The Real Madrid forward scored for Joachim Low's side in the 79th minute after Miroslav Klose had netted his fourth goal in qualifying in the 42nd minute. Klose then wrapped up the victory third three minutes from time.

Austria moved second as they stayed perfect by easing past Azerbaijan 3-0, Marko Arnautovic grabbing a brace following Sebastian Prodl's opener.

Genk striker Marvin Ogunjimi scored both goals as Belgium won 2-0 against 10-man Kazakhstan in Astana, giving the visitors their first win in the group's other game.

Reigning world and European champions Spain moved to the top of Group I after easing past Lithuania thanks to three second-half headed goals in a 3-1 win over Lithuania.

Fernando Llorente, making the most of a rare start in place of the injured Fernando Torres, netted a brace while David Silva added a third late on after Lithuania had earlier struck a surprise equaliser through Darvydas Sernas.

The Czech Republic beat a very defensive Scotland team 1-0 thanks to Roman Hubnik's goal to earn their first points in the group.

Holland stayed top of Group E but they could only edge out Moldova 1-0 thanks to Klaas Jan Huntelaar's strike.

Greece picked up their first win of the competition as Vassilis Torossidis' strike sunk Latvia in Athens.

That instantly moved Greece level with group leaders Georgia who needed an injury-time strike from David Siradze to avoid embarrassment in a 1-0 win over minnows Malta.

Nani grabbed two goals in the space of three minutes to set Portugal on course to victory over Denmark in coach Paulo Bento's first game in charge.

Although Ricardo Carvalho's own goal 11 minutes from time gave Denmark a lifeline, Cristiano Ronaldo made sure of Portugal's first win in Group H with five minutes left.

Norway remained top of the group as they held off a second-half fightback to beat Cyprus 2-1.

There were fireworks in Group E as Hungary smashed San Marino 8-0.

Adam Szalai scored a hat-trick while Gergely Rudolf grabbed a brace and Vladimir Koman, Balazs Dzsudzsak and Zoltan Gera also got on the scoresheet, the latter with a penalty.

Italy were held to a goalless draw by an impressive Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, allowing Estonia to move to within a point of the Group C summit with a stunning 3-1 come-from-behind win over Serbia in Belgrade.

Vladimir Petrovic's tenure as Serbia coach got off to the worst possible start as goals from Tarmo Kink, Konstantin Vassiljev and Aleksandar Lukovic's own goal turned the game on its head after Nikola Zigic's opener.

In the group's other game, Tim Matavz got a hat-trick as Slovenia thrashed the Faroe Islands 5-1.

Group B leaders Slovakia suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Armenia. Vladimir Weiss cancelled out Yura Movsisyan's opener but goals from Gevorg Ghazaryan and Henrik Mkhitaryan secured the win after the break.

Russia went second after beating the Republic of Ireland but they had to sweat after seeing a 3-0 lead evaporate to hang on 3-2.

Goals from Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov put Russia in control, but the Irish fought back as Robbie Keane scored a penalty and Shane Long added a second with 12 minutes to go.

Elsewhere in the group, FYR Macedonia beat Andorra 2-0 for their first victory.

Albania remained top of Group D after frustrating Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 1-1 draw in Tirana to extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

Albania had promised beforehand to secure a result for their coach Josip Kuze, after the Croatian suffered a stroke last week. His assistant Dzemal Mustedanagic deputised against the country of his birth.

Vedad Ibisevic gave the fancied visitors the lead but Klodian Duro's powerful free-kick levelled matters on the stroke of half-time. Bosnia hit the crossbar three times in the second half but were unable to find a winner.

Luxembourg picked up their first point in the game as they frustrated 10-man Belarus, who sit second, in a goalless draw.

Mirko Vucinic's goal midway through the second half against Switzerland secured Montenegro a third consecutive 1-0 win in qualifying and sent Zlatko Kranjcar's side three points clear at the Group G summit.

Meanwhile, Ivelin Popov struck the only goal as Bulgaria delivered a huge blow to Wales' hopes of qualifying in Cardiff.