2ND LEAD: Germany, Russia win in World Cup qualifying

Germany, Russia win in World Cup qualifyingHamburg  - Germany defeated Liechtenstein 4-0 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday but group rivals Russia remained on their heels with a 2-0 over Azerbaijan.

Captain Michael Ballack, Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski were on target for the three-time world champions Germany in Leipzig.

In Moscow, Roman Pavlyuchenko scored and set up Konstantin Zyrianov for the other as Russia prevailed over Azerbaijan.

Germany top Group 4 with 13 points from five games, with Russia on nine points with a game less. Finland have seven following a 2-0 victory in Wales.

Elsewhere, Greece were held 1-1 in Israel but that was good enough to retain first place in Group 2 with 10 points. Switzerland also have 10, but an inferior goal difference, after a 2-0 victory in Moldova.

Twenty games in eight of the nine European qualifying groups were scheduled for Saturday, with Euro 2008 champions Spain hosting Turkey in a Group 5 topper and world champions Italy visiting Macedonia in Group 8.

The group winners and the best second-placed team advance directly to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the other eight number two teams determine four further qualifiers in a playoff round.

In Leipzig, the Chelsea midfielder Ballack volleyed home from the edge of the area four minutes into the game and Jansen drove home for 2-0 in the ninth as Germany rebounded from recent defeats in friendlies against England and Norway.

One-way traffic continued but it took a similar two-goal burst early in the second half to make the margin more decisive. Schweinsteger poked home in the 48th and his Bayern Munich team-mate Podolski got his goal in the 50th after a defensive error.

"We did our job today, the next match will be tougher," said Ballack, looking ahead at Wednesday's game in Wales.

Russia were also untroubled against Azerbaijan in Moscow as the visitors have not scored away from home in 11 World Cup qualifiers since 2001.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker Pavlyuchenko opened the scoring in Moscow with a curling free-kick in the 32nd minute and fed Konstantin Zyrianov who wrapped up matters from a tight left angle in the 71st.

Greece drew first blood in Ramat Gan against the hosting Israel team when Theofanis Gekas found the net in the 42nd.

Georgios Karagounis wasted a golden opportunity for 2-0 in the 57th which backfired instantly as Omer Golan got the equalizer a minute later on the counter.

The Greek draw allowed Switzerland to draw even on points atop Group 2, with Alexander Frei and Gelson Fernandes on target for Ottmar Hitzfeld's team. In the other group game Latvia won 4-0 in Luxembourg.

Group 7 leaders Serbia claimed a crucial 3-2 victory at struggling Romania and Denmark top Group 1 after winning 3-0 in Malta.

Northern Ireland climbed to the top of a tight Group 3 with a 3-2 victory against Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland, Armenia got their first points in a Group 5 campaign in a 2-2 home draw with Estonia, and Cyprus defeated Georgia 2-1 in Group 8. (dpa)

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