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unicornx

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    Jordi Alba set for six-week absence

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    Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba has been ruled out for six weeks following a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury, the club have confirmed.

    The 24-year-old was in the final stages of his comeback after initially sustaining a torn hamstring in the Catalans' 3-2 victory over Sevilla in September, with the club's medical staff asserting that a three-week lay-off was a probable absence for the Spain international.

    However, the Blaugrana have now revealed that Alba is set for an additional six-week spell on the sidelines after suffering a similiar injury in the opposite leg.

    The former Valencia starlet can expect to miss first Clasico of the season with rivals Real Madrid on October 26, as well as both clashes with AC Milan in the Champions League.

    The news will come as a blow to coach Gerardo Martino, who has already been forced to contend with injuries to talisman Lionel Messi and utility man Javier Mascherano in recent weeks.

    Barcelona, who are yet to drop a point in the Primera Division thus far, resume domestic duties following the international break by travelling to Osasuna on October 19.

    Another Absent player for el classico on 26th OCT :cool:
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Juventus resigned to losing Pogba

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    Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has admitted the club would find it hard to refuse a “massive” offer for star midfielder Paul Pogba.

    Pogba has impressed for the Bianconeri since joining from Manchester United in 2012, but Agnelli fears that Italian football’s economic uncompetitiveness could mean they lose the 20-year-old.

    “If we got a massive offer for Pogba, will we be able to retain him? I don't think so, we have not got the economic strength,” said Agnelli at the Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge.

    “We can be attractive but I don't think we have the economic strength to fight against the others and retain such a player.

    “Italy is no longer a final destination, it’s a transition destination.

    “Italy needs to come into some serious reforms as at the moment we are in no-man's land. We have to reform the stadiums because that's where the shows are made.”
     

    unicornx

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    'Reina can replace Valdes' - Fabregas

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    Cesc Fabregas has backed Pepe Reina to fill the void by the inevitable departure of goalkeeper Victor Valdes for Barcelona next season.

    Valdes is set to call time on his 11-year spell at Camp Nou next summer, prompting speculation over who will succeed the 31-year-old for the Catalans.

    The Napoli shot-stopper, who is on a season-long loan from Liverpool, admits to being flattered by being one of the names touted for the position, and Fabregas believes his international team-mate may be an ideal candidate to successfully replace the long-serving goalkeeper.

    "Victor has been here for 10 years and none of us can imagine another goalkeeper in his place when we turn and look at our goal," he told Radio Catalunya.

    "But one of the things that Pepe can bring is that he knows all of us. He provides a very good atmosphere in the dressing room and is experienced."

    Reina progressed through the ranks with the Spanish giants as a youngster, before quitting the club in favour of Villarreal.

    Oh really....Suarez is being targeted by Madrid. And now Reina is on the Barca Wish list. Liverpool simply F***ed if these happen :dull:
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Lukaku becoming a 'proper man' at Everton - Martinez

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    Roberto Martinez believes the game-time that Romelu Lukaku is getting at Everton has seen him grow into a "proper man".

    Lukaku signed for Everton on deadline day from Chelsea and has established himself as the Martinez's first-choice striker at Goodison Park, scoring four goals in four appearances.

    The 20-year-old Belgian is no stranger Premier League goals having found the net regularly at West Brom last season - including a second half hat-trick against Manchester United on the final day.

    But Martinez says Lukaku's lack of regular 90 minute appearances before joining Everton prevented him from reaching his maximum potential.

    "Romelu can be as good as he wants to be," Martinez told reporters. "He will get the opportunity here. He will have the time to experiment things and try things.

    "Remember that he hasn't played many 90 minutes in his career and it is important he does play 90 minutes for us because that allows his game to go into full flow. That is the way he is as a player.

    "How many games did he play 90 minutes at West Brom? He was involved in 35 games – how many did he play in [from the start]? Seven.

    "So it is like seeing a young man who has now become a proper man with an important role and that's what we want him to have here.

    "This is the first time in his career that he is going to take that role so everything is in his hands."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Rooney backs Hodgson to guide England to World Cup finals

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    Wayne Rooney has backed Roy Hodgson to guide England to next summer's World Cup and says the 66-year-old is the most enjoyable manager he's worked under with the national side.

    England sit one point clear of Ukraine and Friday's opponents Montenegro at the top of Group H with two qualification fixtures remaining.

    Rooney admits he originally backed Harry Redknapp to succeed Fabio Capello as England boss but praised Hodgson for his handling of the role.

    "I remember tweeting about it," Rooney told reporters.

    "He was doing a tremendous job with Tottenham and everyone thought Harry was going to get the job. The way it was made out, it looked like he was nailed on. But then, obviously, Roy's popped up.

