbTDNfw (Guatemala v. Jamaica)

Costa Rica 1 - El Salvador 0; Mexico 5 - Guyana 0

Houston, United States of America was the nominal home for Guyana as they faced Mexico, though the majority of the fans in attendance were supporting Mexico.  They had much to cheer, beginning with an early penalty earned by striker Javier Hernandez as he was tripped by the goalkeeper's hand.  However, Hernandez sent his penalty kick into the crossbar, so the opener decided to be fashionably late.  Mexico winger Javier Aquino beat his men down the field on a delayed break, but his wonderful chip found the far post and rebounded away for an easy clearance.  With only a dozen minutes left in the half, it appeared Mexico would pay for their lack of finishing.  Mr. Richardson stripped Francisco Rodriguez up Mexico's right flank and proceeded unimpeded into the box, where his shot was saved by the knee of Mexico goalkeeper Javier Orozco.  On the ensuing corner kick, the ball fell for Charles Pollard in the box, but his shot sailed high over the bar.  The Guyana goal continued its charmed existence as the crossbar turned away a one bounce volley from Israel Jimenez.  The half finished as it began, 0-0.

Derrick Carter in the Guyanese goal was having a great afternoon as it was, but he smothered a free header from Hector Moreno off an early second-half corner kick, and surely Guyana must have thought that today would be their day.  Guyana's Walter Moore made a diving block of an Oribe Peralta shot a dozen minutes in, and Mexico's frustration must have been impossible to contain any further.  With thirteen minutes left to play, Jamaal Smith blocked a Hernandez shot, but a well-timed strike by Andrew Guardado off a loose ball soon thereafter finally breached the Guyanese goal for a 1-0 lead to Mexico.  Two minutes later, an Angel Reyna through ball put Hernandez one-on-one with an onrushing Carter, so Hernandez slotted to Peralta in open space for the easy finish for 2-0.  An own goal made it three goals in six minutes to Mexico.  Hernandez finally got his goal on a Guardado cross and suddenly it was 4-0 nine minutes after it had been 0-0.  One minute later, Reyna scored the best goal of Mexico's bunch from just beyond the half circle, giving Mexico their fifth of the night and Reyna his first ever for the national team.  Carter stopped a one-on-one with Hernandez, but he must really have wondered what happened to his defense in the final minutes of the match.  The final scoreline was rather harsh to a Guyana side that went stride for side with the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup champions for the first seventy-five minutes, but football is not about scorelines that reflect the story; it is about goals scored.  Mexico win 5-0 and maintain their perfect record on route to the CONCACAF Fourth Round.  With the loss, Guyana are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

San Salvador was the site for the most important CONCACAF qualifier of the day as the hosts El Salvador would eliminate Costa Rica with a win but would be all but eliminated with anything short of three points.  On the half hour mark, Costa Rica forward Alvaro Saborio made a great effort to save a ball off the end line with his head, and, after a touch from Cristian Bolaños, Jose Cubero had a running start onto the ball.  Cubero placed his shot beautifully, tucking it into the corner by the far post and giving the visiting Ticos a 1-0 lead.  Costa Rica had all the scoring chances in the half but only lead 1-0 at the break.

Costa Rica nearly doubled their lead just after the hour mark, but the one-on-one opportunity of Randall Brenes was saved by the foot of an onrushing Dagoberto Portillo in the El Salvador goal.  Portillo made another kick save to preserve hopes for El Salvador, but the offense never got going.  With three minutes left in regulation, Eliseo Quintanilla went crazy, elbowing Tico defender Michael Umaña in the face and then shoving another Tico in the eyes as he came to accost Quintanilla.  The straight red all but ended El Salvador's hopes of reaching Brasil 2014.  Alfredo Pacheco got his own red card one minute into stoppage time as he viciously slapped the back of Bolaños's neck and then stepped on him as he walked away from the play.  El Salvador finished with nine men and with little hope of advaning to the CONCACAF Fourth Round after Costa Rica defeat them 1-0.

Mexico 15 pts IN
Costa Rica 7 pts +2
El Salvador 5 pts -1
Guyana OUT

Goals
Mexico
Andres Guardado 77
Oribe Peralta 79
Charles Pollard 83 OG
Javier Hernandez 84
Angel Reyna 86

Costa Rica
Jose Cubero 31

Match Reports:
http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/10/12/guardado-peralta-score-late-to-help-mexico-rout-guyana-5-0-in-neutral-site-wc/
http://www.chron.com/sports/dynamo/article/Mexico-explodes-in-second-half-beats-Guyana-5-0-3944542.php
http://futbol.univision.com/centroamerica/costa-rica/article/2012-10-13/aplauden-costa-rica-que-la-victoria-en-el-salvador#axzz29F5ovnce

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APHqcDynJK8 (Mexico v. Guyana)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ur6TUbTyT6s (Costa Rica v. El Salvador)

Argentina 3 - Uruguay 0

The match was between hosts Argentina and visiting Uruguay, but what the fans in Mendoza actually witnessed was the pure brilliance of the undisputed best player in the world, Lionel Messi (pictured, blue #10).  Argentina had more of the ball than did Uruguay in the opening forty-five minutes, but no goals were to come of it.  The best play was when Messi took on four defenders and got through them all before attempting an audacious chip that landed on the roof of the goal twenty-eight minutes into the match.  Messi took a short free kick from the side of the box and drew a nice save out of Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.  The halftime score read Argentina 0, Uruguay 0.

It was only a matter of time before Messi broke the deadlock, for Uruguay have been in a terrible run of form lately and offer little of offensive value.  Five minutes in, Uruguay captain and center back Diego Lugano executed a two-footed slide into the chest of Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero but was somehow only shown a yellow card rather than a straight red.  Messi had enough of teasing the crowd by the sixty-fifth minute, so he executed a give-and-go with Angel Di Maria.  Di Maria's return pass nutmegged his marker and found its way to a sliding Messi for the finish and a 1-0 lead.  Five minutes later, Messi was the playmaker as his perfectly weighted ball found Di Maria in stride, whose resulting perfectly weighted ball found Sergio Aguero in stride for a tap-in and a 2-0 lead.  With ten minutes left in the match, Messi had a twenty-yard free kick opportunity against a five-man wall.  Messi decided to simply curl the ball along the ground as the wall jumped completely over it, allowing his goal an unimpeded course into the bottom corner of the goal.  Argentina win 3-0 and stand alone atop the CONMEBOL standings at the midway point of the qualification cycle for Brasil 2014.

