Spain, Portugal held to draws in WCup qualifying

By STEVE DOUGLAS

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 7:59 p.m. ET March 22, 2013

Spain and Portugal were held to draws Friday night that hurt their chances of qualifying automatically for next year's World Cup, while England routed San Marino 8-0 for its biggest victory margin in 26 years and New Zealand clinched a playoff berth against the fourth-place nation from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Fans greeted the visitors with chants that included "Kill, Kill the Serbs!" as Croatia beat Serbia 2-0 at Zagreb in the first soccer meeting between the Balkan rivals since their war in the 1990s. Germany defeated Kazakhstan 3-0, and the Netherlands beat Estonia 3-0.

The United States, coming off an opening loss at Honduras in its final-round opener last month, hosted Costa Rica later Friday when Panama was at Jamaica. Mexico played its second straight draw, 2-2 at Honduras. Javier Hernandez built a 2-0 lead with goals in the 28th and 54th, but the Catrachos came back when Carlo Costly scored in the 77th and Jerry Bengtson in the 80th.

Spain, the reigning world and European champion, tied Finland 1-1 at Gijon when Teemu Pukki scored on a 79th-minute counterattack - the visitors' first shot on goal. Sergio Ramos, in his 100th international appearance, had put Spain in front with a header in the 49th minute.

"It's too bad that we let a game that we had controlled get away in the final minutes," Ramos said.

France (3-0-1) moved two points ahead of Spain (2-0-2) in Europe's Group I with a 3-1 win in Paris over Georgia on goals by Giroud, Mathieu Valbuena and Franck Ribery. Les Bleus host Spain in a key match on Tuesday.

The nine European group winners qualify for the 32-nation field in Brazil next year, and eight second-place team advance to playoffs for four additional berths.

"We shouldn't get carried away and start thinking we've qualified," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "We're in the best position at the moment but now we have to play Spain - they are the best team in the world."

Portugal needed Fabio Coentrao's goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time after a misplay by goalkeeper Dudu Aouate for a 3-3 tie against Israel at Ramat Gan. After Bruno Alves put the visitors ahead in the second minute, Israel built a 3-1 lead on goals by Rami Gershon, Tomer Hemad Eden Ben Basat. Helder Postiga's 72nd-minute goal started Portugal's comeback.

Russia (4-0), whose game at Northern Ireland was postponed by snow until Saturday, leads Group F by four points over Israel and Portugal (both 2-1-2).

"Now it is even more complicated, but the playoff place is still on us. We need to raise the spirit of the players," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said.

England rolled in Serravalle against San Marino, tied for 207th and last in the FIFA rankings. The hosts fell behind on Alessandro Della Valle's own goal in the 12th minute at Serravalle. Jermain Defoe got two goals, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ashley Young, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge scored. Rooney's goal was his 34th for England.

England's victory margin was its largest since beating Turkey 8-0 in a European Championship qualifier in 1987.

"Obviously we were a class above our opponents," England coach Roy Hodgson said. "It was one of those games where I thought everyone brought their straw to the water."

Montenegro (4-0-1) leads Group H by two points over England (3-0-2) going into a head-to-head matchup Tuesday in Podgorica. San Marino (0-5) is last and has been outscored 24-0.

At Zagreb, Mario Mandzukic and Ivica Olic scored first-half goals for Croatia, which like Serbia was once part of Yugoslavia.

"It was fantastic, and I'll remember it all my life," Mandzukic said.

Thousands of riot police were deployed at packed Maksimir Stadium to prevent trouble from home fans. Serbian supporters were banned from attending to prevent possible clashes.

Tensions were high because of the wartime history, and the win triggered street celebrations and fireworks in many Croatian cities. Streets in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, were empty.

"This is a victory for the whole of Croatia," Olic said.

Belgium, which won 2-0 at Macedonia, leads Europe Group A on goal difference over Croatia, both with 13 points at 4-0-1. Wales (2-3) has six points, followed by Serbia and Macedonia (both 1-3-1) with four apiece.

At Astana, Thomas Mueller scored the final goal for visiting Germany after setting up scores by Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze in a match that began at midnight local time and was played on artificial turf. Germany (4-0-1) opened a five-point lead in Group C over second-place Sweden (2-0-2), which was held to a 0-0 tie by visiting Ireland (2-1-1).

In Amsterdam, Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Persie and Ruben Schaken scored for the Netherlands in a 3-0 win over Estonia.

The Dutch (5-0) lead Group D by five points over Hungary and Romania (both 3-1-1).

In South America, Colombia won 5-0 at home over Bolivia and Uruguay was held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Paraguay. Edgar Benitez tied the score in the 86th, four minutes after Luis Suarez put the hosts ahead. Argentina hosted Venezuela and Chile was at Peru in night games.

New Zealand won the Oceania region with a 2-1 victory over visiting New Caledonia as Tommy Smith scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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