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Two early goals put the Netherlands on track for a 2-1 win against Iceland and secure their qualification for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Holding midfielder Nigel de Jong (pictured) headed home the opening goal after eight minutes following a fine cross from Rafael van der Vaart.

Mark van Bommel doubled the lead seven minutes later with a well placed shot from just outside the penalty area.

Kristjan Sigurdsson pulled one back for the home side two minutes before time with a close range header.

Netherlands clinched the top position in group nine with 18 points after six matches, 11 more then second placed Scotland, and are the first European country to book their finals place.

The group winners qualify for the finals while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.

Macedonia and fellow strugglers Norway drew 0-0 in their World Cup group nine qualifier.

Macedonia's new coach Mirsad Jonuz started with three strikers but Goran Pandev's early 10-metre effort was blocked by Brede Hengeland.

Pandev brought a good save from keeper Jon Knudsen in the 29th minute but the game's best chance fell to Norway's John Carew on 40 minutes.

The Aston Villa striker was alone in front of the Macedonian goal but Jane Nikoloski saved superbly.

In the second half, Macedonia piled on the pressure but managed only two serious shots, both late on - a Pandev volley from 10 metres and a Goce Sedloski's free kick, both saved by Knudsen.

GROUP ONE

Denmark beat struggling rivals Sweden 1-0 with a first-half goal from Thomas Kahlenberg to move three points clear at the top of World Cup qualifying Group One.

Kahlenberg took advantage of a mistake from Sweden defender Mikael Nilsson midway through the first half to fire the ball past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.

The win put the Danes on 16 points from six matches, three ahead of Hungary in second place.

Things are looking less promising for the Swedes, who missed a penalty in the Denmark game and are down in fourth place with six points from five matches.

Sweden were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute but failed to capitalise as Kim Kallstrom's weak effort was easily saved by Thomas Sorensen easily saved.

After taking the lead, the Danes should have made it 2-0 in the 30th minute when Dennis Rommedahl missed an open goal from less than a metre out.

Portugal needed an injury-time goal from defender Bruno Alves to beat Albania 2-1 and keep alive their hopes of qualifying.

Portugal are third in Group One with nine points, behind leaders Denmark on 16 and Hungary with 13 and their last-gasp win in Albania must be followed by victories in their three remaining matches for them to top the standings.

The group winners qualify for the finals while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.

Portugal had taken the lead with a Hugo Almeida header in the 27th minute after Jose Bosingwa surged forward to supply the cross. Albania equalised just two minutes later when striker Bogdani beat Bruno Alves in the air to head in Skela's cross.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz replaced ineffective midfielder Luis Boa Morte with Simao Sabrosa at halftime and Portugal created more chances in the second half.

But poor finishing meant they had to wait until the 93rd minute for Bruno Alves to grab the priceless winner.

GROUP THREE

Marek Cech scored a first-half double to lead Slovakia to a 7-0 victory over San Marino in their Group Three World Cup qualifier.

The win put Slovakia, which became an independent state in 1993 and has never reached the World Cup finals, top of the group with 15 points, two ahead of Northern Ireland.

Defender Cech scored his first goal after just three minutes with a low shot before Peter Pekarik put the home side two goals up in the 12th minute with a left-foot drive from distance. Cech added his second from close range in the 32nd.

Miroslav Stoch fired home 10 minutes before halftime and midfielder Jan Kozak made it 5-0 by lashing a shot into the top corner of the net from the edge of the area in the 43rd minute.

Martin Jakubko headed home in the 63rd and newcomer Lubos Hanzel scored his first international goal five minutes later.

GROUP SEVEN

Serbia stayed firmly on course to reach the 2010 World Cup after an early Nenad Milijas penalty gave them a 1-0 home win over Austria in their Group Seven qualifier.

The midfielder steered his spot kick past Austria goalkeeper Michael Gspurning, who had brought down Marko Pantelic after giving away the ball with a poor clearance from a back-pass.

The result left Serbia top of the group with 15 points from six matches, five more than France who have a game in hand.

Third-placed Lithuania, who have nine points from seven games, lost ground after a 1-0 home defeat by Romania, who are level on seven points with Austria.

The group winners qualify for the finals directly while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a play-off.

The Serbians did just enough to earn their win but endured some nervy moments, as the Austrians made a lively start with Manuel Ortlechner shooting wide from a good position in the second minute.

But their early initiative ended abruptly in the seventh minute, with Gspurning causing a comedy of errors with his miskicked clearance that led to the penalty.

The 50,000 fans held their breath as Marc Janko missed Austria's best two chances to snatch an equaliser.

The towering striker rattled the crossbar with a venomous 25-metre volley in the 76th minute before Vladimir Stojkovic denied him with a late save from close range.

Reuters