Marco Reus scored his third international goal and Mesut Oezil added a penalty yesterday to help Germany beat Austria 2-1 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Reus found the net in the closing minute of the first half and Oezil doubled Germany's lead in the 52nd before Zlatko Junuzovic reduced Austria's deficit five minutes later.

Germany's defense looked vulnerable as Austria got several chances for an equalizer but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer prevented Joachim Loew's team from dropping points in the sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium.

Germany remained atop Group C with six points from two games after defeating Faeroe Islands four days ago.

Spain needed 86 minutes to break down Georgia's defense as Roberto Soldado scored late to secure a 1-0 win yesterday as the world champions took the first step to defending their title at the 2014 World Cup with a 23rd consecutive victory in qualifying matches.

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria kept Spain from converting its overwhelming possession into a goal until he was forced off with a leg injury.

Substitute Cesc Fabregas then found Soldado to slot his pass home four minutes from time.

David Silva hit the post in Spain's best chance in the first half, while Aleksander Amisulashvili found the woodwork for Georgia in one of its isolated attacks after the restart.

The victory gave Spain three points, level in Group I with Georgia.

Frank Lampard's late equalizer spared Roy Hodgson from losing his first competitive home match as England coach yesterday, salvaging a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in 2014 World Cup qualifying.

Lampard scored his 26th England goal in the 87th minute from the penalty spot after Yevhen Khacheridi handled the ball.

But England's pursuit of a winner was stymied by being reduced to 10 men when captain Steven Gerrard received a second yellow card for fouling Denys Garmash.

Yevhen Konoplianka had put Ukraine in front in the 39th, crisply curling the ball from 25 yards (meters) into the top corner of Joe Hart's goal in the team's first qualifier on the road to Brazil.

England, which hired Hodgson before Euro 2012, opened World Cup qualifying Friday with a 5-0 rout in Moldova.

New Zealand reasserted its footballing superiority in Oceania by thrashing the Solomon Islands 6-1 on yesterday in the third stage of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

After representing the Pacific-based confederation at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, New Zealand's status was undermined by finishing third at the Oceania Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands earlier this year.

New Zealand drew with the Solomon Islands in the group stage at that tournament and was beaten by New Caledonia in the semifinals, before scraping past the Solomons 4-3 in the playoff for third place.

But after beating New Caledonia in the opening leg last week, New Zealand emphasized its regional dominance yesterday by scoring four second-half goals after leading 2-0 at halftime.

Japan moved a step closer to a place at Brazil 2014 by beating an inexperienced Iraq 1-0 in yesterday's World Cup qualifier.

The sole goal came in the 25th minute from some lax defending, as Shinji Okazaki got in behind the defense from a throw-in and his volleyed cross found an unmarked Ryoichi Maeda, who headed home from inside the six-yard box.

Japan solidified its already-commanding lead in Group B with 10 points, eight ahead of Iraq. Group rivals Jordan and Australia had a chance to make up ground when they met later yesterday.

Despite its inexperience, Iraq fashioned some decent chances. In the fourth minute, Ahmed Yaseen's corner set up Ali Bahjat Fadhil for a close-range header that was batted away by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

In the 21st minute, Iraq created another golden opportunity from a corner but Hammadi Ahmad's close-range shot flicked off a defender and went wide, and in the 41st Yaseen came close again when he made a quick break and his curling shot forced a diving save from Kawashima.

CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda came close to doubling the lead in the 79th minute, with his diving header bringing a sprawling save by Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri, deflecting the ball onto a post.

John Arne Riise scored an injury-time penalty to give Norway a 2-1 win over Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier yeterday.

Marko Suler gave Slovenia the lead in the 16th minute after Norway goalkeeper Rune Jarstein failed to hold a free kick.

Norway equalized 10 minutes later when Tarik Elyounussi's shot hit the crossbar and Markus Henriksen headed in the rebound.

The match appeared headed for a draw when substitute Alexander Soederlund was fouled in the box in injury time and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Norway lost its opening qualifier at Iceland 2-0, while Slovenia lost at home to Switzerland with the same result.

Switzerland took control of its World Cup qualifying group yesterday, beating Albania 2-0 to get its second win in five days.

Swiss star forward Xherdan Shaqiri, whose family roots are Albanian, defied the whistles of jeering visiting fans to score with a neat one-on-one finish in the 23rd minute.

Captain Gokhan Inler then slotted in a 68th-minute penalty after Valentin Stocker was fouled.

Albania seldom threatened before captain Lorik Cana's powerful shot in the 80th was parried then caught under pressure by Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

Switzerland, which also won 2-0 in Slovenia last Friday, leads Group E with six points after all six teams have played two matches. Four teams have three points and Slovenia is last without a point.