PARIS: Scotland and Northern Ireland endured shattering defeats in their opening World Cup qualifiers yesterday while Wales needed a late goal to edge Azerbaijan.

On a bumper day of 24 matches taking place in Europe on the long, hard road to South Africa in 2010, Scotland wilted in 35-degree heat in Skopje and fell to a 1-0 defeat in Group 9 to Macedonia.

Ilco Naumoski gave Macedonia a fifth-minute lead which they clung onto to leave Scotland boss George Burley still looking for his first win.

However, his side were unfortunate not to have been awarded at least one penalty.

"We were disappointed to lose but for the whole of the second-half I thought we dominated the game," Burley said.
"In the second-half I thought we were outstanding. We played good football, we passed it well and their keeper has made a few saves."

Scotland will travel to Iceland on Wednesday where a win will be crucial from a group where the Netherlands are expected to clinch top spot and the lone guaranteed qualifying place for the finals.

In Group 3, where the Czech Republic and Poland are tipped to dominate, Northern Ireland lost 2-1 against Slovakia in Bratislava.

Liverpool's Martin Skrtel gave the home side a 46th-minute lead before Marek Hamsik made it 2-0 in the 70th minute.

A Jan Durica own goal gave Northen Ireland a glimmer of hope nine minutes from time, but the home side hung on for a vital three points which became even more crucial after Poland could only draw 1-1 at home to Slovenia.

A Michal Zewlakow penalty put Poland in front in Worclaw, but Zlatko Dedic levelled for Slovenia.

In Cardiff, teenage striker Samuel Vokes came off the bench to score a late winner as Wales beat Azerbaijan 1-0 in Group 4.

Just 15,000 fans watched the game inside the 75,000-capacity Millennium Stadium and they endured a miserable afternoon which was summed up by Jason Koumas's penalty miss against an Azerbaijan side who had Fabio Luis Ramim sent off.

Only the nine group winners are assured of places in the finals with the eight best runners-up playing off for the remaining four spots. -- AFP