Spain continued their path to the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia with a crushing 8-0 win away to Liechtenstein while Serbia and Iceland claimed vital victories in other groups.
The 2010 champions Spain had little trouble in dispatching minnows Liechtenstein on a flurry of goals from Sergio Ramos, Isco, David Silva, doubles from Iago Aspas and Alvaro Morata, and an own goal. Italy beat Israel 1-0 to remain three points behind in group G.
In group D, a second-half rocket from Aleksandar Kolarov earned 10-man Serbia a 1-0 win away to Ireland to close in on qualification. Wales went second with a 2-0 win in Moldova but Austria were held 1-1 by Georgia and are on the brink.
Spain had shown superb form to dispatch group rivals Italy on Saturday and were instantly on top against Liechtenstein. Ramos headed in a set piece with just three minutes played and they never looked back.
Morata, Isco and Silva all struck before half-time and there was little let-up after the break. Morata netted again between Aspas claiming his own brace and Maximilian Goppel put through his own goal to complete the rout.
Italy are not yet out of it but, three points and several goals behind Spain, have little chance of finishing top. Nonetheless, they kept up the pressure as Ciro Immobile's 53rd-minute header from an Antonio Candreva defeated Israel.
In the other game Albania drew 1-1 FYROM to drop six points behind Italy and all but out of contention
Serbia won playing the last 20 minutes in Dublin without Nikola Maksimovic, who was sent off for hauling down Daryl Murphy.
Kolarov had earlier given Serbia the lead with a brilliant finish off the bar from Filip Kostic's assist.
Ireland dropped to third, five points behind Serbia and one behind Wales, who triumphed in Moldova on late goals from Hal Robson-Kanu and Aaron Ramsey. The Serbian position is strengthened by Wales still having to meet Ireland.
That also gives Austria, five behind Wales, a glimmer of hope after they only had Louis Schaub's goal to cheer at home against Georgia, who had led through Valeriane Gvilia.
In group I, Gylfi Sigurdsson's second-half double lifted Euro 2016 surprise packets Iceland over Ukraine. They go level with Croatia on 16 points.
Turkey, who beat the Croats thanks to Cenk Tosun's 75th minute strike, are on 14 along with Ukraine. Eliminated Finland won 1-0 at last-placed Kosovo.
ASIA
South Korea secured a ninth straight appearance at the World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Tuesday to claim a place at the finals in Russia next year, while Saudi Arabia qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006 by beating Japan 1-0 in Jeddah.
Substitute Fahad Al-Muwallad's 63rd-minute goal was all the Green Falcons needed.
It relieved palpable tension among the 60,000 screaming fans at the King Abdullah Sports City, who were hoping to see their side qualify for their first World Cup since 2006.
Japan, who qualified with last week's 2-0 win over Australia, had nothing left to play for but often looked the better side and had two certain goals cleared off the line before Al-Muwallad's opener.
But they could not produce an equaliser against an opponent intent on running the clock down.
Syria earned third spot in group B at the expense of Uzbekistan after a stoppage-time equaliser from Omar Al Soma in their 2-2 draw with Iran kept the war-ravaged nation in contention for a debut World Cup.
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina came from behind to draw 1-1 with Venezuela at home on Tuesday, a result that leaves the 2014 losing finalists a long way from guaranteeing their place in Russia next year.
The hosts had won all six of their previous home qualifiers against Venezuela and were expected to do the same against the team at the bottom of the South American group and without a win in 10 games.
But Argentina's failure to take all three points left them fifth in the standings with two matches remaining – out of the top four spots which brings direct qualification for the finals.
Colombia and Brazil shared a 1-1 draw in a hard-fought draw after Radamel Falcao's second-half header cancelled out Willian's stunning first-half volley.
Colombia have still never beaten Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match but the draw marked the first time in 10 games that Brazilian coach Tite has come away from a qualifier with anything other than all three points.
Brazil have already qualified for the finals in Russia next year and the result kept the Colombians in second place behind them with two matches remaining.
Peru beat Ecuador 2-1 to move up into fourth and keep alive their hopes of a first appearance since 1982.
Second-bottom Bolivia got just their fourth win in 16 qualifiers when they deservedly beat Chile 1-0 thanks to a second-half penalty from Juan Carlos Arce.
NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA
Bobby Wood scored off a scramble in the 85th minute and the US escaped from Honduras with a 1-1 draw .Romell Quioto scored in the 27th minute after defender Omar Gonzalez missed with his slide tackle.
With only five minutes remaining, Wood chested the ball and scored his ninth international goal, avoiding a huge US embarrassment. The US remain third in the North and Central American and Caribbean region with nine points, ahead of Honduras on goal difference with two qualifiers remaining.
Panama have seven points and can overtake the Americans later on Tuesday when they host last-placed Trinidad and Tobago. The fourth-place country meets Australia or Syria in a play-off for another berth.
The US hosts Panama on October 6 at Orlando, Florida, and finishes four days later at Trinidad, so coach Bruce Arena's team has control of their own fate.
AFRICA
Tiny Cape Verde Islands catapulted themselves into surprise World Cup contention with a 2-1 victory away to South Africa on Tuesday as the identity of the African qualifiers for next year's finals remained far from resolved.
Nigeria, who did not play on Tuesday, look best placed to become the first of the five African teams to book a place in Russia as they will qualify if they beat Zambia at home in their next game next month.
The Ivory Coast went down 2-1 at home in a shock loss to Gabon to let a comfortable lead slip to one point in group C and open the door for second-placed Morocco.
Tunisia took command of group A as they drew 2-2 away to second-placed Democratic Republic of Congo, while Egypt opened up a two-point lead with a 1-0 win over Uganda in group E.
But it was the small island nation of Cape Verde who shook up the African qualifiers as they registered a second successive win over South Africa that suddenly sees a country of 500,000 inhabitants in with a chance of a fairytale trip to Russia.
Garry Rodrigues fired home two long-range wonder strikes in the second half to stun the South Africans in Durban and leave the 2010 World Cup hosts last in Group D.
Teenager Patson Daka kept Zambia's World Cup hopes alive with a close-range second-half strike as they upset Algeria 1-0 away in group B.
It was Zambia's second win in four days over Algeria, who reached the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but have been eliminated from the race.
DPA, Reuters, AAP
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