Argentina 17 pts +12
Colombia 16 pts +8

Ecuador 16 pts +3

Uruguay 12 pts +1

Chile 12 pts -3

Venezuela 11 pts -1

Peru 8 pts -4

Bolivia 5 pts -5

Paraguay 4 pts -11

Goals
Argentina
Lionel Messi 65, 80
Sergio Aguero 70

Match Reports:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014-world-cup-qualifying/2012/10/13/3496758/argentina-vs-uruguay-final-score-match-report-result-lionel-messi/in/3258483
http://www.goal.com/en/match/82143/argentina-vs-uruguay/report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW3VIIsiBls

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U2YgsyTkh8 (1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9KskQxBvJE (2nd half)

Ecuador 3 - Chile 1

Quito was the site as Ecuador tried to make it five home wins from five in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Chile were the invitees on this day to Estadio Atahualpa.  Cristian Benitez had a header off a corner kick saved by a diving Miguel Pinto in goal for Chile.  Minutes later, Gabriel Achilier sent a header off the Chilean crossbar.  Moments after that, Benitez had another header sent goalward, but this time it was Felipe Seymour who was present to clear off the line and save Chile's goal from being breached.  Three minutes later, disaster struck against Ecuador.  Juan Carlos Paredes scored perhaps the worst own goal of the entire qualifying tournament worldwide as he faced a cross with the goal to his left and decided to clear the ball with his right foot, which was pointed directly at his own goal, rather than with his left foot, which was facing away from his goal.  Anyhow, the result of his decision was inevitable, so Chile had an undeserved 1-0 lead.  Mattias Fernandez basically gave the goal back eight minutes later with an awful back pass over fifteen yards deep that was intercepted by Felipe Caicedo.  Caicedo slipped around Pinto and finished into an open net for the 1-1 score.  That was the score at the break.

Benitez nearly had a goal when he shot just wide from the top of the box three minutes into the second period after Caicedo had given him a perfect lay-off.  Chile defender Pablo Contreras smashed into Reinato Ibarra inside the penalty area, resulting in Contreras's second yellow card and a sending off in minute 54.  Caicedo had his penalty attempt saved, but he ran up to knock home the rebound, giving Ecuador a one-goal lead with a man advantage.  Luis Saritama nearly had the third for Ecuador eight minutes from time, but his shot got stuck under the body of Pinto, who honestly could not have known much about the save he had just made.  Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal threw a cheap shot elbow to Saritama's face, so he was bounced from the field in minute 86.  Ecuador made their two-man advantage pay off in stoppage time when a short-corner free kick from Jefferson Montero met the head of Segundo Castillo (pictured, yellow) at the near post for a headed goal.  Ecuador win 3-1.

Goals
Ecuador
Felipe Caicedo 33, 56
Segundo Castillo 90+3

Chile
Juan Carlos Paredes 25 OG

Match Reports:
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/sports/soccer/25278-ecuador-defeats-chile-3-1-in-world-cup-qualifier

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXMRiD2n-g

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGhZPzpa0Jg

Colombia 2 - Paraguay 0

Colombia picked hot and steamy Barranquilla as the site for their match against Paraguay.  The first half would have done nothing to turn a casual fan onto football as the match was completely devoid of any remarkable plays.  The half ended as a nondescript 0-0.

Radamel Falcao (pictured, yellow), currently the best striker in the world and playing for Atletico Madrid, decided that the second half needed some flair and some goals, so he provided it all himself.  Macnelly Torres hit a pass into Falcao, who then cut back onto his left foot, leaving Paraguay defender Paulo Da Silva on the ground in his wake.  Falcao then calmly placed a lofted finished into the side net at the far post.  Falcao even decided to play defense for Paraguay to make things interesting later on as he blocked a Teofilo Gutierrez goalbound shot with his chest. Paraguay nearly equalized off a corner kick, but Victor Cacedes flashed his power header wide.  Colombia waited four minutes to fire off a string of chances, but the first from Gutierrez was blocked off a kick save by
Paraguay goalkeeper Diego Barreto.  The second chance came when Juan Cuadrado flashed a wicked cross along the ground into the six-yard box, but Falcao's leg could not reach it on a dive.  With nine minutes left, Falcao chipped over Barreto, but Ivan Piris was back to clear off the goal line for Paraguay.  With only a minute left, Falcao finally put the match to rest as he dropped another heavy cut back onto his left foot with two defenders on him (and Richard Ortiz hanging on to him) to replicate his left-footed lofted finish from the first goal.  Colombia win 2-0 and temporarily move to the top of the CONMEBOL standings.

Goals
Colombia
Radamel Falcao 52, 90

Match Reports:
http://www.sbnation.com/2014-world-cup-qualifying/2012/10/12/3495556/colombia-vs-paraguay-final-score-2-0-falcao-continues-to-dominate
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/soccer/general/view.bg?articleid=1061167388&srvc=sports&position=recent

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHsTsQaTJHU

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlV3cdWY-Qw

Bolivia 1 - Peru 1

Peru decided to bring a team full of local players accustomed to playing in altitude during their club football seasons to high-altitude La Paz in order to face Bolivia on the road.  The tactic seemed to work early on as Peru completely dominated the match in the first half.  Bolivia defender Cristian Vargas forgot to take the ball with him as he moved up the field, allowing a sprinting Juan Elias Cominges to fire at goal, but goalkeeper Hugo Suarez made the save.  All the heaps of pressure applied by Peru finally resulted in the breakthrough twenty minutes into the match.  Juan Carlos Mariño walked up to a ball slowly thirty-five yards away.  Mariño saw that no one was applying coming to close him down, so he took a confident rip and off the ball went into the upper ninety throw the hands of a diving Suarez.  Peru took the 1-0 lead into the second half.

Bolivia finally had a shot on goal six minutes into the second half, and what a shot it was.  Marcelo Martins laid a ball off from the half circle to an oncoming Alejandro Chumacero, who on the dead run unleashed a laser into the exact corner were Mariño's goal had entered.  Each side had now scored a wonder strike in a 1-1 match.  The field must have been tilted toward one side because in the second half Bolivia had all the offensive opportunities.  Martins had a crack with fifteen minutes to play, but his twenty-four yard strike connected flush with the post.  Neither team managed a second goal.  The 1-1 draw really does not serve either team well on their respective journeys to Brasil 2014.

Goals
Peru
Juan Carlos Mariño 21

Bolivia
Alejandro Chumacero 51

Match Reports:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/peru-field-reserves-high-altitude-bolivia-223427165.html
http://sifutbol.com/bolivia-1-peru-1-un-resultado-que-no-conforma-a-ninguno/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkZGIErsoH8

Moldova 0 - Ukraine 0; England 5 - San Marino 0

Moldova played host to Ukraine in Chisinau.  Ukraine dominated the possession and the scoring chances, but they produced nothing to show for it.  Roman Zozylya sent a ball just over the bar off a slotted ball midway through the opening period and nodded another off the post as his misses gave Moldova a reprieve.  The first half ended scoreless.

In the second period, Ukraine came even closer to finding an opener.  Taras Mykhalyk wasted the best chance of all when a cross landed two yards from goal.  Mykhalyk threw himself at the ball, but the ricochet off his knee took the ball over the crossbar.  Ukraine thought they had an opener eighteen minutes after the restart, but the goal was called back.  Alexandru Epureanu saved the match for Moldova six minutes from time with a wrong-footed clearance on a slotted ball that was about to reach a Ukrainian attacker for a tap-in winner.

