World Cup qualifiers - full review

Zahovic scored a last minute equaliser for Slovenia

World Cup qualifying round-up

Group One

Alexander Mostovoi ensured Russia stay top of their group, scoring the winner in an unconvincing 1-0 victory over the Faroe Islands.

Faroe Island players were angry when they had penalty appeals turned down after striker John Petersen went tumbling to the ground.

Mostovoi struck in the 18th minute, scooping the ball up in the penalty area and drilling it past goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen.

Alexander Frei completed his hat-trick in the final minute as Switzerland put five past Luxembourg to stay in touch with Russia.

Johann Lonfat and Stephane Chapuisat netted the other goals.

Slovenia and Yugoslavia lost ground as they shared a 1-1 draw.

Zlatko Zahovic rescued a point for the Slovenians, equalising Savo Milosevic's earlier strike in the last minute.

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Group Two

A last minute penalty by Luis Figo penalty snatched a 2-2 draw for Portugal against the Netherlands.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink opened the scoring for the Dutch from the penalty spot after just 17 minutes and Barcelona's Patrick Kluivert scored the second early in the second half.

But in the 83rd minute Pauleta forced home a Figo cross and when Pauleta was brought down in the area, Figo stepped up to level matters.

Portugal and Ireland lead the group on 11 points with Holland three points further back.

Goals from Ian Harte (penalty), Kevin Kilbane and Matt Holland kept the Republic of Ireland in the running.

Mick McCarthy's side beat Andorra 3-0 in Barcelona but wasted plenty of other opportunities.

Cyprus let a two-goal lead slip as they drew 2-2 with Estonia.

Michalis Constantinou put the hosts ahead on 47 minutes and Yiannakis Okkas made it two on 65 minutes.

But Marko Krystal gave Estonia hope on 75 minutes and two minutes later Raio Piiroja levelled matters.

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Group Three

Bulgaria earned a 4-3 win over Northern Ireland to boost their hopes of reaching the finals.

Krassimir Balakov opened the scoring for Bulgaria after he was hacked down by Colin Murdoch in the box.

Defender Mark Williams headed an equaliser for Northern Ireland but Martin Petrov restored the Bulgarian lead. Krassimir Chomakov struck in the 72nd minute and Petrov made it 4-1.

Stuart Elliot headed a second for Northern Ireland six minutes from time and David Healy scored a last-gasp penalty.

Bulgaria's hopes of qualification were boosted by the goalless draw between the Czech Republic and Denmark in Prague.

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Group Four

Slovakia cruised to a 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan after taking the lead after just 18 seconds.

Szilard Nemeth scored after an exchange of short passes with Lubomir Meszaros but Azerbaijan equalised two minutes later when Vadim Vasilyev scored from the spot.

Nemeth restored the lead on 10 minutes and Meszaros made the game safe on 57 minutes.

Markus Allback struck twice in the last two minutes to give Sweden a dramatic 2-0 victory over Moldova in Chisinau.

Turkey also gained victory with two goals in two minutes away to Macedonia.

Trailing to a first half strike from Toni Micevski, Turkey equalised through an Igor Mitrevski own goal on 68 minutes and Umit Davala netted the winner one minute later.

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Group Five

A last minute goal from Roman Vasilyuk gave Belarus a 2-1 win over Norway.

The Norwegians are rooted to the bottom of the group and look unlikely to reach the finals.

Alexander Khatskevich put the home side ahead after 19 minutes only for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to equalise on 68 minutes.

Poland proved far too strong for Armenia in Warsaw with a 4-0 victory.

Michal Zewlakow (penalty), Emmanuel Olisadebe, Marcin Zewlakow and Bartosz Karwan were the scorers.

Wales drew 1-1 with Ukraine at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

John Hartson gave the home side the lead in the first-half, but AC Milan hitman Andriy Shevchenko equalised soon after the interval.

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Group Six

Scotland beat San Marino 4-0 to keep the pressure on Belgium at the top of Group Six.

Skipper Colin Hendry scored two goals and Billy Dodds and Colin Cameron got one apiece.

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Group Seven

Austria leapfrogged Israel by beating them 2-1 in Vienna.

The Israelis went ahead when Michael Baur put into his own net, but he made ammends by equalising soon after, before Andreas Herzog sealed the win for Austria.

Sergej Barbarez struck twice and Almedin Hota netted a late third as Bosnia recorded a 3-0 victory in Liechtenstein.

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Group Eight

Italy went seven points ahead at the top of Group Eight by hammering Lithuania 4-0 in Trieste.

Juventus duo Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero both scored twice as Italy gained their fourth win in five qualifying games.

Second half goals by Dorinel Munteanu and Cosmin Contra gave Romania a 2-0 win over Georgia.

Munteanu latched on to a bouncing ball to fire home the first on 68 minutes from just outside the box and Contra sealed the points with a strike from long range nine minutes from time.

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Group Nine

Ten-man Germany maintained their five-point lead at the top of the group with a thrilling 4-2 win in Greece.

The first-half finished 2-2, with Marko Rehmer and Michael Ballack scoring for the visitors, and Angelos Haristeas and Grigoris Georgatos netting for the Greeks.

Germany looked doomed when Sebastian Deisler was sent-off after an hour, but they gained an improabbale victory with late strikes from substitutes Miroslav Klose and Marco Bode. England strengthened their grip on second place with a 3-1 victory over Albania in Tirana.

All of the goals came in the last 16 minutes with Michael Owen and Paul Scholes putting England 2-0 up before Altin Rraklli's injury time goal rattled England.

However, Andy Cole's first international goal settled the nerves.