    "The FA have gone with Roy and, for me, I feel now that was the right decision.

    "I feel he's going to take us to the World Cup. It's probably the most I've enjoyed working for any England manager. His man-management is really good. He really speaks to us. And he's shown a lot of trust in me, both on and off the pitch."

    At 26, Rooney has won 84 caps and scored 36 goals for England and the Manchester United striker is looking to better Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 49 strikes for the national team.

    "I believe I can. I’m actually a bit disappointed with my record. I feel I should’ve scored more for England," Rooney added.

    "If I keep playing, keep scoring and trying to help the team, I believe I can get to that 50-goal mark, which would be an unbelievable achievement."

    Rooney insists he is excited by England's final qualification fixtures against Montenegro and Poland and is hoping he can prove critics of Hodgson's side wrong.

    "Over the last five or six years this is probably the most excited I've been about England games," Rooney continued.

    "We've got two games at Wembley, we need six points, and it's great. There have been a few doubters in recent games and we have to prove we're good enough."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    World Cup Qualifying Fixtures 2013.10.11

    World Cup Qualifying Fixtures 2013.10.11


    Croatia Vs Belgium
    Wales Vs Macedonia
    Armenia Vs Bulgaria
    Malta Vs Czech Republic
    Denmark Vs Italy
    Faror Islands Vs Kazakhstan
    Germany Vs Republic of Ireland
    Sweden Vs Austria
    Andorra Vs Romania
    Estonia Vs Turkey
    Netherlands Vs Hungary
    Albania Vs Switzerland
    Iceland Vs Cyprus
    Slovenia Vs Norway
    Azerbaijan Vs Nothern Ireland
    Luxemburg Vs Russia
    Portugal Vs Israel
    Lithuania Vs Latvia
    Bosnia Vs Liechtenstein
    Greece Vs Slovakia
    Moldova Vs San Marino
    Ukraine Vs Poland
    England Vs Montenegro
    Spain Vs Belarus
    Colombia Vs Chile
    Ecuador Vs Uruguay
    Vevezuela Vs Paraguay
    Argentina Vs Peru
    Honduras Vs Costa Rica
    USA Vs Jamaica
    Mexico Vs Panama
     

    rcccc

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    World Cup Qualifying Fixtures 2013.10.11


    Croatia Vs Belgium
    Wales Vs Macedonia
    Armenia Vs Bulgaria
    Malta Vs Czech Republic
    Denmark Vs Italy
    Faror Islands Vs Kazakhstan
    Germany Vs Republic of Ireland
    Sweden Vs Austria
    Andorra Vs Romania
    Estonia Vs Turkey
    Netherlands Vs Hungary
    Albania Vs Switzerland
    Iceland Vs Cyprus
    Slovenia Vs Norway
    Azerbaijan Vs Nothern Ireland
    Luxemburg Vs Russia
    Portugal Vs Israel
    Lithuania Vs Latvia
    Bosnia Vs Liechtenstein
    Greece Vs Slovakia
    Moldova Vs San Marino
    Ukraine Vs Poland
    England Vs Montenegro
    Spain Vs Belarus
    Colombia Vs Chile
    Ecuador Vs Uruguay
    Vevezuela Vs Paraguay
    Argentina Vs Peru
    Honduras Vs Costa Rica
    USA Vs Jamaica
    Mexico Vs Panama
    11.gif
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    France 6-0 Australia: Benzema breaks goal drought in friendly drubbing
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    France enjoyed the perfect warm-up for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Finland, thrashing Australia 6-0 in a friendly in Paris.

    Goals from Franck Ribery and Yohan Cabaye either side of an Olivier Giroud double had the hosts 4-0 up within half an hour and Mathieu Debuchy and Karim Benzema, who scored his first France goal in 1,222 minutes of football, added further gloss to the victory after the break.

    Newcastle striker Loic Remy made his first appearance for France since March as he was named in the starting XI, while Australia's side featured six changes from their 6-0 defeat to Brazil last month.

    France almost took the lead inside four minutes as Mitchell Langerak produced a fine save to deny Giroud from close range.However, just four minutes later they did find opening goal when Ribery slotted home from the spot after David Carney had handled in the area.

    The hosts continued to dictate in the early stages, and they soon doubled their advantage, Giroud latching on to Ribery's pull back before lifting a sublime finish over Langerak and into the bottom corner.Australia offered little as an attacking force in the opening half, and they conceded their third after just 27 minutes as Giroud tapped in at the end of a sublime move between Ribery and Samir Nasri.

