LONDON — Scotland caused the upset of the latest round of World Cup qualifiers in Europe with a 1-0 victory at Croatia Friday. But it was still errant Italy forward Mario Balotelli who stole the headlines as he was sent off in his team's 0-0 draw at Czech Republic. There was little to get excited about in the game itself as the host dominated but was kept at bay by a Juventus-dominated Italian rear-guard. But 18 minutes from time AC Milan striker Balotelli picked up his second booking within three minutes to earn a red card. That sent the troubled 22-year-old into an angry fit as he lashed out at anything within range once he'd left the pitch, as Italy coach Cesare Prandelli told him to sit down on the bench and stay calm. Gianluigi Buffon kept Italy in the match with saves from Vladimir Darida, Petr Jiracek and Libor Kozak. That was enough to push out the Azzurri lead over second-placed Bulgaria at the top of Group B to three points, with the Czechs two-points further back. In Zagreb Robert Snodgrass notched the only goal of the game as Gordon Strachan's Scotland earned its first win of the qualifying campaign, ending Croatia's unbeaten Group A record. It result meant it dropped three points off Belgium, which maintained its unbeaten start with a 2-1 win over Serbia, which is now out of contention as it trails the group leaders by 12 points. Portugal gave itself a Group F lifeline as Helder Postiga's ninth minute winner gave it a 1-0 success against previously-unbeaten Russia. Portugal is now top of the group, two points above Russia, which has two games in hand. Ukraine ensured Group H remained even more congested at the top than before with a stunning 4-0 success at group leader Montenegro. That result played into England's hands. England is second, two points behind Montenegro but with a game in hand. Ukraine is third, a further point back, and also with a game in hand, meaning the top three could be separated by just a single point if the two chasers win their games in hand. The game in Podgorica finished with just 19 players on the pitch as the host had Savo Pavicevic and Vladimir Volkov dismissed in the second half while Roman Zozulia had already been given his marching orders for the visitors in the first period. Robbie Keane scored a hat trick as Republic of Ireland beat minnow Faroe Islands 3-0 in Dublin to remain level on points with second-placed Austria, which beat Sweden 2-1, in Group C, where Germany is five points clear. Bosnia and Hercegovina maintained its unbeaten record and three-point lead over Greece at the top of Group G with a 5-0 win in Lativia. Greece won 1-0 at Lithuania. Iceland missed the chance to move top of Group E as it was beaten 4-2 at home to Slovenia, which moved off the bottom. Substitute Haris Seferovic scored in the 90th minute Saturday to lift Switzerland to a 1-0 win over Cyprus and closer to qualifying for the World Cup. In other games it was: Armenia 0, Malta 1; Albania 1, Norway 1; Azerbaijan 1, Luxembourg 1; Liechtenstein 1, Slovakia 1; Moldova 1, Poland 1; Finland 1, Belarus 0. — Agencies
