World Cup qual - Macedonia pile pressure on Scots

Eurosport - Wed, 10 Jun 22:37:00 2009

Macedonia's 2-0 victory over Iceland kept the pressure on Scotland as they drew level on points in World Cup qualifying Group Nine, but the Scots had a boost as the Netherlands beat Norway.

FOOTBALL Macedonia's Goran Popov challenges Iceland's Ragnar Sigurdsson (L) during their 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifying match at the Skopje city stadium June 10, 2009. - 0

Macedonia are now third with seven points from six matches, level with Scotland who have a game in hand and a superior goal difference.

But the Norwegians, who needed a win to draw within a point of Scotland, are now rooted to the bottom of the group with three points from five matches while Iceland are fourth with four points from seven games.

In Skopje goals from Aco Stojkov and his substitute Filip Ivanovski gave Macedonia a comfortable home victory, keeping the Balkan country in contention for a place in South Africa.

Midfielder Stojkov fired the Macedonians into an early lead with a neat header after a surging run and cross by Filip Despotovski.

Ilco Naumoski missed two good chances for Macedonia before Ivanovski, who came on for Stojkov shortly after the hour, sealed their win in the 85th minute with a close range effort.

In Rotterdam Andre Ooijer and Arjen Robben scored to earn the Netherlands a 2-0 home victory over Norway.

The Netherlands, who booked their place in next year's finals on Saturday, went close to opening the scoring in the first minute and had to wait till the 33rd before Ooijer nodded in a free kick from Rafael van der Vaart.

Norway's only chance came just after halftime but Maarten Stekelenburg saved a shot from Morten Gamst Pedersen and a minute later Robben settled the match with a tight angled shot after good work from Van der Vaart and Robin van Persie.

Europe's nine groups winners qualify automatically for the World Cup while the eight best runners-up meet in a two-leg play-off for another four berths.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 10 of 30

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  1. Honestly think that scotland will beat macedonia.

    From iancampbell11, on Thu 11 Jun 12:52AM

  2. Macedonia is Macedonia, so you Greeks better get used­ to that. And the Macedonians are not Greeks you miop­ Greek.
    You cant ignore the reality so you better get­ used to that.

    Come on the scots

    From edmond, on Thu 11 Jun 12:16AM

  3. Don't even start me on the­ greeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    But seriously, how does this put­ pressure on us, it's in our hands, not sure how­ we'll get there but we have to believe we're­ gonna be there, everybody sing
    "we'll be­ coming, we'll be coming, we'll be coming down­ the road, when you hear the noise of the tartan army­ boys, we'll be coming down the road!"­ SCOTLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From chrisman.6915, on Thu 11 Jun 12:10AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It's not MACEDONIA. It;s the Former Yugoslavian­ Republic of Macedonia, and I really thought Eurosport­ would not call them Macedionians... Macedonia is an­ area in Greece. These people are not Greek. They claim­ to be. But they are not.

    From Marios K, on Thu 11 Jun 12:01AM

  5. Even if we beat Macedonia, we may still need a point­ from Holland. Be honest if we do not qualify, it will­ be because we do not deserve it. If we cannot take 6­ points home and away from Macedonia and Norway. What­ chance have we of progressing

    TAM H

    From THOMAS, on Wed 10 Jun 11:33PM

  6. Kenny L - the reason you can not locate Macedonia is­ cause you suck in Geography

    From strezoski_j, on Wed 10 Jun 10:56PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Scotland should finish second in their group, because­ apart from Holland, the rest are rubbish, Norway are­ past it, but anyway Scotland won't finish second as­ they are second rate themselves.

    From NIALL L, on Wed 10 Jun 10:56PM

  8. Macedonia beat us at their own ground. be wary of the­ wee fish, remember we are wee fish too.

    From Lowest of th..., on Wed 10 Jun 10:34PM

  9. i dont quite understand.. had norway won, then i would­ say pressure on scotland as norway would be on 6 pts­ and a game in hand... who are macedonia anyway..? lets­ be honest, can most of us locate them on the map? i say­ scotland are no doubt runners up and croatia or ireland­ will miss out as worst runners up.

    From Kenny L, on Wed 10 Jun 8:42PM

  10. Come on MACEDONIA!!! We gonna beat Scotland in­ Glazgov!!

    From trd, on Wed 10 Jun 8:22PM
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