Klose hat-trick saves Germany from defeat in Finland

Striker Mirolsav Klose scored a hat-trick as Germany were held to a surprising 3-3 draw by Finland in their Group Four World Cup qualifier in Helsinki yesterday.

Finland led three times, but Klose replied each time to deny the Finns, who have never reached the World Cup finals, a first win over Germany for 85 years. Klose's final goal came just seven minutes from time.

Germany are top of the group, a point ahead of Russia who opened their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wales in Moscow, though the Euro 2008 semi-finalists left it late.

Wales spurned a real chance to take an early lead when Gareth Bale saw his 17th minute penalty saved by Igor Akinfeyev.

Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko showed his Tottenham team-mate how it should be done when he scored Russia's opener from a penalty five minutes later.

Wales equalised with a fine goal from Joe Ledley before Pavel Pogrebnyak lashed home the winner nine minutes from time.

Romania, who made a group stage exit at Euro 2008 and were beaten 3-0 at home by Lithuania in their Group Seven opener on Saturday, squeaked a narrow 1-0 win over Faroe Islands.

Razvan Vasilic scored the only goal after 59 minutes, 10 minutes after Romania were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of defender Sorin Ghionea for violent conduct.

Ukraine followed up their opening 1-0 win over Belarus in Group Six on Saturday with a 3-1 win in Kazakhstan, Andriy Shevchenko getting on the scoresheet for the second successive match.

Serhiy Nazarenko scored twice for Ukraine, which keeps the pressure on group favourites Croatia and England.

Belarus got their first points with a predictable 3-1 win over Andorra, though the last two goals only came in the last 12 minutes from Vitali Rodionov and Vyacheslav Hleb, a minute from time.

Montenegro held Ireland to a 0-0 draw in Podgorica. Montenegro nearly stole the three points in the 78th minute when Stevan Jovetic found some space in the centre but he was denied when keeper Shay Given managed to push the deflected ball away.

A beautiful shot on the turn by Ireland captain Robbie Keane 10 minutes into the second half from near the penalty spot was batted away by Montenegro keeper Vukasin Poleksic, followed by efforts from Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt.

Giovanni Trapattoni's men had a scare at the end of a dull first half when Kevin Kilbane lost possession to Jovetic on the right wing only to be rescued by fellow defender John O'Shea.

Trapattoni, whose side beat Georgia 2-1 in their opening World Cup qualifier on Saturday, said he was very happy with yesterday's performance.

"I think we played a great, game," he said. "In the first half we were a little anxious but in the second half we controlled the game."

Luxembourg stun Switzerland

Switzerland suffered an embarrassing 2-1 home defeat against tiny Luxembourg in a Group Two qualifier.

The home side, under new coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, dominated for long periods of the match but fell unexpectedly behind in the first half when visiting captain Jeff Strasser curled a free-kick in off the glove of goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

A fightback seemed to be on the cards when striker Blaise Nkfuo headed in a Hakan Yakin cross to put Switzerland back on level terms shortly before the break.

But as the Euro 2008 co-hosts desperately went in search of a second goal, Luxembourg's Alphonse Leweck collected a well-taken free-kick before firing in a winner with four minutes to go.

Israel, bidding to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since their only appearance in 1970, scored a 2-1 win in Moldova. They are unbeaten after two games in Group Two following their 2-2 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.