WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: PORTUGAL AND Russia moved closer to next year's World Cup finals with first leg play-off wins on Saturday, although neither did enough to take their progress for granted as they face potentially tricky second legs this week.
Portugal beat Bosnia 1-0 in Lisbon with the only goal of the game coming from defender Bruno Alves who headed home in the first half.
Meanwhile, two goals from Everton’s Diniyar Bilyaletdinov put Russia 2-0 up and seemingly in charge of their tie against Slovenia. But the visitors then scored a vital away goal three minutes from time when substitute Nejc Pecnik headed home to make the final score 2-1.
Greece and Ukraine drew 0-0 in the first leg of their play-off in Athens, with Ukraine now favourites to take control of the tie at home in Donetsk on Wednesday.
While Saturday saw the start of the European play-offs, it also signalled the end of New Zealand’s long wait to return to the finals for the first time since 1982.
They sealed their place in next year’s extravaganza in South Africa with a 1-0 win in Wellington in the second leg of their Asia/Oceania play-off against Bahrain to win the tie 1-0 on aggregate.
A header from Rory Fallon at the end of the first half and a very costly missed second half Bahrain penalty saw New Zealand qualify.
Uruguay seized the advantage in the South American/Concacaf play-off with a 22nd minute goal by Diego Lugano giving them a 1-0 victory in Costa Rica.
They are now strong favourites to advance with the second leg back in the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo on Wednesday.
In Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon qualified for the finals but Egypt and Algeria must play-off in Sudan on Wednesday after finishing with identical records in their qualifying group.
Egypt beat Algeria 2-0 with their second, vital goal coming in the fifth minute of stoppage time with Algeria just seconds away from the finals.
Nigeria clinched their place when they came from behind to beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi with Obafemi Martins scoring twice to give them victory and allow them to snatch top place in African Group B from Tunisia.
The North Africans had topped the standings at the start of the day but lost 1-0 to Mozambique and were eliminated.
Cameroon qualified for their sixth World Cup with a 2-0 Group A win in Morocco.
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