London was the site as the Three Lions of England welcomed San Marino for their qualifier today.  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tried to welcomed the visitors with a stunning strike from distance, but San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini was having none of it and tipped over for the save. Simoncini later ran to the edge of box to clear a ball before violently crashing into England forward Theo Walcott, who will now miss England's next match against Poland due a hip injury sustained in the collision.  Wayne Rooney had a diving header chance go wide, letting San Marino off the hook.  England's Michael Carrick and Danny Welbeck hit the same post within a span of four seconds, unbelievably leaving the match on level terms.  San Marino hung tough for more than thirty minutes, but a Simoncini hand tackle in the box allowed England to win and convert a penalty kick for the opener.  An Aaron Lennon slotted ball was cleverly finished with an instep rabona by Welbeck three minutes after the penalty kick to give England a 2-0 lead at the half.

San Marino held for another twenty-five minutes in the second period, but a Rooney strike from eighteen yards made it 3-0 to the Three Lions.  Two minutes later, Tom Cleverley slotted a ball through the box for a simple Welbeck tap-in.  On a quirky play where four England players touched the ball in the box, Oxlade-Chamberlain finished for the fifth and final goal.  England win 5-0 and take the lead in Group H.

England 7 pts +10
Montenegro 4 pts +6
Poland 4 pts +2
Ukraine 2 pts 0
Moldova 1 pts -7
San Marino 0 pts -11

Goals
England
Wayne Rooney 35 PK, 70
Danny Welbeck 38, 72
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 77

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784146/index.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9529017/Moldova-0-England-5-match-report.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784275/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deqWQXh3j9E (Moldova v. Ukraine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMylKeeFeQ0 (England v. San Marino)

Russia 1 - Portugal 0; Israel 6 - Luxembourg 0

Russia welcomed Portugal to Moscow in the most anticipated match of the day.  Russia took an early Portuguese turnover inside of their own half and turned it into a two-pass fast break that left Alexander Kerzhakov alone with an onrushing goalkeeper Rui Patricio after a perfect one-timed curled pass on the ground into space by Igor Denisov.  Patricio dove to one side as Kerzhakov's shot was hit straight at where his body would have been, allowing Russia to take a 1-0 lead.  Five minutes on, a Portuguese corner eventually led to a close-range header from Helder Postiga, which was sent over the bar.  Five minutes from that, a Portuguese free kick from the side of the box was met violently by the head of center back Bruno Alves from seven yards out, but Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev read the bounce and parried away to safety.  The half would end with Russia ahead 1-0.

In the first twenty minutes of the second period, Russia center back Sergey Ignashevich blocked three shots, one from a runner at the far post, one from an attacker winding up for a power shot at the edge of the penalty area, and one from Nani off a volley attempt from fourteen yards.  However, the continued involvement of the Russia defense was a sign that Portugal had commandeered the game and were the likelier side to breach the other's goal.  Kerzhakov was left more and more on an island in attack, tiring him out to the point that he was substituted midway through the period.  With under ten minutes left to play, Russia broke on the counterattack with a three-on-three, but Alexander Kokorin's shot was saved on the stretch by Patricio.  In spite of conceding more than four times as many corners as they earned, Russia win the match 1-0 and take control of Group F.

Israel paid a visit to Luxembourg to face surprisingly potent Luxembourg in a match that would allow one of the teams to rise into third place behind Portugal with a win.  It took less than five minutes for a Gal Alberman through ball to beat a five-man offside trap and put Mahran Radi one-on-one with Luxembourg's goalkeeper, a battle which Radi won for 1-0.  Maor Melicoshn sent a through ball beyond the trap eight minutes later, and this time Eden Ben Basat calmly finished for a 2-0 lead to the visitors and his first international goal.  Luxembourg were nowhere near their form from September, and Israel began to pile on the goals.  A Yuval Shpungin cross was smacked home on the fly by the outstretched leg of Tomer Hemed, and Israel were up 3-0 at the break.

In the second period, nothing changed in terms of the flow of the match.  After thirty minutes without a score, Melicsohn dribbled away from the goalie and rolled a shot in from a tight angle for 4-0.  Hemed scored two more goals of his own later in the match to complete a hat trick and a 6-0 win for Israel, their first of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Luxembourg had a penalty kick for 5-1, but Daniel Da Mota could not make it three goals from three games as he skied well over the bar.

Russia 9 pts +7
Portugal 6 pts +3
Israel 4 pts +2
Northern Ireland 1 pts -2
Azerbaijan 1 pts -3
Luxembourg 1 pts -7

Goals
Russia
Alexander Kerzhakov 6

Israel
Mahran Radi 4
Eden Ben Basat 12
Tomer Hemed 27, 73, 90+1
Maor Melicsohn 60

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783770/index.html
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/world/story/ussia-1-0-portugal-world-cup-qualifier-2014-match-report-alexander-kerzhakov-scores-winner-101212
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784353/index.html
http://www.jpost.com/Sports/Article.aspx?id=287621

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c74eNYB-cxg (Russia v. Portugal)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpHSCfSmtu8 (Israel v. Luxembourg)

Belgium 3 - Serbia 0; Croatia 2 - Macedonia 1; Wales 2 - Scotland 1

On a rainy day in Belgrade, hosts Serbia took on group co-favorites Belgium.  Christian Benteke nearly put the visitors one to the good, but Serbia goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic knocked it away.  However, Belgium were not to be denied on this night, and a Kevin de Bruyne swinging cross found Benteke at the far post behind two defenders.  Benteke headed in at the near post for 1-0.  Belgium took that lead into the break.

In the second period, a desperate Serbia pushed many men forward, leaving themselves susceptible to multiple counterattacks.  Mousa Dembele dragged the only two defenders to his side, allowing de Bruyne to run unguarded with the ball for twenty-five yards before slotting home from inside the box, an embarrassing defensive lapse that left the hosts down 2-0 midway through the half.  Serbia continued to push forward and were caught on the break one last time in stoppage time, though the goal in all fairness should have been called back for offside as it was not even that close of a call.  Belgium win 3-0.

Macedonia played before their fans in Skopje against Croatia.  Croatia had won the first match between the two side 1-0 at home.  It took fifteen minutes for 1-0 in this match, but it was Macedonia who found the opener.  Agim Ibraimi (pictured, red #19) took a pass and cut across his defender before finishing in the bottom corner near post to give his side the lead.  Croatia kept plugging away undeterred, and their equalizer came one quarter hour later.  A corner kick fell to an unmarked Vedran Corluka at the back post.  Corluka had to to settle the ball before slotting home for 1-1.  That would be the score at the half.

Ivan Rakitic gave Croatia the lead at the hour mark from a misread free kick.  Macedonia goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov came out ready to punch a cross off the heads of the tall players in the box, but the ball played by Rakitic floated on target.  Bogatinov was helpless to return to his line and the ball floated in for a 2-1 lead to Croatia. In stoppage time, Croatia almost had a third, but Darijo Srna's free kick clanged a post.  Goran Pandev tried to equalize in the dying seconds, but his shot was saved.  Croatia win 2-1 to go joint-top with Belgium.

