WC Qualifier: France facing exit
Ronaldo saves Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo earned Portugal a 1-0 win in the first leg of their World Cup playoff against Sweden, as France suffered a 2-0 loss versus Ukraine, reports ESPNsoccernet.
Ronaldo’s diving header in the 82nd minute was the difference between Portugal and Sweden, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic unable to inspire his side to a result away from home.
Little divided the two nations during the first half but Ronaldo’s quality told in the second period as he stooped bravely late on, and he almost added another after an effort hit the crossbar.
In Kiev, France suffered a 2-0 defeat against Ukraine and had Laurent Koscielny sent off in the final moments to leave them facing failure in their quest to qualify for Brazil.
Roman Zozulya opened the scoring on 61 minutes as he beat Hugo Lloris, before Koscielny’s foul allowed Andriy Yarmolenko to slot home from the penalty spot.
Koscielny and Olexandr Kucher both received their marching orders late on, while the result means Didier Deschamps’ men face an uphill task in Tuesday’s second leg in Paris.
Croatia were held to a 0-0 draw against ten-man Iceland in their World Cup playoff in Reykjavik.
Iceland — with a population of just over 300,000 — are hoping to become the smallest nation to play in the finals but they had few chances and were distinctly second best to their visitors.
However, they are still in with a chance after they held Croatia despite having to play all but six minutes of the second half with 10 men following the dismissal of Olafur Ingi Skulason for a professional foul on Ivan Perisic.
Greece are in control of their tie with Romania after they claimed a 3-1 victory in Athens.
Kostas Mitroglou opened the scoring on 14 minutes only for Romania to restore parity five minutes later through Bogdan Stancu.
The Greeks hit back swiftly, though, as Dimitris Salpingidis struck before Mitroglou grabbed his second of the game after the interval to wrap up a first leg triumph.
ANOTHER NEWS OF AFP FROM EAST RUTHERFORD ADDS: An Argentina side without superstar striker Lionel Messi played Ecuador to a goal-less draw on Friday in an international football friendly between World Cup qualified teams.
Both South American squads are set for the global football showdown next year at Brazil, but they advanced in very different fashion.
The Argentine lineup set the pace in CONMEBOL qualifying, although World Cup host Brazil was not in the picture, while Ecuador taking the last of four guaranteed berths on offer, edging Uruguay on goal difference.
Argentina was without Messi because of a torn left hamstring suffered Sunday by the 26-year-old playmaker in a 4-1 Barcelona victory over Real Betis in a Spanish League match. Messi is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Right hamstring and thigh issues had sent Messi to the sidelines earlier this season.
Both Ecuador and Argentina will play another friendly on US soil in the next few days against a team that has already booked a berth in the World Cup showdown.
Argentina will play Bosnia and Hercegovina on Monday at St.
Louis and Ecuador will face Honduras on Tuesday at Houston.
World Cup host Brazil will play two North American matches in the next few days as well, meeting Honduras on Saturday at Miami and Chile in Toronto on Tuesday.
-With ESPNsoccernet input
