Israel go joint top after victory
 |  Israeli players celebrate Avi Nimni's winner against Cyprus |
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NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Israel scored a scrappy 2-1 victory over Cyprus on a wet night to join Ireland and France on eight points at the top of European Group Four.
A late Avi Nimni goal sealed a first ever win for Israel in Cyprus, the previous match in Tel Aviv between the two sides also ending in a 2-1 win for the Israelis in September.
Israel had goalkeeper Nir Davidovich to thank after he made a brilliant save in the 75th minute to keep out a Michael Constantinou penalty awarded after Nimni fouled Marios Ilia.
Israel took the lead in the 16th minute through Adoram Keisi when the defender was on hand to pounce on a rebounding Nimni free kick which Cyprus goalkeeper Nikos Panayiotou failed to collect.
Ioannis Okkas put the home team back on level terms in the final minute of the half when he was on hand to blast the ball into the roof of the net from close range after a mixup in the Israeli defence.
A ragged second half played in pouring rain came to life in the 76th minute when Davidovich brilliantly saved Constantinou's penalty by stretching fully to his right to parry the ball away.
Cyprus keeper Panayotou also had his moment when he rose high to palm a long-range shot by Israel's Yossi Benayoun over the bar but the killer blow came when Israeli star Yossi Benayoun wove his way into the area from the left and crossed in for Nimni to seal the result.
Ireland, France and Israel all have eight points from four matches, followed by Switzerland on five points from three while Cyprus have one point from five games and the Faroe Islands one from four.
"I am pinching myself," said Israel coach Avraham Grant. "I cannot believe we have eight points. Nobody gave us much of a chance but we proved we have the determination and the ability to keep up with the teams in the group."
Cypriot coach Momcilo Vukotic said: "I don't know what happened. We did everything needed to win but we didn't have the luck. Or perhaps it was psychological. I just don't know."
Serbs shatter Belgium
European Group Seven leaders Serbia & Montenegro continued their fine form in World Cup qualifying with a smash-and-grab 2-0 victory in Belgium.
The result was a big blow to Belgium's hopes. They have only one point from three matches, while the unbeaten Serbs have 10 points from four games and have scored 10 goals without reply so far.
Lithuania are second on eight points from four games with favorites Spain on five points from three matches.
Belgium were left to rue a host of missed chances after Zvonimir Vukic gave Serbia a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute in Brussels.
Belgium's Walter Baseggio lost possession and Savo Milosevic fed an offside-looking Vukic who raced clear and beat Silvio Proto in the Belgium goal.
Baseggio and Wesley Sonck went close for the Belgians and in the second half substitute striker Luigi Pieroni hit the crossbar twice, first with a right-foot shot and in the final minute with a header.
By then, though, Mateja Kezman has made the points safe for the Serbs with their second goal after 60 minutes.
Aime Anthuenis admitted his job as Belgium coach was in doubt after their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup all but ended.
"With one point in three games including two home games, I assume it is over for us as far as World Cup qualification goes," said Anthuenis.
"We do not have enough quality in our team, and that is why we do not have enough points in our group.
"Even if we had a draw tonight, it would not have been enough. I have my explanations and some will say that I made some errors, but considering the situation, I will never say I quit of my own will.
"It is not my style to say I leave a team that is not doing well. But I know what happens in my job. Coaches come and go. We will see what happens."
Lithuania scrape win
Lithuania edged a 1-0 win against San Marino in their qualifier in Serraville, with Deividas Cesnauskas netting the only goal late in the first half.
Cesnauskas struck on 42 minutes following a series of short passes that left the Lokomotiv Moscow player an easy shot past goalkeeper Federico Gasperoni.
Lithuania created few chances after that and settled into defensive mode.
The other teams in the group, Spain and Bosnia, were not in competitive action on Wednesday. Spain's next match is in February against San Marino while Bosnia play Belgium on March 26.
Vital win for Hungary
Hungary beat Malta 2-0 in Valletta in a World Cup qualifier that coach Lothar Matthaeus said was a "must-win" game for his side.
West Bromwich Albion midfielder Zoltan Gera set the tone by scoring in the 39th minute and second-half substitute Peter Kovacs added a second tally in the final minute at Ta'Qali stadium.
After opening qualifying with one win and two defeats, the victory lifted Hungary back into contention in Group Eight with six points, three behind leaders Sweden.
Former German great Matthaeus said before the match that winning in Malta was an "absolute must."
