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EVENTS
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Russia qualifies in style
MOSCOW (AP) -- Spartak Moscow striker Vladimir Beschastnykh made a hat trick as Russia thrashed Switzerland 4-0 in a World Cup Group One qualifier Saturday to earn a spot in the World Cup 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea. Russia needed a draw to qualify. Bouyed by a sellout crowd of 35,000 at Moscow's Dynamo stadium, the team went on the offensive from the very kickoff. Fourteen minutes into the game, Alexandre Comisetti knocked down Russian midfielder Rolan Gusev in the penalty box and Beschastnykh converted a penalty kick to give the homeside a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, he extended Russia's lead to 2-0, heading in a pass from Gusev from the left. With a two-goal advantage, Russia continued its domination and in the 38th minute Beschastnykh scored another header as he connected a pass from Yegor Titov to the left. He scored from just one meter (yard). "We had no doubt about qualification this time," said Oleg Romantsev, head coach for Russia, who looked exhausted and even ill after the match. Seven minutes before regulation time, Titov, Spartak Moscow playmaker, sealed the victory on a free kick from outside the penalty area. The ball curled around the defensive wall and hit the left upper corner of the visitors' net. Russia (7-2-1) finished atop group one with 23 points after ten games. Russia qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1994. It also missed making the finals of the European Championship in 2000. Russia: Ruslan Nigmatulin; Alexei Smertin, Igor Chugainov, Viktor Onopkop, Yuri Kovtun; Rolan Gusev, Yuri Drozdov, Dmitry Alenichev, Egor Titov; Marat Izmailov, Vladimir Beschstnykh. Switzerland: Joerg Stiel; Marc Zellweger, Murat Yakin, Patrick Muller, Bruno Berner, Giuseppe Mazzarelli, Ciriaco Sforza, Alexandre Comisetti, Sebastien Fournier, Hakan Yakin, David Sesa. Slovenia 3, Faeroe Islands 0LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Nastja Ceh scored twice in his debut as Slovenia downed the Faeroe Islands 3-0 Wednesday in a Group 1 match to secure a spot in the playoffs for the World Cup finals. Russia topped the group with 23 points and advanced to the finals, while Slovenia, the only undefeated team, followed in second place with 20 points. Favored Yugoslavia tumbled out in third with 19 points. The Slovenes will face now Romania in the playoff. Ceh, who plays for Club Brugge, opened the scoring in the 13th minute for the home side when he slotted in his shot in front of an empty goal after a low cross from Milan Osterc. Ceh made it 2-0 in the 31st minute when he swung a curling free-kick just outside the box over the wall and into the left top corner of the net. Another debutante in the injury-stricken Slovene squad, Senad Tiganj, closed the scoring in the 82nd minute when he tamed a ball in the penalty area and drove a forceful shot behind goalie Jakup Mikkelsen into the net. Slovenia: Marko Simeunovic; Zeljko Milinovic, Marinko Galic, Aleksander Knavs, Dzoni Novak, Milan Osterc (Senad Tiganj, 67th), Nastja Ceh (Spasoje Bulajic, 90th), Ermin Rakovic (Rajko Tavcar, 53rd), Mladen Rudonja, Sasa Gajser, Zoran Pavlovic. Faeroe Islands: Jakup Mikkelsen;, Oli Johanneses, Jans Kristian Hansen, Johan Byrial Hansen (Arnbjorn Danielsen, 80th), Hans Frodi Hansen, Ossur Hansen (Suni Olsen, 73rd), Rogvi Jacobsen, Kurt Morkore, Jakup Borg, John Petersen, Christian Jacobsen (Jon Roi Jacobsen, 73rd).
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