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Diego Costa ends drought as Spain recover poise in Euro qualifying | Diego Costa ends drought as Spain recover poise in Euro qualifying |
(35 minutes later) | |
Diego Costa ended his long international scoring drought with the third goal in an uninspiring 4-0 win for Spain away to Luxembourg. | Diego Costa ended his long international scoring drought with the third goal in an uninspiring 4-0 win for Spain away to Luxembourg. |
The Brazil-born Costa had failed to find the net for his adopted country in six previous appearances but broke a run lasting more than 500 minutes when he scored from close range in the 69th minute in a rain-lashed Luxembourg City. | |
David Silva had opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a fine long-range shot and set up Paco Alcácer to make it 2-0 three minutes before half-time. The substitute Juan Bernat added the fourth two minutes from the end of the Group C game. | |
The European champions did not dispel doubts about their form following Thursday’s surprise 2-1 defeat in Slovakia but the win put them back on track to qualify from a pool that also includes Ukraine, Belarus and Macedonia. | |
With three matches played, Slovakia top the group on nine points after they won 3-1 in Belarus. Spain and Ukraine have six points, with Macedonia on three and Belarus and Luxembourg on one each. | With three matches played, Slovakia top the group on nine points after they won 3-1 in Belarus. Spain and Ukraine have six points, with Macedonia on three and Belarus and Luxembourg on one each. |
The Spain coach, Vicente del Bosque, made four changes with David De Gea replacing the captain, Iker Casillas, in goal the most eye-catching. Casillas, a fixture for Spain for more than a decade, had committed another blunder against Slovakia. Cesc Fàbregas was also relegated to the bench. | The Spain coach, Vicente del Bosque, made four changes with David De Gea replacing the captain, Iker Casillas, in goal the most eye-catching. Casillas, a fixture for Spain for more than a decade, had committed another blunder against Slovakia. Cesc Fàbregas was also relegated to the bench. |
Fabio Capello’s 100% record in home qualifying matches as Russia’s manager came to an end in Moscow when his side were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by the Group G outsiders Moldova. | Fabio Capello’s 100% record in home qualifying matches as Russia’s manager came to an end in Moscow when his side were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by the Group G outsiders Moldova. |
After six previous triumphs on home soil stretching back two years Capello’s men looked on course for victory when their dominance was rewarded with Artem Dzyuba’s 73rd-minute penalty, which he both earned and converted. | |
But only a minute later Moldova equalised with their captain, Alexandru Epureanu, heading home from Alexandru Dedov’s corner. | But only a minute later Moldova equalised with their captain, Alexandru Epureanu, heading home from Alexandru Dedov’s corner. |
Capello’s plan to field an experimental side against lesser opposition, making six changes from the team which drew 1-1 in Sweden on Thursday, backfired. | Capello’s plan to field an experimental side against lesser opposition, making six changes from the team which drew 1-1 in Sweden on Thursday, backfired. |
Sweden, without their captain, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for a second straight game, struggled to convert their chances but still beat Liechtenstein 2-0. | |
Their high-profile striker was confined to the bench with a persistent heel injury and the Swedes spent most of the first half-hour firing in a succession of crosses and peppering Cengiz Bicer in the Liechetenstein goal. But the visitors held firm. | Their high-profile striker was confined to the bench with a persistent heel injury and the Swedes spent most of the first half-hour firing in a succession of crosses and peppering Cengiz Bicer in the Liechetenstein goal. But the visitors held firm. |
Erkan Zengin broke the deadlock after 34 minutes with his second goal in three qualifying games, his thumping shot taking a deflection off a defender and looping into the net. | Erkan Zengin broke the deadlock after 34 minutes with his second goal in three qualifying games, his thumping shot taking a deflection off a defender and looping into the net. |
Jimmy Durmaz doubled Sweden’s advantage in the first minute of the second half after he stabbed the ball home from close range after Bicer sliced a left-footed clearance into his path. | Jimmy Durmaz doubled Sweden’s advantage in the first minute of the second half after he stabbed the ball home from close range after Bicer sliced a left-footed clearance into his path. |
The win puts Sweden in third place in Group G on five points, the same number as Russia who are in second thanks to their superior goal difference. | The win puts Sweden in third place in Group G on five points, the same number as Russia who are in second thanks to their superior goal difference. |
Austria lead the group on seven points having beaten Montenegro 1-0 earlier in the day. | Austria lead the group on seven points having beaten Montenegro 1-0 earlier in the day. |
Slovenia went second in Group E behind England after winning 2-0 in Lithuania, who now also have six points from three games. San Marino host Switzerland on Tuesday. | Slovenia went second in Group E behind England after winning 2-0 in Lithuania, who now also have six points from three games. San Marino host Switzerland on Tuesday. |
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