    France continued to surge forward and duly added a fourth on the half-hour mark through Cabaye, who lashed a powerful finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after meeting Ribery's lay-off.

    Raphael Varane and Cabaye went close before the break, but Australia did not heed those warnings as Debuchy capitalised on poor defensive work from Australia to make it 5-0 after 47 minutes with a brilliant left-footed volley.

    France refused to relent and dished out further punishment shortly after, substitute Benzema turning home Ribery's left-wing cross to score his first goal for the national team since June 2012.

    Tim Cahill created Australia's only chance as he curled over from distance, while Remy, Nasri and substitute Moussa Sissoko all went close at the other end, but it mattered not as France coasted to an easy win.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    England 4-1 Montenegro: Townsend caps perfect night for Hodgson

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    Andros Townsend scored on his debut as England beat Montenegro 4-1 at Wembley to take a big step towards qualification for the 2014 World Cup.

    Wayne Rooney opened the scoring with his sixth goal in Group H on his return to the side and an own goal from Branko Boskovic doubled England's lead.

    But it was Townsend who stole the show as the Tottenham winger added a third after Dejan Damjanovic had pulled a goal back in the second half.

    Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge scored a late penalty to leave England needing one more win against Poland on Tuesday to secure their place at the showpiece in Brazil next year.

    Defeat for Montenegro looks certain to have cost them a place at the World Cup, as second-placed Ukraine are three points better off than them with a far superior goal difference.

    As well as handing a debut to Townsend, England boss Roy Hodgson opted to pair Premier League top scorer Sturridge with Rooney in attack.

    Montenegro were without captain Mirko Vucinic, defenders Miodrag Dzudovic and Marko Basa as well as midfielder Milorad Pekovic - but Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic started, while also being handed the captain's armband.

    With the backing of a vociferous home crowd at Wembley, England started brightly and created several half-chances before Leighton Baines did well to win the ball back and pick out Welbeck from the byline. The forward fired straight at goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic at the near post, however.

    Meanwhile, Townsend was causing all sorts of problems and he raced away down the right, before cutting in to shoot straight at Poleksic, who palmed the ball invitingly into Rooney’s path. Again, though, the striker could only fire into the side-netting from a tight angle.

    But Rooney made amends for that miss just two minutes into the second half when he put England in front.

    Unsurprisingly, Townsend was the architect, driving down the right before providing a cross that was headed into Welbeck’s path and, although the onrushing forward’s shot was saved by Poleksic, Rooney was on hand to tuck the ball home from six yards.

    England then doubled their lead in bizarre fashion after 61 minutes, when Welbeck raced into the box and fired the ball across the box before Boskovic toed the ball into the far corner of his own net. It was an uncompromising finish.

    Jovetic was unfortunate not to pull a goal back almost immediately, though, when his vicious right-foot drive from 25 yards out rattled the crossbar.

    But the visitors did make a game of it with 18 minutes remaining when Damjanovic diverted Fatos Beciraj’s shot into the far corner.

    England were not to be denied, however, and Townsend added a third with a fine right-foot drive from 20 yards with 12 minutes remaining, before Sturridge put the icing on the cake with a penalty in stoppage time. He was upended close to the byline by Ivan Kecojevic - but there was no stopping his composed spot-kick.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Wales 1-0 Macedonia: Church hands Coleman rare win

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    A second-half winner from Simon Church handed Wales a narrow victory against Macedonia on Friday night.

    The Charlton Athletic forward netted in the 67th minute but the night perhaps belonged to Craig Bellamy, who announced earlier this week that he will retire from international football after Tuesday's final qualifier in Belgium.

    The Wales veteran duly marked his 77th cap by setting up Church for the striker to fire home the only goal of the game in the second half.

    However, Aaron Ramsey missed a late penalty for the home side- but it mattered little as Wales secured a win that boosted the side's chances of avoiding finishing bottom of Group A.

    Manager Chris Coleman secured the three points with limited resources too, having been forced into making seven changes from the team that lost 3-0 to Serbia at the start of September, with 10 of his players dropping out of the squad in recent days.

    The hosts, though, were boosted by the presence of Arsenal man Ramsey as the midfielder shrugged off a dead leg to captain the side.

    Macedonia interim manager Zoran Stratev also opted to tinker following his side's 2-1 defeat against Scotland, with strikers Agim Ibraimi and Mirko Ivanovski two of five changes to the starting XI.

    The disjointed sides made for a fairly tight opening 10 minutes but it was Stratev’s men who had the first clear chance in front of goal, with Goran Pandev’s weak shot not really challenging Wayne Hennessey early on.

