Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick booked Portugal's place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as the Real Madrid forward ensured Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be watching the tournament on television.
After Sweden led 2-1 with 18 minutes left, the 28-year-old scored a quickfire double to turn the tie on its head.
Portugal's 3-2 victory in Solna enabled the visitors to qualify as 4-2 aggregate winners.
Elsewhere, France qualified for the finals after making history in their 3-2 aggregate defeat of Ukraine.
No side had ever come back from two goals down to win a World Cup play-off but the 1998 world champions did precisely that when winning 3-0 in Paris.
A different side of Cristiano Ronaldo
A day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo
Exclusive: What makes Ibrahimovic tick?
Ibrahimovic reveals biggest weakness
Croatia, who also enjoyed a memorable 1998 finals when finishing third, booked their place when beating Iceland 2-0 in Zagreb.
The visitors had been bidding to become the smallest nation in history to reach the finals.
The final European play-off was decided by Greece, who drew 1-1 in Romania to qualify as 4-2 aggregate winners.
In Africa, Ghana lost 2-1 in Egypt but the quarterfinalists at South Africa 2010 reached their third straight World Cup when winning 7-3 on aggregate.
Algeria ensured that the same five African teams that had qualified for the last World Cup will be there again, following the weekend qualifications by Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
Trailing 3-2 from last month's first leg in Burkina Faso, the hosts won 1-0 in Blida to qualify on the away goals ruling.
Thirty of the 32 teams that will contest next year's World Cup are now known, with the remaining two places being decided on Wednesday.
New Zealand are looking to overturn a 5-1 deficit when hosting Mexico, while Uruguay will aim to build on a 5-0 lead when Jordan travel to Montevideo in the very final 2014 World Cup qualifier.
On 6 December, the draw to determine the eight groups at next year's World Cup will be held in the Brazilian state of Bahia
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Ronaldo hat-trick fires Portugal to World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick booked Portugal's place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as the Real Madrid forward ensured Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be watching the tournament on television.
After Sweden led 2-1 with 18 minutes left, the 28-year-old scored a quickfire double to turn the tie on its head.
Portugal's 3-2 victory in Solna enabled the visitors to qualify as 4-2 aggregate winners.
Elsewhere, France qualified for the finals after making history in their 3-2 aggregate defeat of Ukraine.
No side had ever come back from two goals down to win a World Cup play-off but the 1998 world champions did precisely that when winning 3-0 in Paris.
A different side of Cristiano Ronaldo
A day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo
Exclusive: What makes Ibrahimovic tick?
Ibrahimovic reveals biggest weakness
Croatia, who also enjoyed a memorable 1998 finals when finishing third, booked their place when beating Iceland 2-0 in Zagreb.
The visitors had been bidding to become the smallest nation in history to reach the finals.
The final European play-off was decided by Greece, who drew 1-1 in Romania to qualify as 4-2 aggregate winners.
In Africa, Ghana lost 2-1 in Egypt but the quarterfinalists at South Africa 2010 reached their third straight World Cup when winning 7-3 on aggregate.
Algeria ensured that the same five African teams that had qualified for the last World Cup will be there again, following the weekend qualifications by Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
Trailing 3-2 from last month's first leg in Burkina Faso, the hosts won 1-0 in Blida to qualify on the away goals ruling.
Thirty of the 32 teams that will contest next year's World Cup are now known, with the remaining two places being decided on Wednesday.
New Zealand are looking to overturn a 5-1 deficit when hosting Mexico, while Uruguay will aim to build on a 5-0 lead when Jordan travel to Montevideo in the very final 2014 World Cup qualifier.
On 6 December, the draw to determine the eight groups at next year's World Cup will be held in the Brazilian state of Bahia
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
CR 7
ReplyDeleteHiya! Brazil here we come. The world cup is coming home to Nigeria.
ReplyDelete