Staff Reporter.
Five second-half goals helped Russia to rout Cyprus 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday and widen their lead in Group H.
Aleksandr Erokhin scored in each half, with Fedor Smolov, Andrey Mostovoy, Aleksei Sutormin and Anton Zabolotny also on target in the last 35 minutes as Russia moved on to 22 points from nine games, five ahead of second-placed Croatia who face Malta later on Thursday.
With only the group winners guaranteed a place in next year’s finals in Qatar, Russia will secure their place in the World Cup if Croatia do not beat Malta in Thursday’s showdown.
Meanwhile Sweden’s hopes of qualifying directly for the World Cup finals in Qatar suffered a serious blow as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat away to Georgia in Group B on Thursday.
Sweden still top the group on 15 points but second-placed Spain can overtake them with victory in Greece later on Thursday. Spain host Sweden in the final qualifier on Sunday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to the Sweden side after a knee injury that kept him out of Euro 2020, but not even the presence of their record goalscorer could not save them from an embarrassing defeat.
The Swedes racked up 15 efforts on goal, including gilt-edged chances for Alexander Isak and Viktor Claesson, but it was the home side who took the lead through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 61st minute and the winger added a second 16 minutes later to secure a famous victory.
Elsewhere North Macedonia kept alive their hopes of clinching a World Cup playoff berth after an Enis Bardi hat-trick and a goal each by Aleksandar Trajkovski and Milan Ristovski sealed a 5-0 win at Armenia in their Group J qualifier on Thursday.
North Macedonia moved to second in the group on 15 points from nine games, two more than third-placed Romania who host Iceland later.
Trajkovski fired North Macedonia ahead in the 22nd minute when he tapped the ball in from close range before Bardi made it 2-0 with a crisp low shot from 20 metres after a flowing move.
Bardi drilled a penalty into the top corner after he was fouled midway through the second half before Ristovski unleashed a scorcher from the edge of the area into the far corner in the 79th minute.
North Macedonia captain Bardi capped a fine individual performance with his second spot-kick in the 90th minute after Ezgjan Alioski was hauled down in the penalty area.
? Georgia shock Sweden to win back-to-back World Cup qualifiers for the first time since September 2001
? If Croatia fail to beat Malta, Russia will book their Qatar 2022 ticket
? North Macedonia move to 2nd in Group J#WCQ | #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/y5nNSqo2j2— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 11, 2021
Group leaders Germany have sealed an automatic berth in next year’s tournament in Qatar with 21 points from eight games.