FYR Macedonia moved level with second-placed Scotland in Group Nine after beating Iceland 2-0 in their World Cup qualifier in Skopje.
An early strike from Aco Stojkov and a late one from his replacement Filip Ivanovski secured the three points for the hosts, enabling them to leapfrog their opponents in the race for the runner-up spot behind already-qualified Holland.
The Macedonians are now on seven points along with Scotland, who enjoy a slightly better goal difference and have a game in hand ahead of September's game north of the border.
Iceland's hopes of reaching South Africa 2010 are over as they have managed just four points with only one game left to play.
Midfielder Stojkov headed Macedonia into a 10th minute lead after a surging run and cross by Filip Despotovski.
The home side should have added to their lead through Ilco Naumoski, who missed two good chances, before Ivanovski - who came on for Stojkov shortly after the hour - sealed their win in the 85th minute with a close range effort.
Holland - who booked their place in next summer's finals at the weekend with victory in Iceland - recorded their seventh win out of seven tonight.
Former Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer gave the Dutch a 33rd-minute lead, before Real Madrid's former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben doubled the lead in the 51st minute.
A double by Serhiy Nazarenko saw Ukraine come from a goal down to claim victory over Kazakhstan as they moved level on points with second-placed Croatia in England's group.
The visitors, who entered the game with just one win in their Group Six campaign, took the lead after 19 minutes through Tanat Nuserbayev before Nazarenko levelled after 33 minutes with the winner arriving two minutes after half-time.
Sweden gave their qualifying hopes a lift with a 4-0 victory over Malta in Group One.
Kim Kallstrom opened the scoring in the first half before a six-minute spell after the interval produced goals for Daniel Majstorovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Berg.
The win moves Sweden level on points with Portugal, although the pair are seven points behind group leaders Denmark.
Alexsandr Kerzhakov returned from the international wilderness to fire Guus Hiddink'sRussia to a comprehensive 3-0 victory in tonight's qualifier in Group Four - Wales' group.
The Dynamo Moscow striker had been out of the national team picture for over a year until his recent recall and he grasped his opportunity with goals either side of half-time against a tepid Finland outfit before Konstantin Zyryanov added a third 20 minutes from time.
Serbia tightened their grip on Group Seven with a routine 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands tonight.
Milan Jovanovic and Neven Subotic scored in each half to give Serbia an eight-point advantage over second-placed France, who have two games in hand.
The Macedonians are now on seven points along with Scotland, who enjoy a slightly better goal difference and have a game in hand ahead of September's game north of the border.
Iceland's hopes of reaching South Africa 2010 are over as they have managed just four points with only one game left to play.
Midfielder Stojkov headed Macedonia into a 10th minute lead after a surging run and cross by Filip Despotovski.
The home side should have added to their lead through Ilco Naumoski, who missed two good chances, before Ivanovski - who came on for Stojkov shortly after the hour - sealed their win in the 85th minute with a close range effort.
Holland - who booked their place in next summer's finals at the weekend with victory in Iceland - recorded their seventh win out of seven tonight.
Former Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer gave the Dutch a 33rd-minute lead, before Real Madrid's former Chelsea winger Arjen Robben doubled the lead in the 51st minute.
A double by Serhiy Nazarenko saw Ukraine come from a goal down to claim victory over Kazakhstan as they moved level on points with second-placed Croatia in England's group.
The visitors, who entered the game with just one win in their Group Six campaign, took the lead after 19 minutes through Tanat Nuserbayev before Nazarenko levelled after 33 minutes with the winner arriving two minutes after half-time.
Sweden gave their qualifying hopes a lift with a 4-0 victory over Malta in Group One.
Kim Kallstrom opened the scoring in the first half before a six-minute spell after the interval produced goals for Daniel Majstorovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Berg.
The win moves Sweden level on points with Portugal, although the pair are seven points behind group leaders Denmark.
Alexsandr Kerzhakov returned from the international wilderness to fire Guus Hiddink'sRussia to a comprehensive 3-0 victory in tonight's qualifier in Group Four - Wales' group.
The Dynamo Moscow striker had been out of the national team picture for over a year until his recent recall and he grasped his opportunity with goals either side of half-time against a tepid Finland outfit before Konstantin Zyryanov added a third 20 minutes from time.
Serbia tightened their grip on Group Seven with a routine 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands tonight.
Milan Jovanovic and Neven Subotic scored in each half to give Serbia an eight-point advantage over second-placed France, who have two games in hand.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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