World Cup Round-Up: Bendtner Off Injured As Denmark Thrash Malta

Russia made it nine points from four games with an energetic but unspectacular win over Azerbaijan at the Luzhniki Stadium.

That said, the performance of referee Serge Guminney of Belgium was not exactly amenable to a rip-roaring early stage, as he blew his whistle for pretty much any infraction by either side.

Still, Russia had the best of it early on, Andrei Arshavin looking particularly effective, but it was Roman Pavlyuchenko who opened the scoring 32 minutes in.

The Tottenham forward netted with a direct free-kick that, while well-taken, was utterly and completely misjudged by visiting goalkeeper Farhad Veliyev.

The second period saw Berti Vogts' Azerbaijani side actually give a decent account of themselves in an attacking sense, but Russia banished their nerves with twenty minutes to go through Konstantin Zyryanov's one-touch half-volley from the edge of the area.

With this win Russia make it three wins out of four and thus remain one point behind Germany, who lead with ten points. Azerbaijan still have just one point - from a 0-0 draw with Liechtenstein - to show for their efforts after four games. (World Cup 2010 Qualifying Tables)


Luxembourg were conspicuously unable to repeat their feat of defeating Switzerland as they were instead routed 4-0 at home by a resurgent Latvia side.

23 minutes in Girts Karlsons opened the scoring with a header after Jurija Zigajeva's free-kick.

Latvia were well on top heading into the break, but it took them until three minutes after the interval before adding a second. Cauna Alexandrs did the honours with a long-range drive from the edge of the area.

Twenty minutes from time Jonathan Joubert was beaten yet again, this time Visnakovs Aleksejs being set up by Vladimira Kolesnicenko for the goal.

Finally, Andrei Pereplotkins of Skonto Riga added a fourth, Kolesnicenko once again turning provider.

With this result, Latvia take their second win of the group stage and move up to third place on seven points with five games played. Luxembourg remain second bottom with four from five. (World Cup 2010 Qualifying Tables)


A last-gasp equaliser from young Gevorg Ghazaryan gave Armenia a point at home to an Estonia side that seemed to be on course for victory.

The hosts actually took the lead at the Hanrapetakan Stadium in Yerevan on the half-hour mark, although immediately afterwards Konstantin Vassiljev was set up by Martin Vunk for the equaliser.

Then Estonia took the lead on the hour mark by dinking the ball past Roman Berezovski just after the hour.

However, Artur Yedigaryan netted right at the death to make it 2-2.

This is Armenia's first point of the group stage; they sit last in the qualification pool. Estonia double their tally to two and remain second bottom. Both sides have played five games. (World Cup 2010 Qualifying Tables)


Ottmar Hitzfeld's Switzerland did enough to overcome obstinate Moldova in Chisinau.

10,000 fans witnessed this fixture, with Alexandr Frei opening the scoring after good work from Philippe Senderos and Blaise Nkufo.

The Swiss should have increased their tally on numerous occasions, with Nkufo being guilty of profligacy in the second half.

Moldova, though, struggled to take advantage of such wastefulness, with only Igor Bugaiov providing a real threat to Diego Benaglio.

The dying minutes saw a bit more invention from the hosts, but it was too little, too late. In any case, Swiss nerves were soothed deep into stoppage time as Gelson Fernandes netted the second goal right at the end.

The Swiss move on to top Group on ten points - prior to Israel's match with Greece, that is - while Moldova remain dead last with one point. Both sides have played five games. (World Cup 2010 Qualifying Tables)


Cyprus leapt up from one point to four while consigning Georgia to the foot of the group with a hard-fought win in Larnaca.

Michael Kostantinou of Omonia made it 1-0 on the half hour mark after Chrysis Michael put him through on goal.

Young Omonia forward Demetris Christofi was next on the scoresheet shortly before the hour mark with a looping finish past Giorgi Lomaia.

20 minutes from time, though, Georgia were able to net a consolation from the penalty spot via Levan Kobiashvili of Schalke.

Nonetheless the Jvarosnebi left without a point as wastefulness cost them in the dying stages.


A dull match in Malta saw Morten Olsen's experimental Denmark side rack up a routine victory over hapless Malta.

The Danes started the better side, and although Michael Mifsud was looking dangerous for the hosts, they took the lead through Soren Larsen, with Dennis Rommedahl setting him up for his ninth goal in 14 caps.

Martin Jorgensen then set up Larsen for his second of the game and tenth of his international career in the 23rd minute with a defence-splitting through ball.

Nicklas Bendtner had to be withdrawn with a knee injury, denting Denmark's spirits somewhat.

However, there was still a third goal to come, Morten Nordstrand being found completely unmarked in the box by Jonas Borring to complete the rout right at the death.


Hungary edged Albania 1-0 to move up to ten points from five games while Albania labour along with just the one win from six so far.

A cagey game, mostly contested in the midfield, saw the Magic Magyars wait until the 36th minute before managing that killer blow. Szabolcs Huszti dribbled past Armend Dallku before crossing for Sandor Torghelle to head home his 11th international goal in 32 appearances.

Although the hosts were to continue to have the best of it at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Albania also had their chances. Gabor Babos was called into action fifteen minutes from time to save an Ervin Skela effort that could have changed everything, but in the end the Kuq e Zinjte simply lacked the quality to equalise.

Hungary end the weekend second in the group with ten points from a possible fifteen, while Denmark, with the same total, have played a game fewer.


Bosnia-Herzegovina emerged as historic winners in a six-goal thriller in Genk that sees Belgium's qualification hopes take a massive battering.

The Plavo-Zuti took the initiative from the outset and then took the lead, too, Edin Dzeko opening the scoring after just seven minutes, unmarked, from just inside the area.

Wesley Sonck was able to hit the post midway through the first half, but Bosnia took that lead heading into the break. Only on the 64 minute mark was it equalised when Sonck and Gill Swerts set up Moussa Dembele from the equaliser.

From there, though, the Red Devils crumbled. Just four minutes later, Sanel Kahic made it 2-1 with a scrambled finish, and then Zlatan Bajramovic added a third six minutes later with an excellent counter-attack.

Six minutes after that it was four with another counter that saw Timmy Simons bedazzled by Zvjezdan Misimovic, who duly netted.

Wesley Sonck pulled one back from the spot right at the end, but the Bosnian fans - who had the game held up in the late stages due to the smoke from their flares - were able to celebrate a famous win.

Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com