Klose ties Germany mark as Ronaldo fires hat-trick
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Miroslav Klose and Cristiano Ronaldo stole the limelight on a busy night of 2014 World Cup qualifying fixtures on Friday that saw several European nations edge closer to a place in the finals in Brazil.
Veteran Klose set Germany on the way to a 3-0 win against neighbor Austria which keeps it firmly in control of Group C, while Ronaldo netted a hat-trick as Portugal came from behind to win 4-2 in Northern Ireland.
Reigning world champion Spain eased to a 2-0 win in Finland, while Italy is just one more victory away from qualifying for the finals after a 1-0 defeat of Bulgaria in Palermo.
Germany was far too strong for Austria in Munich with the 35-year-old Klose setting it on its way with the 68th international goal of his career.
That saw him equal Gerd Mueller’s German record for the most goals scored for his country, before Bayern Munich pair Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller got the other goals for the hosts.
Germany is now five points clear of Sweden, which won 2-1 in the Republic of Ireland, and will qualify on Tuesday if it wins in the Faroe Islands and Sweden fails to win in Kazakhstan.
Portugal is still two points clear of Russia at the top of Group F, but having played a game more, after winning an eventful game in Belfast.
In a match that featured three red cards, Northern Ireland twice led before Real Madrid man Ronaldo scored three times in 15 minutes late on to move him above the great Eusebio in his country’s list of all-time leading scorers on 43.
Russia had earlier swatted aside Luxembourg 4-1.
Spain is now three points clear at the top of Group I with just two games remaining after Jordi Alba and Alvaro Negredo struck either side of half-time in Helsinki while France, in second, saw its goal drought continue with a 0-0 draw in Georgia.
Italy’s single-goal win against Bulgaria in Sicily means it needs only beat the Czech Republic on Tuesday to book its ticket to Brazil from Group B. Behind it, the race for second and a prospective playoff berth remains open, particularly after Armenia won 2-1 in the Czech Republic.
The Netherlands saw their perfect record in Group D come to an end in a 2-2 draw in Estonia.
Arjen Robben put the Dutch ahead early on, but a stunning double from Konstantin Vassiljev turned the game on its head and the Oranje needed a last-gasp Robin van Persie penalty to spare their blushes.
Meanwhile, England took control of Group H thanks to its 4-0 defeat of Moldova which featured a brace from Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck.
England leads the section on goal difference from Montenegro, which drew 1-1 in Poland.
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