Madrid: Sweden beat France 2-1 and star forward Cristiano Ronaldo got a brace as Portugal rolled over Latvia 3-0 in the sixth round of the European qualifiers for the 2018 football World Cup.
The result leaves France and Sweden level on points at 13, but the Nordics take possession of the top spot in Group A by virtue of goal difference.
The Netherlands routed last-placed Luxembourg 5-0 to claim third place in the “group of death,” with 10 points, one ahead of Bulgaria, who lost 1-2 on Friday to Belarus.
Portugal climbed to 15 points and second place in Group B, where Switzerland leads with 18 points after dispatching the Faroe Islands 2-0 on goals by Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Ronaldo has scored 18 goals in his last eleven matches and after guiding Real Madrid to the Liga-Champions League.
History was made in Friday’s third Group B contest, as Andorra won their first match since 2004, upsetting third-place Hungary 1-0.
Belgium won 2-0 away to Estonia and now have a 4-point lead over second-placed Greece, who could only manage a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Balkan side sit in third place in Group H with 11 points, 4 ahead of Cyprus, 2-1 winners on Friday over Gibraltar.
Only the winners of each group are guaranteed a place at next year’s finals in Russia, with the eight best second- placed sides competing in the play-offs.(IANS)