Wales returned to Cardiff after a horrid start to their 2014 FIFA World Cup to take on Scotland.  The much was an open affair from the opening whistle.  A Gareth Bale cross found Steve Morison's head, but he flashed wide of the far post with a header that could have put Wales up 1-0.  Scotland ended up getting the opener after a flick-on header from a long goal kick led to scoring chance for James Morrison that Morrison converted for a 1-0 lead.  Scotland would take that lead into their locker room.

In the second period, Wales began their tactic of simulation in the box.  Aaron Ramsey tried but failed early in the second half.  Morrison nearly made it two for Scotland, but his close-range effort merely stung the hands of Welsh goalkeeper Lewis Price. A Charlie Adam cross from the left side floated to Darren Fletcher's head inside the Welsh six-yard box, but the resulting goal was disallowed after Adam's cross was incorrectly deemed to have gone out-of-bounds while on its flight.  In the final ten minutes, Bale brought Wales out of the doldrums.  Bale feigned getting tripped in the box and slid through the rain-soaked box.  He was awarded the penalty, which he converted.  With two minutes left in the match, Bale stole all three points for the Dragons with a running twenty-two yard bomb that screamed into the side net.  Wales win the match 2-1 while Scotland are left to wonder what the outcome would have been with a different set of officials.

Belgium 7 pts +5
Croatia 7 pts +2
Serbia 4 pts +2
Wales 3 pts -6
Scotland 2 pts -1
Macedonia 1 pts -2

Goals
Belgium
Christian Benteke 34
Kevin de Bruyne 68
Kevin Mirallas 90+1

Croatia
Vedran Corluka 33
Ivan Rakitic 61

Macedonia
Agim Ibraimi 16

Wales
Gareth Bale 81 PK, 89

Scotland
James Morrison 27

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784268/index.html
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Belgium-beats-Serbia-3-0-in-WCup-qualifier-3944186.php
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784177/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/10/12/2080.ap.soc.wales.scotland.1st.ld.writethru.255/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784224/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784814/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlUIqu4qD4 (Belgium v. Serbia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shdjp9YUWvA (Croatia v. Macedonia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z53cnJOhylc (Wales v. Scotland)

Norway 1 - Switzerland 1; Iceland 2- Albania 1; Slovenia 2 - Cyprus 1

Albania came home to rainy Tirana, but it would be their opponents Iceland who truly rained on their homecoming.  Iceland won a throw-in that led to disastrous results for the Albanian defense.  The throw in was headed three times by Iceland players inside the box, and eventually the ball came to Birkir Bjarnason's feet for a tap-in opener.  Barely more than ten minutes later, Alban Meha nutmegged his marker with his ball across the box, and his teammate Edgar Cani tapped home the equalizer to revive Albania's hopes for eventual victory.

Odise Roshi nearly curled a ball in from the half-circle ten minutes after the restart, but Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson was up to make a desperate sliding save to push aside for a corner kick.  Roshi nearly scored on a later occasion as well, but he flashed a laser just wide.  Iceland drew a free kick from inside the half-circle with ten minutes to play.  Gylfi Sigurdsson bent the ball over a four-man wall and off the inside of the near post, giving Iceland a 2-1 lead late in the match.  Iceland hold on to win 2-1 and leap into second place in Group E.

Switzerland came to Bern in first place after having won their two matches in September, but their opponents today were Norway, the nominal top seed in the group.  Norway nearly took a lead at the quarter hour when a flicked header by Brede Hangeland nearly found its way into the net, but a diving two-palmed stab by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio prevented the goal.  Benaglio saved Vegard Forren's header off the resulting corner kick, pumping up the crowd his heroics.  Tranquillo Barnetta nearly gave Switzerland the opener, but his header bounced away off the far post.  The half ended 0-0.

The second half was less lively but actually produced all the goals.  A Swiss corner kick was flicked on from the near post by Granit Xhaka to a double-marked Mario Gavranovic, who maneuvered his back leg to push the ball goalward and in on short notice.  Norway were not looking to be defeated on the night, however, so they equalized off a corner kick two minutes on.  Hangeland rose above every marker with a mighty jump, and he headed home to give his team the equalizer.  Norway almost scored on a deep throw-in that was allowed to bounce, but Benaglio saved yet another Forren header to preserve the tie.  Norway truly wanted the victory, and they had a counterattack with one minute left in the match that nearly proved decisive.  The initial two-versus-one was turned away, but the clearance fell to Tarik El Younoussi.  El Younoussi fired a ball the crashed into the far post and out from twenty-five yards.  Norway and Switzerland play to a hard-fought 1-1 draw that is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the Norwegian players.

Slovenia came to Maribor with no points in their campaign but hope that a date with visiting Cyprus would prove fruitful.  With only seven minutes left in the first half, a Zlatko Dedic cross was a bit behind Tim Matavz, but Matavz took the opportunity to gather the ball on a spin, dumping his defender in the process before firing home for a 1-0 Slovenia lead.  The half would end 1-0 to the home side.

In the second half, Matavz continued his goal scoring.  A long free kick was headed back to his feet, so he decided to have a go, so he slotted home for his second of the night.  A inswinging free kick soon thereafter nearly provided a third, but Cypriot goalkeeper Tasos Kissas majestically flew through the air to knock the ball to safety.  A box-to-box break by the Cypriots led to a goal from the top of the box by substitute Efstathios Aloneftis, giving the visitors hope with seven minutes to play.  Slovenia's Bostjan Cesar was ejected for a second yellow in minute 89, but Cyprus ran out of time.  Slovenia win 2-1 to claim their first points.

Switzerland 7 pts +4
Iceland 6 pts +2
Norway 4 pts -1
Albania 3 pts -1
Slovenia 3 pts -2
Cyprus 3 pts -2

Goals
Iceland
Birkir Bjarnason 18
Gylfi Sigurdsson 81

Albania
Edgar Cani 29

Switzerland
Mario Gravanovic 79

Norway
Brede Hangeland 81

Slovenia
Tim Matavz 38, 61

Cyprus
Efstathios Aloneftis 83

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784027/index.html
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Switzerland-held-1-1-by-Norway-in-WCup-qualifier-3944052.php
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784262/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784324/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i6KRpHXNhU (Iceland v. Albania)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZcM8Tp0_v4 (Norway v. Switzerland)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzU6SnFfMe4 (Slovenia v. Cyprus)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 - Greece 0; Slovakia 2 - Latvia 1; Lithuania 2 - Liechtenstein 0

Liechtenstein welcomed Lithuania to Vaduz on UEFA Matchday Three.  The first half was played on Lithuania's terms, but no goals were to be had.  The scoreboard read 0-0 after the first forty-five.

