Associated Press

Buenos Aires, March 31:

Argentina extended its lead over South American World Cup qualifying beating a 10-man Colombia 1-0 while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay. Hernan Crespo scored in the 65th minute to lead Argentina, which improved to 28 points with five rounds remaining. Crespo converted on a pass from Luciano Galletti to score his fifth goal in qualifying and Argentina moved a step closer to securing a berth for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. Colombia was reduced to 10 men in the 41st minute after midfielder Fabian Vargas was ejected with his second yellow card in seven minutes. Brazil’s draw at Montevideo dropped it four points behind the Argentines in second place while Ecuador also fell back two more points, remaining third with 20 after a 2-2 draw at Peru.

Paraguay beat Chile 2-1 and remained fourth, but moved within a point of Ecuador. In European qualifying, France slumped to a 1-1 draw at Israel, while Spain managed only a 0-0 draw at Serbia-Montenegro. Portugal struggled to a 1-1 draw at Slovakia. Wednesday’s 21 games marked the halfway point in European qualifying, with the eight groups too tight to call.

The group winners qualify for next year’s World Cup finals. The best two second-place teams also advance, with the other six entering playoffs in November for the three remaining spots. Germany qualifies automatically. David Trezeguet gave France a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute, but Walid Badier levelled in the 83rd. France was playing with 10 men after Trezeguet was sent off in the 55th for head-butting Israel defender Tal Ben Haim.

France and Israel have 10 points in Group 4. Switzerland defeated Cyprus 1-0 to improve to nine points along with Ireland. With the draw, Serbia improved to 11 points in Group 7, and Spain moved up to nine. Lithuania and Bosnia-Herzegovina played a 1-1 draw, which gave Lithuania nine. In another match, Belgium defeated San Marino 2-1. Group 3 stayed close with Slovakia and Portugal playing to a 1-1 draw. The result left the two with 14 points, three ahead of Russia. In another game, Russia and Estonia drew 1-1. Russia improved to 11 points and Estonia has eight. In the same group, Latvia defeated Luxembourg 4-0. Latvia has eight points and Luxembourg has one.

Ukraine, Greece and Turkey picked up key victories. Ukraine stayed atop Group 2 with a 1-0 victory over Denmark. With 17 points in seven games, Ukraine is trying to reach its first World Cup finals. Greece won 2-0 against Albania to edge up to 14 points. Turkey won 5-2 at Georgia, raising them to 12 points in seven games. In Group 6, England won 2-0 over Azerbaijan with goals from Steven Gerrard and David Beckham to improve to 16 points. Poland, which beat Northern Ireland 1-0, has 15 points. In another game, Austria defeated Wales 1-0. In Group 1, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Romeo Castelen scored as the Netherlands defeated Armenia 2-0 to stay in the lead with 16 points. The Czech follow with 15 points after a 4-0 win at Andorra. Romania won 2-1 at Macedonia to improve to 13 points.In Group 5, Norway played a 0-0 draw at Moldova. Norway improved to eight points. Belarus and Slovenia

drew 1-1. Slovenia has eight points. Italy leads with 12 points. In Group 8, Croatia beat Malta 3-0. The win moved Croatia into first place with 13 points, one ahead of Sweden. In other game, Bulgaria drew 1-1 at Hungary.

Pele’s 1,000th goal ball auctioned

Sao Paulo: The ball used by Pele to score his 1,000th goal was auctioned for $22,400, local media said on Wednesday. The ball was auctioned in Sao Paulo by the Brazilian Association of Parents of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, which received the ball as a donation from Pele in 1972. It was bought by Roberto Justus, an entrepreneur who stars a Brazilian reality TV show, the Agencia Estado news service reported. Pele, who reportedly scored 1,281 goals in his career, netted the 1,000th goal with a 77th-minute penalty kick in Santos’ 2-1 win over Vasco on November 19, 1969 at Maracana stadium. — AFP