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Italy, England, Portugal, Dutch advance in World Cup
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-09 09:00
Torres gives Spain 2-0 win after inspired Reyes
entry
BRUSSELS, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Two goals in two minutes from Fernando Torres
kept Spain firmly in the hunt for a place in the 2006 World Cup with a 2-0
victory over Belgium on Saturday.
Victory for Spain against San Marino on Wednesday in their final European
zone Group Seven qualifier will guarantee them at least a playoff spot.
Belgium's slim hopes were extinguished.
Serbia and Montenegro lead the group with 19 points, two more than Spain and
three ahead of Bosnia. The Serbs host Bosnia in Belgrade in their final match on
Wednesday.
An inspired substitution by Spanish coach Luis Aragones with the introduction
of Jose Antonio Reyes in the 56th minute turned the game on its head.
The Arsenal attacker had only been on the pitch for a few seconds when he
fired in a pin-point diagonal ball for Torres to volley home.
The Atletico Madrid striker notched his second two minutes later when he
poked home a low cross again from Reyes.
Teenager Sahin scores as Turkey beat Germany in
friendly
ISTANBUL, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Turkey warmed up for Wednesday's World Cup
qualifier in Albania by beating Germany 2-1 in a friendly on Saturday.
Second-placed Turkey, chasing a playoff spot behind leaders Ukraine in World
Cup Group Two, started on the offensive against a German team depleted by flu.
Halil Altintop pounced on a rebound to put the home side in front in the 25th
minute.
Seventeen-year-old substitute Nuri Sahin, playing his first international,
then made it 2-0 in the 89th minute.
Sahin delighted the home crowd by scoring from another rebound following an
effort by Necati Ates.
Oliver Neuville pulled a goal back for Germany in injury time.
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