In the second frame, Edgaras Cesnauskis brought the full complement of three points to Lithuania.  He scored the first five minutes in from twelve yards when he beat the goalkeeper to the far post despite a touch from the gloves.  His second goal came from a rocket from distance with one quarter hour left.  Lithuania win 2-0.

Slovakia made their way home to Bratislava for their match against Latvia.  Slovakia jumped all over their opponents early.  Vladimir Weiss drew a penalty after the goalkeeper came out to challenge him, setting up a penalty conversion and a lead after five minutes.  Three minutes after that, the second goal was found by the Slovaks.  A Marek Sapara free kick from the corner of the penalty area was struck low and goalward, somehow going through the mass of bodies untouched and disappearing to the point where the goalkeeper had no chance to read the strike before it went into the net.  Slovakia would take the 2-0 lead into halftime, but only after a late Latvia goal was disallowed for offsides.

The second half was mostly uneventful as the Slovaks clearly had lost enthusiasm going forward.  Latvia capitalized in the final ten minutes as they drew a penalty kick from a foul just inside the side of the box.  A Panenka-style chip into the roof of the net made it 2-1 to Slovakia and set up a dramatic finish.  Slovakia held onto their slim lead and win 2-1.

Hosts Greece and Bosnia faced off in the Group G showdown of the day in Piraeus.  Five minutes in, the Greeks had their golden opportunity.  Georgios Samaras drew both defenders on a two-on-two break before slotting across the box with the outside of his foot.  Theofanis Gekas had the goal at his mercy, but he somehow managed only to find the post, breaking the hearts of thousands in the stands.  Zvjezdan Misimovic  cracked a shot for Bosnia toward the far post midway through the first half, but a brave Ioannis Maniatis rose to clear the violent shot with his forehead.  Vassilis Torosidis found a shot inside the box for Greece but his lasered nicked the top of the crossbar on it s way into oblivion.  Senad Lulic nearly pulled a goal out of a quick break, but the Bosnians were denied by a one-handed lunge across the grass by Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.  The half ended 0-0.

The second period proved that the action in this match was frontloaded as the final forty-five failed to produce the excitement of the first period.  A dull second half allowed the match to end 0-0.

Bosnia 7 pts +10
Slovakia 7 pts +3
Greece 7 pts +3
Lithuania 4 pts 0
Latvia 0 pts -5
Liechtenstein 0 pts -11

Goals
Lithuania
Edgaras Cesnauskis 51, 75

Slovakia
Marek Hamsik 5 PK
Marek Sapara 9

Latvia
Maris Verpakovskis 84 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784045/index.html
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/10/13/nowhere-to-turn-for-tiny-liechtenstein/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784155/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/10/12/2080.ap.soc.greece.bosnia.1st.ld.writethru.330/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784346/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhPMs1qc6Bs (Lithuania v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsa0ZThYRSE (Slovakia v. Latvia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWoBy-29XHU (Bosnia v. Greece)

Germany 6 - Ireland 1; Kazakhstan 0 - Austria 0; Sweden 2 - Faroe Islands 1

Kazakhstan played host to Austria in Astana.  Austria completely dominated the bulk of possession, but Kazakhstan were nimble emergency defenders and provided block after block to cover goalkeeper Andrey Sidelnikov.  Sidelnikov had to do his own dirty work just beyond the half hour when when kick-saved a Martin Harnik effort in the best chance of a 0-0 first half.

Austria came closest to scoring a goal in the second period after a shot from the left was deflected into the path of an Austrian player at the near post, but he could not judge the flight of the ball well enough and his outstretched leg knocked the ball wide.  Kazakhstan will be more pleased by the 0-0 result than will Austria.

Faroe Islands were looking for a famous scalp as Sweden came calling in Torshavn.  Faroe goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen denied Swedish superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on three occasions in the first half, so the Faroes were feeling like tonight could be the night as they went into the break knotted at zero.

The Faroes in fact did find the opener off a throw-in.  The headed clearance by Sweden was chested down at the penalty spot by Rogvi Balvinsson, who slotted home to his left for a shock 1-0 lead.  A classy side net finish from fourteen yards on the left side of the box by Alexander Kacaniklic restored order to the match as Sweden were level with twenty-five minutes left of the clock.  Ten minutes after that, Ibrahimovic had his goal, but is was not a pretty one.  His teammate had provided a smooth standing chip pass allowing Ibrahimovic to beat the offside trap, but Ibrahimovic only managed to knock the ball weakly under a leaping and charging Nielsen.  Ibrahimovic followed the ball and beat defender Pol Johannus Justinussen to the line as he slid to the side of the ball to block any potential clearance off the line.  Sweden held on for the final quarter hour and win 2-1.

Dublin was the site as the home team Ireland faced off against Group C favorites Germany.  Ireland were missing the majority of their England-based contingent, and the lack of quality really showed on this night.  Germany were not sympathetic to the Irish plight.  Ireland only managed to hold out for thirty minutes.  Marco Reus (pictured white, #21) pounced on a loose ball in the Irish penalty area and ran the ball onto his right foot in order to unleash goal number one into the opposite side of the net.  A slow-developing counterattack by Germany allowed two changes of play and four players to get involved eight minutes later before Reus had a shot left-footed from the top of the box which he blasted just inside of the far post and into the side net.  Germany took their 2-0 lead into the intermission.

A sloppy tackle by Darren O'Dea felled Miroslav Klose (picture, white #11) in the penalty area.  Germany converted the penalty kick for a three-goal lead.  A long-distance through ball from Bastian Schweinsteiger put Klose through on goal three minutes after having been felled.  Klose took the goalkeeper wide and then slotted home from a very sharp angle for 4-0.  Toni Kroos delivered an impromptu left-footed volleyed goal from the top of the box when a floating clearance fell to him on the hour mark.  Kroos, not to be outdone by Reus, smoked a right-footed blast from twenty-two yards that scorched the back of the Irish net.  Ireland ruined the clean sheet in stoppage time when Andy Keogh was left unmarked to head a chest-level ball into the ground and into the German net.  Germany win 6-1 and send a message that this group is theirs for the taking.

Goals
Sweden
Alexander Kacaniklic 65
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 75

Faroe Islands
Rogvi Balvinsson 57

Germany
Marco Reus 32, 40
Mesut Ozil 55 PK
Miroslav Klose 58
Toni Kroos 61, 83

Ireland
Andy Keogh 90+2

Germany 9 pts +9
Sweden 6 pts +3
Ireland 3 pts -4
Austria 1 pts -1
Kazakhstan 1 pts -3
Faroe Islands 0 pts -4

Match Reports:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1013/1224325226409.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783868/index.html
http://www.espnstar.com/football/world-cup/news/detail/item872473/Faroe-Islands-1-2-Sweden/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783859/index.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/world-cup-2014/9598662/Republic-of-Ireland-1-Germany-6-match-report.html
http://www.goal.com/en-gh/match/92392/ireland-vs-germany/report
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784239/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOa_0dSmtck (Kazakhstan v. Austria)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPk_fUSnncM (Sweden v. Faroe Islands)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpfNJdBqLMY (Germany v. Ireland)

Romania 1 - Turkey 0; Hungary 1 - Estonia 0; Netherlands v. Andorra

Turkey got to play in front of a friendly crowd in Istanbul as they took on Romania.  Semih Kaya had a header off an early set piece, but Romania goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu made he sprawling save to his right.  Turkey had the better off the chances in the opening frame, but it were the Romanians who struck on a counter in stoppage time.  Mihai Pintilii knocked a ball over the defense from six yards inside his own half.  Gheorghe Grozav latched onto the ball and had to fire a shot from twenty-three yards over an onrushing goalkeeper.  Grozav found the back of the vacated net, and Romania had a 1-0 halftime advantage.

