Balotelli sent off as Italy held by Czechs

Mario Balotelli was sent off as Group B leaders Italy were held to a 0-0 draw by Czech Republic in a World Cup qualifier yesterday.

The Milan striker was dismissed by Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen after receiving a second yellow card in the 72nd minute, for catching defender Theodor Gebre Selassie in the face with his forearm.

The Czechs, with Arsenal playmaker Tomas Rosicky pulling the strings, failed to make the most of a hatful of good scoring chances.

Petr Jiracek was unable to latch on to a loose ball with only goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to beat and the same player also hit the woodwork in the 84th minute after connecting with a Jaroslav Plasil free kick.

At the other end of the field, Italy rarely tested Czech keeper Petr Cech.

The Italians stayed top of the table with 14 points from six games while the Czechs retain outside chances of qualifying on nine points.

Ukraine moved firmly into contention with a comfortable win in Montenegro which blows Group H wide open.

The visitors had Roman Zozulya sent off in first-half stoppage time but took the lead six minutes after the restart through Denys Garmash.

Yevgen Konoplianka made it 2-0 in between the dismissals of Montenegro’s Vladimir Volkov and Savo Pavicevic, and Artem Fedetskiy and late substitute Romas Bezus added further goals.

Both teams are battling for a qualifying spot with England, whose manager Roy Hodgson had expressed his hope for a draw given that Montenegro led the group by two points while victory for Ukraine would bring them within a point of his side with two games against minnows San Marino to come.

Poland’s qualifying hopes took another serious knock when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Group H strugglers Moldova in Chisinau.

Belgium moved three points clear at the top of their qualifying group with a 2-1 win over Serbia.

The victory, which guaranteed the hosts at least second place in Group A, was secured with two headers, Kevin De Bruyne from a Jan Vertonghen cross in the 13th minute and Marouane Fellaini from a De Bruyne corner on the hour.

Meanwhile, Robbie Keane marked his record 126th appearance for Ireland with a hat-trick but Giovanni Trapattoni’s side failed to add any more to their goal difference in a laboured 3-0 win over Faroe Islands.

Los Angeles Galaxy striker Keane overtook goalkeeper Shay Given as Ireland’s most capped player for his country.

Ireland are level in second place in Group C with Austria, 2-1 winners over Sweden. After a 6-1 thrashing at home by leaders Germany earlier in the campaign, the Irish have just a plus-two goal difference compared to Austria’s 10.