Macedonia have Scotland in their sights

Published on Wednesday 10 June 2009 22:43

GOALS from Aco Stojkov and his substitute Filip Ivanovski gave Macedonia a 2-0 win over Iceland in their World Cup Group 9 qualifier in Skopje, pushing them into contention for the play-off spot.

Scotland are still second in the group on seven points from five games, but the Balkan country are now third on the same points from six games, with a slightly inferior goal difference to Scotland.

Macedonia visit Hampden in September, after beating the Scots 1-0 at home last September. The Netherlands have already won the group and clinched their place at next year's tournament in South Africa.

Europe's nine group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup while the eight best runners-up meet in a two-leg play-off for another four berths.

Midfielder Stojkov fired the Macedonians into an early lead with a neat header after a surging run and cross by Filip Despotovski.

Ilco Naumoski missed two good chances for Macedonia before Ivanovski, who came on for Stojkov shortly after the hour, sealed their win in the 85th minute with a close-range effort. Macedonia missed a string of first-half chances. Goran Pandev shot wide in the 18th after good lead-up work from Stojkov.

Macedonia goalkeeper Jane Nikoloski was replaced in the 67th with a chest injury after colliding with Iceland striker Palmi Rafn Palmason.

Iceland's hopes of reaching South Africa are over as they have managed just four points with only one game left to play.

Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain spurned the chance of a smooth passage to the World Cup finals after failing to secure away wins against teams already through to South Africa. Both countries must now contest tense final matches next week to decide who takes the remaining automatic berth and the two play-off spots.

Iran, however, stayed in the hunt for a place at their fourth successive finals with a one-sided 1-0 win over United Arab Emirates sealed by a superb solo goal by Ali Karimi in Tehran.

Bahrain lost 2-0 to a weakened Australian team in Sydney, while the Saudis were held to a 0-0 draw by South Korea in Seoul.

Australia maintained their unbeaten record thanks to goals by Mile Sterjovski and David Carney. Celtic's Scott McDonald also went close and Harry Kewell and Jason Culina hit the woodwork.