In the second period, Romania played a through ball to Razvan Cocis, but he failed to extend the advantage after hitting a ball high and wide though he was unmarked from thirteen yards.  Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin blew a header chance in the sixth minute of stoppage time, allowing Romania to escape from Istanbul with a 1-0 win and first-place in Group D.

Netherlands welcomed last-place Andorra to their abode in Rotterdam.  Six minutes after the opening whistle, Rafael van der Vaart delivered the first Dutch goal with a nutmegging shot into the corner of the goal.  Netherlands would score number two eight minutes later when Klaas Jan Huntelaar squatted to use the back of his head to score off a Jeremain Lens cross.  The first half ended at 2-0 to the home side.

Four minutes after the restart, Andorra failed to make clean contact with a headed clearance, and the ball bounced into the path of Ruben Schaken, who scored his first ever goal for the Netherlands on the play.  Netherlands will head to Romania on Tuesday with first place in Group D at stake.  The Dutch ended up hitting the frame of the goal on two further occasions as they win the match 3-0.

Estonia were hoping some home cooking in Tallinn could kick-start their flagging campaign, but Hungary were none too keen to oblige.  Six minutes in, a great cross from Zoltan Gera should have resulted in a goal, but the header was pushed wide under no pressure by Tamas Koltai.  Tamas Hajnal nearly gave Hungary the opener, but his free kick effort was tipped away.  The half ended 0-0.

Hungary took but two minutes to pull ahead in the second half, however, as Hajnal scored a brilliant goal from the top of the half circle as he gathered a loose ball and fired away.  Hajnal nearly had an assist fifteen minutes later off a long through ball, but Adam Szalai's shot was palmed on the stretch by Estonia goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko.  Andres Oper nearly equalized with five minutes to go, but his four-yard effort deflected off the legs of a fallen Hungarian defender and into the gloves of a kneeling goalkeeper, a bad luck effort if there ever has been one.  Hungary hold onto their clean sheet and win 1-0 to remain in contention in Group D.

Netherlands 9 pts +8
Romania 9 pts +7
Hungary 6 pts +3
Turkey 3 pts 0
Estonia 0 pts-6
Andorra 0 pts -12

Goals
Romania
Gheorghe Grozav 45+1

Netherlands
Rafael van der Vaart 6
Klaas Jan Huntelaar 14
Ruben Schaken 49

Hungary
Tamas Hajnal 47

Netherlands 9 pts +8
Romania 9 pts +7
Hungary 6 pts +3
Turkey 3 pts 0
Estonia 0 pts -6
Andorra 0 pts -12

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784049/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/10/12/2080.ap.soc.netherlands.andorra.1st.ld.writethru.371/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784238/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784273/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9nWMg-MGBE (Romania v. Turkey)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTj7AGDJ5uw (Netherlands v. Andorra)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xEEo7N_1Nk (Hungary v. Estonia)

Bulgaria 1 - Denmark 1; Italy 3 - Armenia 1; Czech Republic 3 - Malta 1

A rainy day in Plzen was the scene for Malta's visit to face the Czech Republic.  David Limbersky fought hard with his marker in the corner before unleashing a three-quarter spin cross that allowed an onrushing right back Theodor Gebre Selassie to head home for his first international goal and give the Czechs a 1-0 lead ten minutes from halftime.  Roderick Briffa responded with his first goal for Malta four minutes later.  Briffa had his run interrupted by a double team, but the ball fell to his feet and his tried his luck from twenty yards, delivering a strike with the outside of foot that equalized the match.  The score remained 1-1 as the teams went to their locker rooms.

Seven minutes into the second half, Czech forward Petr Jiracek was made to run full speed to the end line in order to make a sliding cross to the six-yard box.  Tomas Pekhart rose over his defender and headed home from point-blank range to restore the Czechs to a one-goal lead.  One quarter hour later, Jiracek played a through ball to Jaroslav Plasil, who pushed the ball back a few yards into the path of Jan Rezek.  Rezek calmly finished to push the lead to two goals.  Malta were awarded a soft penalty in stoppage time, but Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech made a good read on a diving save of captain Michael Mifsud's effort as the final whistle blew.  Czech Republic win 3-1.

Armenia welcomed Italy to Yerevan for their qualifier today.  Andrea Pirlo nearly got Italy off to a fast start, but his well-struck free kick from the top of the half circle was tipped over by diving Armenia goalkeeper Roman Berezovski.  An incredibly harsh handball call against Armenia gave Italy a penalty kick ten minutes in, with Pirlo converting for a 1-0 lead to the visitors.  A clash of heads in the midfield lead to a loose ball in the middle of Italy's half of the field, so an alert Henrikh Mkhitaryan gathered the ball, shook a defender with a nice shimmy, and then finished to the far side net past an oncoming goalkeeper.  The great goal equaled the match at one goal apiece.  The half would end would no further goals.

Sebastian Giovinco nearly gave Italy a lead soon after the restart, but Berezovski stuck a strong paw up to knock his shot over the goal after Giovinco had shaken his defender with a nice move.  The soccer gods repaid Armenia as an undeniable handball in the box went unnoticed by the referee.  Armenia had the better of the play for a good chunk of time, and then nearly cashed in with a goal as Mkhitaryan's cross was struck by Davit Manoyan.  However, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a diving two-handed save to preserve the tie score.  Twenty minutes into the half, Daniele De Rossi ran full speed into a cross and headed the ball strongly into the underside of the crossbar.  The ball bounced into the goal, and Italy had their lead.  The game became wide open as both teams were racing around for the next goal.  A short De Rossi free kick curled down onto Pablo Osvaldo's head, allowing Osvaldo to score his third goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and delivering the final blow in a 3-1 win for Italy.

Bulgaria played host to Denmark in their fortress at Sofia.  A mental lapse early allowed Bulgaria to snatch a quick lead.  A deep throw-in was launched to the six-yard box to an unmarked Dimitar Rangelov, who beat the goalkeeper to the ball to nod into the vacated net.  Ivan Bandilovski was sent off the pitch with a straight red in minute 26 for a raised-foot tackle from behind, leaving Bulgaria to cope with ten men for the final hour plus.  With just over five minutes left in the first half, a Michael Krohn-Dehli left-footed cross from the top of the box floated to the back post where a tall figure named Nicklas Bendtner rose up to slam home a point-blank header to equalize for Denmark.  The half would end 1-1.

