A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on SAT 28 MAR 2009.
» Belgium 02-04 Bosnia-Herzegovina: The day’s best match in UEFA was in Genk, where Edin DŽEKO put the visitors ahead just seven minutes in. Moussa DEMBÉLÉ equalised in the second half, at which point smoke bombs thrown onto the pitch forced the referee to take the players off temporarily. After the restart, Sanel JAHIĆ led Bosnia-Herz’s improbable three goal fightback, leaving them in second place in Group 5.
» Spain 01-00 Turkey: But the class of Group 5 is clearly the European champions Spain, who stood their ground against Turkey’s strong performance and won the match with a 60th minute goal by Gerard PIQUÉ, his first for la Furia Roja. In a scheduling quirk, the group’s matches on WED 01 APR 2009 are a reverse of today’s.
» Russia 02-00 Azerbaijan: Russia took advantage of their opportunities: when the referee ordered a first half free kick retaken, Roman PAVLYUCHENKO sent the second chance through the Azeri wall and past the goalkeeper. Pavlyuchenko also assisted on Russia’s second half goal by Konstantin ZURIANOV, and Russia now sit in second place in Group 4.
» Northern Ireland 03-02 Poland: Violence was found in and around Belfast on match day, and play had to be stopped when an assistant referee was struck by an object thrown from the crowd. Warren FEENEY scored ten minutes into the match for the home side, and Jonathan EVANS’s first goal for his national team proved decisive as N Ireland took over first place in Group 3.
» Romania 02-03 Serbia: Romania’s Dorel STOICA scored two goals – the bad news was that one of them was in his own net. Serbia’s other goals came through Milan JOVANOVIĆ and Branislav IVANOVIĆ as they took sole possession of first place in Group 7.
» Israel 01-01 Greece: Greece held on to first place in Group 2, ahead of Switzerland on goal difference, by holding back the attack minded Israeli squad and earning a draw. Like Group 5, this group sees the return matches of today’s action on Matchday 9.
» Portugal 00-00 Sweden: Both teams may now hit the panic button, as they fought to a goalless draw in Lisbon that leaves them both tied with Albania for third in Group 1, four points behind joint leaders Denmark and Hungary.