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Ireland start with win; Scotland downed; Poland held

Other News Materials 6 September 2008 23:30 (UTC +04:00)

(dpa) - Ireland got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start in Giovanni Trapattoni's first competitive match in charge on Saturday.

Euro 2008 semi-finalist Turkey, Wales, Slovakia, Latvia and Macedonia also enjoyed wins in the day's early qualifying matches.

Ireland overcame Georgia 2- 1 in a Group 8 match moved from Tbilisi to Mainz, Germany because of the conflict in Georgia.

Kevin Doyle in the 13th minute and Glenn Whelan 20 minutes from time put Ireland in charge before a last-minute consolation from Levan Kebia.

Scotland went down 1-0 to Macedonia in a Group 9 encounter in Skopje in manager George Burley's first competitive match in charge, with Ilcho Naumoski hitting the winner in the fifth minute.

Wales edged Azerbaijan in Group 4 thanks to an 81st-minute goal from 18-year-old striker Sam Vokes in Cardiff.

The visitors were down to 10 men in the 68th minute after Fabio Luis Ramon was sent off following a second booking.

Turkey were 2-0 winners in Armenia in a Group 5 game, Tuncay in the 61st minute and Semih Senturk in the 78th scoring, while Latvia were 2-1 winners in Moldova in Group 2.

Slovakia top Group 3 after a 2-1 defeat of Northern Ireland, courtesy of goals from Martin Skrtel a minute into the second half and Marek Hamsik in the 70th before the visitors pulled one back from an own goal by Jan Durica.

Poland were held 1- 1 in Warsaw by Slovenia in the same group. Michael Zewlakow put coach Leo Beenhakker's side ahead in the 17th minute but Slovenia levelled 10 minutes before the break through Zlatko Dedic.

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