In the second period, Denmark began to drain Bulgaria's reserves of energy with simple possession football as they walked up the pitch.  However, the urgency in the final third was missing, and it took a burst of attacking from Bulgaria with a quarter hour remaining to spring the half to life.  Denmark looked more focused at that point, and a series of passes within the box led to a layoff to midfielder Christian Eriksen.  Eriksen's shot was pushed aside by Bulgaria goalkeeper Nikolay Mihalov, so the match continued on level terms.  The end of the match produce little offense, so Bulgaria hold on to a 1-1 draw despite having been down a man for over an hour.

Italy 7 pts +4
Bulgaria 5 pts +1
Czech Rep 4 pts +2
Armenia 3 pts -2
Denmark 2 pts 0
Malta 0 pts -5

Goals
Czech Republic
Theodor Gebre Selassie 34
Tomas Pekhart 52
Jan Rezek 67

Malta
Roderick Briffa 38

Italy
Andrea Pirlo 11 PK
Daniele De Rossi 64
Pablo Osvaldo 82

Armenia
Henrikh Mkhitaryan 28

Bulgaria
Dimitar Rangelov 7

Denmark
Nicklas Bendtner 40

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783836/index.html
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1188866/prandelli-joy-at-italy-character-after-armenia-scalp?cc=5901
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783962/index.html
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/10/13/soccer-italy-defeats-spirited-armenia-3-1-in-yerevan-2/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784125/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKnxB28-wHE (Czech Republic v. Malta)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiL3HebonG4 (Italy v. Armenia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08gevyByQBY (Bulgaria v. Denmark)

Spain 4 - Belarus 0; Georgia 1 - Finland 1

Helsinki was the site for the match between hosts Finland and Georgia.  The first half was rather subdued as neither team made serious inroads toward the other's goal.  The half ended without goals.

The opening quarter hour after the restart contained all the action of the match.  Georgia took a surprising lead when Guram Kashia headed a ball in at the near post off a corner kick.  Finland went down to ten men for the final half hour just two minutes after the Georgia goal when Alexei Eremenko took a second yellow card in minute 59.  Eremenko jumped for a cross and then tried to bat it into the goal with two hands, earning his marching orders in the process.  Finland nevertheless found an equalizer four minutes after the sending off.  Kasper Hamalainen drove by his defender on the left flank and then slotted millimeters around an oncoming goalkeeper to equalize the match.

Spain continued their road journey to begin their 2014 FIFA World Cup with a sojourn to Minsk to face Belarus.  After just five minutes, Spain had already blown two chances at goal.  The first chance was kneed onto the crossbar by a Belarus defender, but the second was golden.  Xavi had lofted a ball into the box to the feet of David Silva, who had beaten an offside trap and had acres of space.  Silva somehow missed the target completely with only the goalkeeper to beat.  Left back Jordi Alba made up for Spain's poor early finishing when he beat an offside trap by being a yard offside (not a typo) and then calmly dribbled around the goalkeeper before finishing into an open net.  Belarus did not take the hint that their high line was a vulnerability against a slick-passing side, so Spain made this painfully apparently when Silva curled a through ball into space for Pedro Rodriguez, who then dribbled toward the goalkeeper and neatly chipped him for the second La Roja goal.

In the second period, Rodriguez continued to punish the Belarusian goal.  With twenty minutes and change left to play, Rodriguez ran up the middle of the pitch before chipping two trailing defenders and the goalkeeper into the far side netting for his second chipped goal of the night.  Three minutes later, Cesc Fabregas stole a ball and then slotted into open space for an onrushing Rodriguez, who then chipped the goalkeeper for the third time!  Rodriguez chipped the ball about one half-meter in the air while jumping over the goalkeeper and then half-volleyed the resulting rebound into the vacated net.  David Villa nearly made it five for Spain, but his effort smashed the crossbar, and the rebound attempt was missed by Rodriguez.  Spain win 4-0 before a Rodriguez hat trick of chipped goals.

Spain 6 pts +5
France 6 pts +3
Georgia 4 pts 0
Finland 1 pts -1
Belarus 0 pts -7

Goals
Georgia
Guram Kashia 56

Finland
Kasper Hamalainen 63

Spain
Jordi Alba 12
Pedro Rodriguez 21, 69, 72

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783810/index.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/oct/12/belarus-spain-world-cup-qualifier?newsfeed=true
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784133/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_FJPDm5bnQ (Georgia v. Finland)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdZ_alR9Yvo (Spain v. Belarus)

New Caledonia 6 - Solomon Islands 2

Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara, the site of fifteen matches in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, hosted its fourteenth match today as the host Solomon Islands faced off against New Caledonia in the first of two matches between the sides over a five-day period.  Both teams knew coming in that the full six points from the two matches would be necessary in order to keep up with New Zealand in the OFC Third Round.  The rain threw in an extra wrinkle for the teams to navigate.  The visitors appeared to be better sailors in the early going as star Georges Gope-Fenepej sailed a cross from the left flank onto the foot of Roy Kayara for a volleyed finish and a 1-0 lead.  The Bonitos settled themselves after conceded and were about to equalize twenty-five minutes on after Joses Nawa cross from the right flank was met by the head of Tutizama Tanito, who headed home off a bounce for 1-1.  In the final minute of the half, a long lofted pass came to the feet of Bertrand Kai who then fired a cross into the box.  Meanwhile, his teammate Gope-Fenepej had broken an offside trap.  The cross met Gope-Fenepej's unmarked head in the box, and the result was a 2-1 New Caledonia lead at the half.

It took fifteen minutes for the response, but a Seni Ngava long cross found Nawa in the box.  Nawa took advantage of the goalkeeper having come off his line as Nawa looped a header softly under the crossbar for the equalizer.  However, with a dozen minutes left, the bottom dropped out of the Bonitos' ship.  Gope-Fenepej caused a freak own goal when he blocked a clearance that went off the head of a defender.  Three minutes later, a Kai through ball lead to a ball passed across the box where Gope-Fenepej was waiting for the unmarked finish.  With two minutes to go, Jacques Haeko did it himself, beating the Bonitos up the left side of the pitch and deftly chipping the goalkeeper from ten yards for 5-2.  In stoppage time, Haeko nearly had a second as he broke through the right side of the pitch, but he sent his shot wide of the far post.  Luckily for him, Gope-Fenepej made a long run and was there to tap-in the miss.  New Caledonia win 6-2 and return home to face Solomon Islands on Tuesday.

