15 October 2004	Friday	29 Shaban 1425

LONDON, Oct 14: Italy and Portugal recovered from weekend setbacks to register contrasting victories on another busy European night of World Cup qualifying on Wednesday.

Italy, who lost their first World Cup qualifier for 11 years in Slovenia on Saturday, edged Belarus 4-3 while Portugal, held to a draw by Liechtenstein, bounced back in style to thrash Russia 7-1.

There were also wins for France, England, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands while Andorra and Liechtenstein made history with their first-ever World Cup qualifying successes.

Francesco Totti, Italy's Euro 2004 villain when he was sent home in disgrace for spitting, was back in their good books on Wednesday with two goals. Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Gilardino were also on target but Belarus kept hitting back, helped by two brilliant Maxim Romashchenko goals, before the visitors ran out of time.

Slovenia came back to earth with a 3-0 defeat in Norway leaving both teams with seven points, two behind leaders Italy. Portugal, still stinging from the criticism of a 2-2 draw with Liechtenstein, enjoyed a stunning 7-1 victory in Lisbon.

There were two goals each for Cristiano Ronaldo and Armando Petit - the latter's both in the last two minutes - while Pauleta, Deco and Simao Sabrosa were also on target as the Euro 2004 runners-up joined Slovakia at the top with 10 points.

Saturday's draw was Liechtenstein's first-ever World Cup qualifying point and they followed up on Wednesday with their first win when they thrashed Luxembourg 4-0 away.

In the last four days the tiny nation have scored more World Cup qualifying goals (six) than they managed in the previous 20 years (four). The Netherlands trailed to Teemu Tainio's early goal for Group One pacesetters Finland in Amsterdam but levelled through Wesley Sneijder and won it with two goals for striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, returning from a two-match ban.

The Czechs cruised to a 3-0 success in Armenia after beating Romania 1-0 on Saturday. It was a big night for Andorra who claimed their first competitive victory since their admission to FIFA in 1996.

Marc Bernaus's 60th-minute volley secured a 1-0 win over Macedonia - a team who drew 2-2 with the Netherlands on Saturday. Sadly, their momentous achievement was witnessed by just 200 hardy fans.

France found a way past Cyprus in the return game as Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry secured a 2-0 win to kickstart their Group Four campaign. England laboured to a 1-0 victory in a wind-lashed Azerbaijan, Michael Owen heading the only goal after 22 minutes.

Poland are only a point behind after they hit three goals in the last 20 minutes to come from behind and beat Wales 3-2 in Cardiff. Spain remain in a real scrap with three games gone in Group Seven.

They were held to a goalless home draw by Lithuania and remain third on five points behind Lithuania on goal difference and Serbia and Montenegro, who thrashed San Marino 5-0 to move top with seven.

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS:

EUROPEAN ZONE WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS:

GROUP ONE

Andorra 1 Macedonia 0

Armenia 0 Czech Republic 3

Netherlands 3 Finland 1

GROUP TWO

Ukraine 2 Georgia 0

Kazakhstan 0 Albania 1

Denmark 1 Turkey 1

GROUP THREE

Portugal 7 Russia 1

Luxembourg 0 Liechtenstein 4

Latvia 2 Estonia 2

GROUP FOUR

Ireland 2 Faroe Islands 0

Cyprus 0 France 2

GROUP FIVE

Italy 4 Belarus 3

Moldova 1 Scotland 1

Norway 3 Slovenia 0

GROUP SIX

Wales 2 Poland 3

Northern Ireland 3 Austria 3

Azerbaijan 0 England 1

GROUP SEVEN

Lithuania 0 Spain 0

Serbia & Montenegro 5 San Marino 0

GROUP EIGHT

Iceland 1 Sweden 4

Bulgaria 4 Malta 1. -Reuters