World Cup Qualifier: England and Spain win; France and Portugal struggle | inside World Soccer

World Cup Qualifier: England and Spain win; France and Portugal struggle

Sunday, October 12, 2008

England edged Kazakhstan 5-1 to maintain their 100 percent record while Spain also extend their unbeaten streak to 25 matches with a 3-0 triumph at Estonia.

At Wembley, Fabio Capello's side needed 52 minutes to grab the opener after being booed off the field at halftime by their own fans.

The stand-in captain Rio Ferdinand nodded home a Frank Lampard corner and defender Alexandr Kuchma flicked the ball into his own net ten minutes later.

But the Kazakhs pulled one back within three minutes when Zhambyl Kukeyev punished a casual backpass from Ashley Cole, causing the home fans to jeer him every time he touched the ball.

And it was Wayne Rooney who put the result beyond doubt with a double before Jermain Defoe then came off the bench to slot a late fifth to calm Wembley nerves.

In the same group, Ukraine were held to a goalless draw by Croatia, which means England top the group by two points from Ukraine and five from Croatia.

European champions Spain also made it three wins in three as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Estonia.

Defender Juanito opened the scoring in the 34th minute before David Villa scored from the penalty spot to double the lead four minutes later.

Carles Puyol added a third on 69 minutes to keep La Furia Roja top Group 5 with maximum points and maintained a two-point advantage over Turkey and Belgium.

The 1998 winners France battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Romania in Bucharest.

Down in fourth place in Group 7, France looked in more trouble when a spirited Romania took a two-goal lead inside the first 17 minutes.

It took only five minutes for Romania to snatch the opener as Florentin Petre went unchallenged and met a cross that he drove past Steve Mandanda.

Dorin Goian headed home a Petre corner on 17 minutes to hand the hosts a 2-0 lead before Franck Ribery managed to limit the damage in the 36th minute.

Nevertheless it took until the 69th minute for Les Bleus to draw level as Yoann Gourcuff unleashed a stunner from 35 yards.

France and Romania both now have a four points from three matches.

Portugal, the 2006 semi-finalists, could only draw 0-0 in Sweden to put them third in a tightening Group 1.

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed Portugal's defeat to Denmark at home in their last qualifier due to a knee injury, returned in Stockholm but was unable to inspire victory.

At Dortmund, Germany saw off Russia 2-1 to stay atop Group 4 with seven points from four matches.

Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski put the hosts in front on 9 minutes after firing a low shot to notch his 31st international goal.

Germany doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Michael Ballack swept home a well-placed cross from Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Andrei Arshavin grabbed Russia's consolation early in the second half, tapping the ball in from point-blank range.

Netherlands also maintained their 100 percent record after a 2-0 home win against Iceland.

Joris Mathijsen opened the scoring after 15 minutes before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar sealed the victory in the second half.

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