New Zealand 6 pts +7
New Caledonia 6 pts +6
Solomon Islands 3 pts -7
Tahiti 0 pts -6

Goals
New Caledonia
Roy Kayara 8
Georges Gope-Fenepej 45, 81, 90+1
Tome Faisi 78 OG
Jacques Haeko 88

Solomon Islands
Tutizama Tanito 33
Joses Nawa 59

Match Reports:
http://www.oceaniafootball.com/ofc/News/ViewArticle/tabid/125/Article/f37cc276-90c4-4a9e-8610-414c3b040388/language/en-US/Default.aspx
http://boxscorenews.com/les-cagous-emerge-as-major-world-cup-qualifying-contenders-p49179-68.htm

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvuZwGJNNGU&feature=g-all-u

Preview: Columbus Day 2012 New World

CONCACAF Third Round Matchday Five sees what is essentially a winner-take-all matchup in Group Two  when Costa Rica play at El Salvador.  A win for El Salvador and they advance to the Fourth Round.  A win or tie by Costa Rica and the odds fall in their favor as they would need only to beat Guyana at home on Tuesday while avoiding a shock El Salvador victory in Mexico.  Certainly, the visiting Ticos have a more fancied lineup, but they only feature four players in Europe's top leagues: forwards Bryan Ruiz (Fulham) and Joel Campbell (Real Betis), star goalkeeper Keylor Navas (Levante, Spain), and defender Bryan Oviedo (Everton, England).  Expect Ruiz to start on the bench in favor of Alvaro Saborio of Real Salt Lake (USA).  The majority of the team plays in Scandivia or in Costa Rica.  El Salvador's contingent contains mostly domestically-based players.  Midfielder and captin Dennis Alas plays for Luis Angel Firpo and Osael Romero plys his trade for Aguila.  However, key striker Rafael Burgos (Kecskemeti, Hungary) and key midfielder Jaime Alas (Rosenborg, Norway) bring foreign league credentials.  Certainly, playing at Estadio Cuscatlan instills a sense of pride into the local boys.  El Salvador struggled with Guyana in September, but they did overturn a 2-0 deficit at Costa Rica to earn a tie and were hard done by the referees in a home loss to Mexico in June.  The bold call is being made right here: El Salvador will win at home and eliminate Costa Rica.   

In Group One, Guatemala host Jamaica while United States of America go to Antigua and Barbuda.  Guatemala, Jamaica, and the United States are all even on seven points coming into Matchday Five.  Guatemala looked awful in their pair of matches against Antigua in September, going down 1-0 early at home before taking advantage of a red card to win 3-1.  Only a beautiful strike from distance by forward Carlos Ruiz (Veracruz, Mexico) allowed them to win on the road.  Midfielder Marco Pappa (Heerenveen, Netherlands) is the other star, but in reality the talent level aside from those two is low.  Jamaica were more impressive with Dwayne Miller (Syrianska, Sweden) in goal looking superb against the United States.  The strike force includes Luton Shelton (Karabukspor, Turkey) and Ryan Johnson (Toronto FC), but the strength is the speedy midfield.  Dane Richard (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada), Rodolph Austin (Leeds United, England), and Jevaughn Watson (Houston Dynamo) are all threats.  In defense, Adrian Mariappa (Reading, England) and Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo) are solid.  Jamaica will be able to sneak out a draw on Friday and defeat Antigua at home on Tuesday to advance to the hexagonal. 

The United States are missing many excellent players due to injury, including all-time leading scorer midfielder Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) and winger Brek Shea (FC Dallas).  However, the Yanks do bring right back Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96) and centerbacks Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu of Stoke City, defensive midfielder Michael Bradley (AS Roma), and forward Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur) their talent is simply too great to lose to an Antigua side whose best player forward Peter Byers plays in the third-tier of the American soccer pyramid.  Antigua do feature teenage defender Zaine Francis-Angol who plies his trade with Motherwell in Scotland.  The United States will win in Antigua and then at home against Guatemala on Tuesday to advance to the CONCACAF Fourth Round.

In Group Three, Honduras at Panama will go a long way to seeing if both teams will be able to advance to the Fourth Round or whether Canada will have an opening after defeating Cuba at home on Friday.  Panama are the pick to win and advance to the final round of qualifying.  Panama feature captain Felipe Baloy (Santos Laguna, Mexico) in defense, but their true talents are further up the pitch.  Nelson Barahona (Atletico Huila, Colombia) leads the midfield and the dual strikers are the feared Blas Perez (FC Dallas) and Luis Tejada (Toluca, Mexico).

The key match will be next Tuesday with Canada traveling to Honduras.  Canada bring, but Honduras will welcome the Canucks with a tough team top to bottom.  Defender Maynor Figueroa plays for Wigan Athletic.  The other stars play in the United States, including defender Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes), midfield talisman Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo), midfielders Roger Espinoza (Sporting Kansas City) and Marvin Chavez (San Jose), and forward Jerry Bengston (New England Revolution).  However, Espinoza will be out through injury. Canada feature captain and centerback Kevin McKenna (Koln, Germany), defenders Andre Hainault (Houston) and Marcel de Jong (Augsburg), and goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld (Valerenga, Norway) from a team that has pitched eight shutouts in ten 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers played.  An attack featuring midfielder Atiba Hutchinson (PSV Eindhoven) and fast attackers Olivier Occean (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Simeon Jackson (Norwich City, England) will be able to replace the injured Dwayne de Rosario (DC United, USA).  Canada should sneak a low-scoring draw much like the 0-0 between the sides in June and advance behind Panama into the final six in CONCACAF.

In South America, the marquee matchup features 2011 Copa America winners Uruguay visiting first-place Argentina.  Uruguay have been severely off their game as of late, losing 4-0 in Colombia and drawing 1-1 against Ecuador at home in September.  Argentina are simply the much better side as of late, having defeated Paraguay soundly last month and stealing a road draw against Peru.  Argentina do not look vulnerable at home this year despite the punditry always criticizing their star forward Lionel Messi (Barcelona).  Uruguay are out of sorts, and their best striker Luis Suarez (Liverpool, England) has been receiving much negative media attention and a heavy workload at his club.  Argentina will win and extend their lead atop the standings.

Two other CONMEBOL contenders square off with Chile at Ecuador also on the slate.  A Chile side without the suspended Gary Medel (Sevilla) head to Quito to take on an Ecuador side that catches break after break in their home matches to maintain a very lucky 100 percent home record.  However, Ecuador have yet to allow a goal in Quito in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and they have already won their first four matches at home, so why stop now?  Ecuador will win.

In the other two matches on CONMEBOL Matchday Nine, Bolivia are the pick at home against Peru and Colombia will run rampant on Paraguay at home.

Quick picks for CONMEBOL Matchday Ten: Uruguay tie at Bolivia, Venezuela defeat Ecuador at home, Paraguay defeat Peru at home, and Argentina tie at Chile.

Match Previews:
http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/To-keep-World-Cup-hopes-alive-Costa-Rica-must-not-stumble-in-El-Salvador_Thursday-October-11-2012
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783170/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_4
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1783123/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_2
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1782787/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_1
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/1040?cc=5901
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/1024?cc=5901
http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/10/klinsmann-usmnt-midfield.html
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/11/wcq-preview-short-handed-us-look-avoid-antigua-trap
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/11/wcq-preview-canada-not-overlooking-mystery-cuban-side