    Wales were next to try their luck in the 21st minute, however, with Tomislav Pacovski dealing well with a fine curling effort from Neil Taylor to prevent Macedonia going ahead.

    The game continued to open up and both teams squandered valuable chances with Nikolce Noveski firing over from close range shortly before Church headed just clear of the crossbar for Wales.

    The second half began in a similar fashion, although Macedonia had the lion’s share of the early chances, with Predrag Randelovic's long-range shot flying over the bar before Ezgjan Alioski saw his fine cross cut out by Chris Gunter.

    But it was the home side who eventually managed to break the deadlock with just over 20 minutes remaining in the 66th minute thanks to a typical surging Bellamy run.

    The Cardiff City striker tore down the wing and eventually produced a fine ball into the box that was smashed home with no hesitation by 24-year-old forward Church, giving the hosts the advantage.

    The visitors did their best to hit back, though, and just minutes later Ibraimi struck from range only to see a confident save from Hennessey deny him an equaliser.

    Yet Wales then had the perfect chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot after Ramsey was felled by Noveski. The Arsenal midfielder saw his effort well saved by Pacovski, however.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Germany 3-0 Republic of Ireland: Ozil on target as Low's men seal qualification

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    Germany sealed their qualification for the 2014 World Cup with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Republic of Ireland in Cologne.

    The hosts, who never really got out of first gear, took the lead through a deflected Sami Khedira effort midway through the first half and made the points safe thanks to efforts from Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil after the break.

    Experienced midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger returned for the hosts after a near seven-month international absence, while Ozil won his 50th cap.

    In his first game since being appointed Ireland's interim boss, Noel King made Seamus Coleman captain on his 25th birthday with regular skipper, record cap holder and all-time leading goalscorer Robbie Keane taking his place among the substitutes.

    After a quiet opening, Khedira gave Germany the lead in the 12th minute.

    Philipp Lahm picked off Anthony Stokes' pass deep inside the Irish half and fed Khedira, whose weak shot took a wicked deflection off Ciaran Clark and rolled past the wrong-footed David Forde in the Ireland goal.

    Thomas Muller was next to threaten in the 37th minute, driving infield before unleashing a left-footed shot that Forde tipped over, diving full stretch to his right.

    But for all Germany’s possession, the visitors almost equalised in first-half stoppage time when Clark headed onto the crossbar, before Stokes swung wildly at the rebound from six yards and made no contact.

    The Celtic striker was involved twice more in the first minute of the second period, firing just wide from outside the box before seeing his mishit cross tipped over the crossbar by Manuel Neuer.

    The second half proved much more open than the first and Schurrle was the next to go close in the 55th minute, curling the ball wide of the right-hand post after a surging run down the left.Two minutes later however, the Chelsea midfielder did find the net, collecting Toni Kroos' chipped pass before spinning on the ball inside the area and firing low beyond Forde with his left foot.

    The momentum was firmly with the home side now, and Forde did brilliantly to tip away Schweinsteiger's curling effort from the edge of the box on the hour mark, before denying Muller at the back post 10 minutes later.

    The visitors responded with an attack of their own as Neuer pulled off a double save to deny Stokes and then Coleman but Forde was repeatedly called into action at the other end and tipped away Kroos' low drive and Khedira's curler, before Jerome Boateng rattled the angle of post and crossbar from 30 yards in the 83rd minute.

    Ozil then fired wide with five minutes to go before finally finding his range in injury time, lifting the ball over Forde after running onto Kroos' throughball to confirm Germany's place in Brazil.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Denmark 2-2 Italy: Aquilani denies hosts vital win

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    Denmark's hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup via the play-offs hang in the balance following a 2-2 draw with Italy thanks to Alberto Aquilani's late equaliser.

    The Fiorentina playmaker struck in injury-time to extend the visitors' unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers to 26 matches, depriving Morten Olsen's side of the three points that would have moved them clear in second spot.

    As it is, the Danes now face a four-way scrap for a play-off place in Group B after failing to fully capitalise on Bulgaria's shock defeat to Armenia, despite Nicklas Bendtner's double having cancelled out Daniel Pablo Osvaldo's opener.The Arsenal striker netted in either half and looked to have wrapped up the win for Denmark, but Aquilani provided late drama to stun the home crowd.Olsen's men face rock-bottom Malta in their final game but will need to rely on results elsewhere to keep their hopes of reaching Brazil alive.

    Gianluigi Buffon became Italy's most-capped player, making his 137th appearance to move the goalkeeper one ahead of Fabio Cannavaro.Southampton's Osvaldo, who was sent off in the reverse fixture, was also handed a start as Cesare Prandelli utilised his squad depth, with a place in next year's finals already secured.

