World Cup play-offs: Portugalreached next year's World Cup finals after a 1-0 win in Bosniaon Wednesday gave them a 2-0 aggregate victory over the Balkan country in their two-legged play-off.
Midfielder Raul Meireles scored a 56th-minute winner for the Portuguese to silence a raucous 15,000 home crowd in the cauldron of the Bilino Polje stadium.
Portugal enjoyed more possession and missed two good chances either side of halftime, when Bosnia goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic denied Meireles and Nani with a pair of superb reflex saves.
But Hasagic was helpless when Nani won the ball on the edge of the penalty box, laid it on to Simao Sabrosa who in turn squared it for Meireles to sidefoot home the only goal.
Bosnia's Sejad Salihovic was sent off for dissent in the 76th minute.
Sloveniabeat Russia, who finished with nine men, 1-0 of their second leg clash in Maribor to clinch a place in next year's finals on the away goal rule.
Zlatko Dedic scored the only goal just before the break when he stabbed in a Valter Birsa cross as Slovenia overcame a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Moscow to secure a ticket to South Africa.
The Slovenians, ranked 49th in the world, caused a major upset to secure only their second appearance at soccer's greatest spectacle after making their World Cup debut in 2002.
Russia had substitute Alexander Kerzhakov sent off in the 66th minute following a violent clash with Slovenia keeper Samir Handanovic and Yuri Zhirkov was also shown a red card in stoppage time.
Dimitris Salpigidis scored the only goal of the tie as Greececlinched a place at the 2010 World Cup courtesy of a narrow victory over Ukraineat the Donbass Arena in Donetsk.
Salpigidis timed his run to perfection just after the half-hour mark to clip a composed finish beyond Ukraine goalkeeper Andrei Piatov, following Celtic striker Giorgos Samaras’ superb through-ball.
Alexei Mikhailichenko’s side, needing to score twice to keep their qualification hopes alive, penned the Greeks in the own half for long spells in the second half but failed to breach a visiting rearguard inspired by goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas, who made a string of fine saves.
It is the first time Greece, the 2004 European Champions, have qualified for a World Cup since 1994 in the United States.
Antar Yahia's spectacular goal earned Algeriathe final African qualifying spot in next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa after they beat Egypt1-0 in a heated clash at the Khartoum Stadium in Sudan.
The centre half volleyed home five minutes before half-time and a solid rearguard effort in the second half kept out a Pharaohs side that had earned the play-off thanks to a 2-0 win over Algeria in Cairo on Saturday .
Emad Meteab had the best chance for Egypt but was denied by impressive Algeria goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi.
