World Cup play-offs/ URUGUAY 1 AUSTRALIA 0: Dario Rodriguez headed a first-half goal to give Uruguay a 1-0 win over Australia in their World Cup play-off first leg on Saturday.
In a tense and passionate match, Uruguay missed numerous chances to add to their score, with visiting goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer making a superb second-half stop from Richard Morales, and the home side also had a penalty appeal turned down.
Australia were close to a precious away goal as Mark Viduka and Jason Culina came within a whisker of a second-half equaliser ahead of the second leg in Sydney on Wednesday.
Uruguay suffered an early blow when former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan, passed fit at the last minute after suffering a hamstring injury, hobbled off in the 18th minute and was replaced by Dario Silva.
NORWAY 0 CZECH REPUBLIC 1: A first-half goal by Vladimir Smicer gave the Czech Republic to a 1-0 win over Norway in their World Cup qualifying play-off first leg on Saturday.
Girondins Bordeaux midfielder Smicer rounded off a sweeping move by heading a right-wing cross from Karel Poborsky home after 32 minutes.
"We have to be happy, we are now a bit closer to our goal of qualifying," said 32-year-old Smicer.
The Czechs kept Norway's player of the year and top goalscorer John Carew quiet and limited the home team to a handful of long-range shots. Only John Arne Riise forced a save from Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech in the opening half.
SWITZERLAND 2 TURKEY 0: The Swiss secured their surprise 2-0 win over the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists with goals from Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos and Lazio midfielder Valon Behrami.
Senderos headed in from a Ludovic Magnin free-kick four minutes before half-time while Behrami grabbed the second four minutes from full-time after coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute. Switzerland's win was only their second in the last eight meetings between the two sides and also brought an end to Turkey's unbeaten run away from home during this World Cup qualifying campaign.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 1 BAHRAIN 1: Trinidad and Tobago were held to a 1-1 draw by Bahrain on Saturday. Trinidad's Christopher Birchall struck a stunning 25-metre half-volley to equalise with 12 minutes left after Salman Husein had given Bahrain the lead in the 72nd with a powerful header.
Trinidad were the more dangerous team at the Hasely Crawford Stadium but neither Stern John nor strike partner Dwight Yorke could find a way past goalkeeper Ali.
Neither country has ever played in the World Cup finals.
Bahrain, renowned for their ability to hit teams on the counter-attack, played cautiously during the first half with their defence keeping the home side at bay. Although Trinidad piled on the pressure towards the break John's close-range downward header was well saved by Ali and a point-blank Yorke shot was blocked. The second leg is on Wednesday in Manama.
