Spain, Italy level on points in Group G
Kalinic rocket keeps Croatia in driving seat
MADRID, March 25, (RTRS): Diego Costa was among the scorers as Spain strolled to a 4-1 win at home to Israel in a World Cup qualifier to stay top of Group G.
Manchester City playmaker David Silva put Spain ahead in the 15th minute with a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Ofir Marciano while Vitolo doubled their lead on the stroke of halftime just after Israel had squandered a chance to level.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa scored a fourth international goal in four games to put Spain 3-0 up early in the second half with a header from a corner although Israel striker Lior Refaelov made amends for an earlier miss by pulling one back in the 76th minute.
Isco then restored Spain’s three-goal advantage in the 88th minute, rolling the ball into the near corner to complete a sweeping counter started by a burst forward from Costa from the halfway line.
Spain top Group G with 13 points from five points, ahead of Italy on goal difference. Israel are third on nine points and Albania are fourth on six.
“Every game is like a World Cup for us, everything is at stake in every game and we know that every time three points are up for grabs they could be decisive,” Spain coach Julen Lopetegui told reporters.
Thiago Alcantara dictated the play for Spain in midfield and created their first effort with a snapshot from outside the area which Marciano tipped onto the bar.
Israel forced an opening when a lapse in concentration from Gerard Pique allowed Eran Zahavi to race towards goal but the striker lost his composure as he entered the area.
Spain’s patient build-up play paid off when Jordi Alba slid the ball through a defender’s legs to Silva on the left side of the area, allowing the City midfielder to fire through Marciano’s legs. Israel defender Eitan Tibi was carried off on a stretcher shortly after the first goal following a challenge from Pique. The visitors had had little possession but carved out an excellent move just before the break, Lior Refaelov’s header forcing David de Gea into a brilliant low save.
Spain were quickly knocked into shape and got their second with the next move, Thiago laying on a pass which looked destined for Silva although the midfielder, who was offside, waited for Vitolo to send the ball trickling over the line.
Costa further stretched Spain’s lead after the break with a simple header but Refaelov smashed the ball into the roof of the net after Rami Gershon had headed against De Gea’s near post before Isco struck late on.
Italy 2, Albania 0
In Palermo, Italy survived some first-half scares on the way to a 2-0 win over Albania in a World Cup qualifier marred by crowd trouble caused by away fans on Friday.
A Daniele De Rossi penalty and Ciro Immobile header gave Italy three points in Group G as their veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made his 1,000th senior appearance.
De Rossi had to wait to take his penalty when two firecrackers were thrown onto the pitch by Albania fans behind the goal. The match was then interrupted for nearly 10 minutes in the second half as Albania fans set up more firecrackers, creating a cloud of smoke over Buffon’s penalty area. The match resumed after the Albania players appealed to their supporters for calm.
Italy are level on 13 points with Spain at the top of the group although their rivals lead on goal difference.
Albania’s defeat left them with six points and further dented their hopes of a first-ever World Cup finals appearance.
Croatia 1, Ukraine 0
In Zagreb, Croatia stayed top of World Cup qualifying Group I after a superb first-half goal by striker Nikola Kalinic gave them a 1-0 home win over Ukraine in an action-packed game.
The result left the Croatians on top of their group with 13 points from five games, three ahead of second-placed Iceland who moved one place up after a 2-1 win in Kosovo. Third-placed Ukraine and Turkey in fourth have eight points each.
The home side missed several chances either side of Kalinic’s 38thminute thunderbolt while a cagey Ukrainian outfit rarely troubled Croatia’s rearguard in the Maksimir stadium.
Mario Mandzukic hit the post for Croatia and Kalinic twice came close before he broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, drilling an unstoppable shot into the top corner after good work by Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.
Turkey 2, Finland 0
In Ankara, Cenk Tosun scored twice in the first 13 minutes as Turkey beat Finland 2-0 in their World Cup Group I qualifier in Antalya on Friday and boost their hopes of qualification for next year’s finals.
Tosun is top scorer of the Turkish league but the goals were the first he has registered for the national team for exactly one year.
On nine minutes, Ismail Koybasi whipped in a cross from the left, which Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan flicked on for Tosun to net.
Four minutes later Tosun produced a looping header from Selcuk Inan’s corner to beat goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky at the far post.
The win moves Turkey above Iceland in third place on eight points, behind Ukraine on goal difference having played one game more. Finland remain fifth with one point from five games.
Austria 2, Moldova 0
In Vienna, Austria squandered a hatful of chances before two goals in the last 15 minutes gave them a 2-0 win over Moldova which kept their World Cup qualifying hopes alive on Friday.
Marcel Sabitzer scored with a glancing header from Marko Arnautovic’s cross in the 75th minute and substitute Martin Harnik added the second in the last minute to leave them four points behind leading pair Serbia and Ireland in Group D.
David Alaba struck the underside of the crossbar in an early attack, leading to a tale of frustration as the ball refused to go in for the hosts.
Ireland 0, Wales 0
In Dublin, Ireland’s Seamus Coleman broke his leg after a scything challenge from Wales defender Neil Taylor, who was immediately dismissed in the goalless Group D qualifier at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
The Everton fullback left the field on a stretcher, with an oxygen mask on his face, after Taylor recklessly clattered into him on 68 minutes of the encounter that left Wales facing a tough task to qualify directly for the World Cup.