    Mario Balotelli scored in the 3-1 win over the Danes last October, but illness deprived the in-form Milan forward of any involvement.Olsen opted to play Bendtner in the lone striker role, supported by wide men Michael Krohn-Dehli and Martin Braithwaite.

    And it was Denmark who started much the brighter, Toulouse winger Braithwaite narrowly failing to make contact with Krohn-Dehli's dangerous delivery inside the first three minutes.Krohn-Dehli went for goal himself four minutes later as he cut inside before steering a right-footed effort just wide.

    But Prandelli's men seized the advantage in the 27th minute, Osvaldo getting the better of Daniel Agger before curling a measured finish past Stephan Maigaard.
    Denmark sought to mount a prompt response but Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen saw his attempted throughball intercepted by Riccardo Montolivo.And in first-half stoppage time they got their reward as Bendtner rose above Federico Balzaretti to head the impressive Krohn-Delhi's cross past Buffon at his near post.

    Olsen made a change at the break, bringing on Emil Larsen for Braithwaite, but just six minutes in they almost went behind again, Alessandro Diamanti wrong-footing Andreas Bjelland only to see his shot hit the side netting.

    The post came to Italy's rescue soon after when Eriksen's free-kick deceived Buffon but bounced back into play before being hacked to safety.

    It signalled the start of a period of dominance from the home side, who forced two excellent saves from Buffon and struck the bar in a promising five-minute spell midway through the second half.

    The pressure finally told in the 79th minute as Bendtner demonstrated his aerial prowess to nod home, only to see his goal eclipsed by Aquilani's scrambled effort with just seconds remaining.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Azerbaijan 2-0 Northern Ireland: O'Neill's men fall to bottom side in Group F

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    Azerbaijan secured the first win of their World Cup qualification campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 triumph over Northern Ireland on Friday.

    Michael O'Neill's charges, who had Jonny Evans sent off for the foul that led to the hosts' injury-time second, were guilty of missing a host of chances at the Bakcell Arena in Baku as they slipped to their fifth defeat in Group F.

    Rufat Dadasov had the Azerbaijan supporters on their feet in the 58th minute when he rounded off a neat move by side-footing beyond Roy Carroll.

    And there was a late second when Mahir Shukurov capitalised on Evans' dismissal by curling home a free kick from 20 yards.

    Jamie Ward twice went close for Northern Ireland in the opening period, first forcing Kamran Agayev into a close-range save before scooping over the crossbar.

    Martin Paterson was also guilty of wastefulness prior to Dadasov's strike when he dragged wide from eight yards and the Huddersfield striker also hit the bar with two minutes remaining.

    O'Neill welcomed Chris Brunt back from suspension, meaning Niall McGinn dropped to the bench.

    Azerbaijan boss Berti Vogts, meanwhile, included Vuqar Nadirov and Qara Qarayev in their starting XI, both having been named among the substitutes for the 1-1 draw with Israel in September.

    The visitors controlled possession in the early stages and Brunt nearly forced a breakthrough in the ninth minute when he spun in the box and fired an effort at Agayev.

    The West Brom winger was involved again soon after as his fierce 25-yard strike was beaten away by the goalkeeper.

    Northern Ireland continued to press and Ward's 23rd-minute header from Paterson's centre forced a superb point-blank save from Agayev.

    The visitors' profligacy was almost punished when Dadasov flashed an eight-yard strike wide of the post.

    And Azerbaijan came even closer on 28 minutes as Rauf Aliyev hit a sweet back-post volley towards the near post, forcing Roy Carroll into a wonderful reflex save.

    But Northern Ireland finished the half the stronger and had two further chances to take the lead.

    First Ward scooped a loose ball over the crossbar, before Paterson dragged wide after his strike partner's through ball put him one-on-one with Agayev.

    Azerbaijan came out the stronger side after the break, though, and Dadasov should have done better when he sidefooted Shukurov's cross wide.

    Soon after, however, the forward did break the deadlock. Araz Abdullayev slid an intricate ball into Aliyev's path and his low cross was converted at Carroll's near post.

    Northern Ireland looked for an immediate comeback and Gareth McAuley looped a header onto the roof of the net before Oliver Norwood curled a 30-yard free kick just wide.

    Paterson went closest in the 88th minute, receiving Steven Davis' pass before unleashing a vicious effort against the woodwork.

    But Evans then saw red for an off-the-ball challenge on Aliyev and Shukurov's resulting free kick put the result beyond doubt.

    Azerbaijan finish their campaign with a home fixture against Fabio Capello's Russia on Tuesday, while Northern Ireland travel to Israel looking to avoid finishing bottom of the group.
     
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