LISBON, Portugal -- Russia virtually assured its qualification for the World Cup with a 4-0 rout of Luxembourg on Friday that gave Fabio Capellos team a three-point lead at the top of Group F after Israel grabbed a late equalizer for a 1-1 draw against Portugal. Portugal could still pull level with Russia in next weeks last qualifiers but the Russians have scored seven more goals than the Portuguese, giving them the decisive edge. The draw in Lisbon ensured Portugal at least a place in the playoff between the best eight second-place teams in the nine European qualifying groups. Bulgarias 2-1 defeat against Armenia in Group B meant Portugal has enough points for a playoff berth. Russia powered past Luxembourg with first-half goals from Alexander Samedov, Victor Faizulin and Denis Glushakov. Alexander Kerzhakov got another in the 73rd. "We have played a very good match, on high speed and with great desire," Russia coach Fabio Capello said. "Weve reached our goal." Portugal, a 2012 European Championship semifinalist, failed to impress against Israel in what has been a lacklustre qualifying campaign, with Cristiano Ronaldo producing a muted performance in the Portuguese capital. A blunder by goalkeeper Rui Patricio cost Portugal victory as his 85th-minute clearance went straight to Ben Basat, who cancelled out Ricardo Costas 27th-minute strike. The game was tense to the end as a below-par Portuguese team held onto its slender lead. Portugals qualification bid went off track earlier in the campaign with a 1-1 home draw against Northern Ireland and a 3-3- draw in Israel, and Fridays lukewarm match was reminiscent of those displays. The Portuguese defence was depleted by the absence of three regular starters, but its attack was the weakest point and the team struggled to find its rhythm going forward. John Olerud Blue Jays Jersey . The weekend at Oriole Park has been less kind, with three players suffering varying degrees of injury. The worst ailment of the three, at least optically, is the deep bone bruise suffered by Adam Lind when he fouled a pitch off the top of his right foot in the sixth inning of Saturdays game. Hector Perez Blue Jays Jersey .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at LeBron James and the Miami Heat winning their second straight NBA championship. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/1536h-juan...-blue-jays.html. Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (5) - Simply put, Lundqvist was brilliant. Dave Stieb Blue Jays Jersey .com) - The collective hearts of Chicago Bulls fans sank on Friday night when Derrick Rose went down with a leg injury against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Shannon Stewart Jersey . Although Spain could still advance out of the group stage, the game may have signalled the end of the run by a generation of Spanish stars whose quick passing, "tiki-taka" style delighted the world and helped them win the last three major tournaments.J.R. Fitzpatrick entered the weekend with a 15-race winless streak, hell head home having added to his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 all-time wins lead at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Fitzpatrick picked up his first win since August 18, 2012, in an exciting green-white-checkered finish to the Pintys presents the Clarington 200 on Sunday. It was the ninth career series win for the 26-year-old out of Ayr, Ont., and fourth at the Bowmanville 2.459-mile road course. Fitzpatrick also picked up his second win in a Canadian Tire Series season-opening event. He also won the 2012 opener at CTMP. Jeff Lapcevich challenged Fitzpatrick late in the race, but was unable to overtake the driver of the No. 84 Equipment Express Chevrolet, settling instead for his second-consecutive runner-up finish in a season opener at this track. Its his third top five at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and 13th overall in the series. Lapcevich was followed across the line by Robin Buck, 2013 event winner L.P. Dumoulin and two-time series champion D.J. Kennington. Kerry Micks, Hugo Vannini, Luc Lesage, Peter Klutt and Ray Courtemanche Jr. completed the top 10 in the first off 11 events on 2014 calendar, with Vannini and Courtemanche both picking up career best finishes.dddddddddddd Two-time series champion Andrew Ranger collected his 13th career series pole award in qualifying for the event, but began the race from the 24th position after unapproved impound adjustments. He worked his way into the top 10 early in the race, but ignition problems ultimately derailed his afternoon. Ranger ended the day 21st on the grid, his worst finish at the track. His previous worst Canadian Tire Motorsport Park finish was sixth. The field was slowed due to caution five times, including a red-flag for track cleanup after Noel Dowlers No. 5 machine leaked oil across several areas of the track. The Pintys presents the Clarington 200 will air on TSN on Sunday, May 25 at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. It will air on RDS2 on Friday, June 13 at 10:30pm et. The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 will return to action on June 14 for the inaugural Budweiser 300 at Autodrome Chaudiére in Vallée-Jonction, Que. It will mark the series first visit to the quarter-mile oval located 40 miles southeast of Quebec City. ' ' '