Spain moves closer to World Cup spot

Two first-half strikes by Francisco “Isco” Alarcon helped Spain beat Italy 3-0 in Madrid on Saturday and move closer to securing a World Cup spot.

Isco got the best of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from a free kick early, then scored with a low shot just before halftime.

The result left Spain in control of Europe’s Group G with 19 points, three more than the Italians, with three games left in European qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Only the group winner automatically qualifies; the second-place team goes to a playoff.

Andriy Yarmolenko celebrated his 70th international appearance with two first-half goals to move Ukraine to the top of Group I with a 2-0 victory over Turkey in Kiev. Despite trailing leaders Croatia and Iceland by two points before the match, Ukraine tops the group after Finland beat Iceland 1-0 and Croatia’s game against Kosovo was postponed due to a torrential downpour.

In NASL, Pablo Dyego scored in the 42nd and 87th minutes as the San Francisco Deltas beat the Indy Eleven 2-0 in Indianapolis. It was the first road win for San Francisco (8-5-8) since June 24.

In MLS highlights, Kei Kamara had his first career hat trick and the host New England Revolution beat Orlando City 4-0 . ... Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in the second half and the visiting Chicago Fire beat the 10-man Montreal Inpact 1-0 . ... Mauro Diaz scored on a penalty kick in the 75th minute and 10-man FC Dallas salvaged a 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls. Motor sports: Kevin Harvick held off NASCAR Cup series leader Martin Truex Jr. to win the pole for Sunday’s Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

In the Xfinity Race at Darlington, pole-sitter Denny Hamlin passed Joey Logano coming out of the final turn to win his second straight start in NASCAR’s Triple-A series.

Alexander Rossi of Nevada City (Nevada County) won the IndyCar pole at Watkins Glen International with a track-record time of 1 minute, 22.4639 seconds to edge Scott Dixon (1:22.5168) on his final lap around the 3.34-mile road course.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his 69th career pole position in wet conditions for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, breaking the Formula One record previously held by Michael Schumacher. WNBA: Kayla McBride had 28 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead the visiting San Antonio Stars to a 75-71 victory over the Indiana Fever in a season-ending game for the two worst teams in the WNBA.