Eurosport - Wed, 14 Oct 22:41:00 2009
Arsenal youngster Aaron Ramsey scored a superb free-kick as Wales ended their disappointing World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein in Vaduz.
Despite missing suspended skipper Craig Bellamy, the Welsh needed just 16 minutes to break down the minnows when David Vaughan converted Gareth Bale's cross.
The win was sealed 10 minutes from time after an incisive run from Bale (pictured) was curtailed on the edge of the box and Ramsey stepped up to crash the ball home.
John Toshack's team were marooned in fourth place in Group 4 regardless of the result but looked the most likely in the opening stages.
MK Dons' Jermaine Easter skipped through the Liechtenstein defence only for Simon Church to mis-kick in front of Peter Jehle's goal.
Liechtenstein had only scored twice throughout the qualifying campaign but almost grabbed another when David Hasler was allowed to run at the Welsh defence and Boaz Myhill did well to beat the ball away in his first competitive start.
The Welsh got the goal they craved shortly after when the ever-dangerous Bale drove down the Liechtenstein left and his pinpoint cross was side-footed home by the stretching Vaughan.
Toshack's men wasted two good chances to double their advantage before the break.
Bale's free kick from a good position sailed over the Liechtenstein bar before Easter shrugged off Lucas Eberle, only to fire straight at Jehle from close range.
But at the other end Hasler beat the offside trap and the Welsh were grateful to Myhill who stood up to preserve the lead at the break.
Chances were few and far between in the second period with Wales content to launch the long ball for Easter and Vaughan to chase to little effect and it took until midway through the half to register any incident of note.
Bale was again the instigator and despite the close attention of the Liechtenstein defence, the Spurs man delivered the ball into the heart of the area and Easter bundled the ball home, only to be rightly penalised for handball.
Liechtenstein sub Michele Polverino gave the hosts extra impetus as he tried to wriggle through the Welsh backline but when Bale was brought down after a mazy run of his own, Ramsey sealed the points to ease the pressure on under-fire boss Toshack.
Germany 1-1 Finland
Germany, already through to the 2010 World Cup, needed a last-gasp equaliser by Lukas Podolski to grab a 1-1 draw with eliminated Finland in Hamburg.
Germany, who beat second-placed Russia 1-0 on Saturday to seal top spot in Group 4, went behind after 11 minutes.
The hosts failed to clear a header by Roman Eremenko and the ball landed at the feet of Jonathan Johansson, who netted on his 100th international appearance.
Having made six changes to the line-up that beat Russia, Germany had to wait until the 90th minute for Podolski to tap in the equaliser from close range.
Lacking stability in their backline and clinical finishing in attack despite playing with three strikers, the Germans were facing what looked like their first defeat by Finland in 86 years.
Finnish striker Jari Litmanen put the ball into the net early in the second half but his effort was ruled offside.
The Germans gradually upped the tempo and the arrivals on the pitch of midfielder Mesut Ozil and striker Miroslav Klose added much-needed pace.
With fans jeering throughout the second half, it was Ozil who lifted the ball into the box, the Finnish defence scrambled to clear and Klose found Podolski to slot home with seconds left.
Azerbaijan 1-1 Russia
Andrei Arshavin was on target as Russia were held to a 1-1 draw by Azerbaijan in Baku.
With Russia already assured of finishing second and Azerbaijan having lost all hope of qualifying for next year's finals in South Africa a long time ago, the match lacked the usual intensity.
Russia captain Arshavin opened the scoring in the 13th minute, side-footing into an empty goal after Azeri keeper Kamran Agayev stopped Alan Dzagoyev's shot from close range.
The Azeris missed several chances in the first half before former CSKA Moscow striker Vagif Javadov levelled the score with a long-range effort shortly after the interval.
Russia were awarded a penalty 10 minutes from time but Sergei Ignashevich fired straight at Agayev from the spot.
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