Kuranyi heads Germany clear

Euro qualifiers round-up : Two Kevin Kuranyi headers gave Germany a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic to move three points clear…

Euro qualifiers round-up: Two Kevin Kuranyi headers gave Germany a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic to move three points clear of the Republic of Ireland and the Czechs at the top of Group D.

Ireland have played a game more following their 1-0 win over Wales.

The Czechs had the first chance but the Germans gradually built up the pressure and in the 42nd minute Kuranyi shrugged off two defenders to head a corner past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Milan Baros had early chances in the second half but headed two Tomas Ujfalusi crosses over before Kuranyi put Germany 2-0 ahead in the 62nd from a Philipp Lahm cross.

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Baros scored a lucky goal in the 76th minute, deflecting in a shot by Jan Polak on the edge of the box, to give the home side hope but despite several chances they could not equalise.

Meanwhile, Slovakia moved within a point of Ireland having come from behind to beat Cyprus 3-1 after the home side's goalkeeper was sent off before halftime.

Michalis Morphis was shown a red card in the 41st minute for bringing down Slovakia's Dusan Svento outside his area but Cyprus still took the lead before the break when Efstathios Aloneftis shot into an empty net on the stroke of the interval.

Slovakia came back in the second period with Robert Vittek equalising in the 54th minute from the edge of the area before an unmarked Martin Skrtel scored from close range in the 67th.

Martin Jakubko made it 3-1 10 minutes later with a header to wrap up the points for Slovakia who completed a double over Cyprus after a 6-1 win in Bratislava last September.

Elsewhere, Brazilian-born Eduardo da Silva netted a last-gasp winner as Croatia came from behind to beat Macedonia 2-1 in Zagreb and confirmed their status as the pacesetters in Group E, England's group. The visitors took a shock lead when Goce Sedloski netted in the 36th minute and Croatia equalised through Dario Srna after 58 minutes.

Sedlioski was sent off 10 minutes later and Da Silva made Croatia's extra man count in the 88th minute.

The Dutch remain top in Group G despite being held to a goalless draw by Romania in Feyenoord's De Kuip stadium.

Turkey confirmed their hold on Group C and maintained their 100 per cent record with a 4-1 defeat of defending champions Greece in Athens.

Former Rangers defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos opened the scoring after just five minutes but goals from Tuncay Sanli, Gokhan Zan, Tumer Metin and Gokdeniz Karadeniz sent the visitors three points clear.

Norway's match against Bosnia in Oslo was held up when visiting fans threw flares on to the pitch. When play did start, Bosnia raced into a two-goal lead through strikes from Zvjezdan Misimovic and Zlatan Muslimovic.

Aston Villa striker John Carew pulled a goal back in the 50th minute from the penalty spot. Moldova and Malta played out a 1-1 draw.