y had little trouble seeing off the Faeroes, who were reduced to 1

LAUTOKA, Fiji -- Fiji centre Nemani Nadolo scored a try among his 20 points as the hosts beat Tonga 45-17 on Saturday in its opening match of rugbys Pacific Nations Cup. Wingers Watisoni Votu and Sireli Bobo both scored two tries and backrower and captain Akapusi Qera scored another as Fiji piled on six tries to two in a comprehensive performance. Fiji opened the match at a rapid pace with a penalty to Nadolo, then tries to Votu and Nadolo, both converted, to lead 17-0 after only 14 minutes. Though the play of both sides was affected by handling errors, often the product of jarring tackles, Fiji managed to score at more than a point per minute. Tonga finally got onto the board with a penalty to Fangatapu Apikotoa in the 22nd minute and managed to find some defensive steel before Bobo added Fijis third try nine minutes from halftime. Votu scored his second in the 12th minute of the second half to give Fiji a commanding 31-3 lead and a blowout seemed likely until Viliami Fihaki came off the bench to score tries for Tonga in the 24th and 26th minutes of the second half. Both were converted by Latiume Fosita, cutting the deficit to 31-17. Fiji seemed in danger of letting its control of the match slip but it recovered its composure to finish with tries to Bobo and Qera in the 79th and 81st minutes. Nadolo supplemented his try with six conversions and a penalty. Fiji joined Japan as a first-round winner after Japans 34-25 win last weekend over Canada. Tonga drew 18-18 win Samoa in its opening match and the United States is due to host Japan later Saturday. ---------- Fiji 45 (Watisoni Votu 2, Sireli Bobo 2, Nemani Nadolo, Akapusi Qera tries; Nemani Nadolo 6 conversions, penalty), Tonga 17 (Viliami Fihaki 2 tries; Latiume Fosita 2 conversions; Fangatapu Apikotoa penalty). HT: 24-3. Yogi Ferrell Jersey . After the loss, White refused to make good on the bet, instead offering Hoyt tickets to a Bears game. DeAaron Fox Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. http://www.nbakingsonline.com/Authentic-Bogdan-Bogdanovic-Kings-Jersey/ .Pete Morelli said the back judge threw a flag on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a pass to Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew in Dallas 24-20 wild-card win Sunday. But the head linesman said there wasnt enough contact and that Hitchens was face-guarding, which isnt a penalty in the NFL. Buddy Hield Jersey . No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday. Mitch Richmond Jersey . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over.MANCHESTER, England - Italy and the Netherlands became the first European teams to qualify for the 2014 World Cup but Germanys passage to the finals in Brazil was delayed despite also winning on Tuesday. Mario Balotellis 54th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 win for Italy over the Czech Republic to seal first place in Group B, while Robin van Persies second-half double in a 2-0 win at Andorra guaranteed the Dutch top spot in Group D. Both countries qualified with two matches to spare, with the Azzurri qualifying for their 14th straight World Cup on the night goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made a record-equaling 136th appearance for Italy. Germany beat the Faeroe Islands 3-0 but still needs one more win for automatic qualification, with Sweden five points behind with two matches left after a 1-0 win in Kazakhstan. Englands destiny in its own hands after drawing 0-0 at Ukraine to stay top of Group H and Russia can also make the finals by winning its last two games after beating Israel 3-1 to topple Portugal in Group F. France twice came from behind to defeat Belarus 4-2 and draw level with Group I leader Spain, which has a game in hand. Elsewhere, Switzerland won 2-0 at Norway in Group E and needs just one victory from its last two games, against Albania away and Slovenia at home, to finish first. Bosnia-Herzegovina remained ahead of Greece on goal difference in Group G after coming from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1. The top team from each of the nine European groups qualifies automatically for Brazil. The best eight runners-up go into playoffs in November and that is likely to include Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal, with Russia having two easy final games. Spain wasnt in World Cup qualifying action but still played Tuesday, twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Chile in Geneva. At halftime in their respective matches, Italy and the Dutch were on course to blow their chances of sealing qualification early but their star forwards came through for them when it mattered. Three minutes after Giorgio Chiellini cancelled out Libor Kozaks opener for the Czechs in the 19th, Balotelli stepped up after being brought down in the area to coolly convert his penalty. The AC Milan striker had missed a string of great chances before maintaining his record of never missing a spot kick. Kozaks goal meant Buffon couldnt mark his special night with a clean sheet but he will still nevver forget matching Fabio Cannavaros appearance record at the Juventus Stadium — the home of the Turin club where he has spent most of his club career.dddddddddddd Italy has missed only one World Cup since 1934, but has never qualified with two matches to play. "Its a great satisfaction," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said. "This is a very talented team which always manages to give its maximum. I saw a great Italy." Czech coach Michal Bilek tendered his resignation after the match, with his team fourth in the group and unlikely to reach the playoffs. The Netherlands can also start planning for next summers finals, although it took goals from Van Persie in the 50th and 55th minute to squeeze past a team ranked 205th in the world. With Romania losing at home to Turkey for the first time since 1925, the Dutch cant be caught. "Weve qualified, thats step one," said Van Persie, who moved to 38 goals for his country — two off the record held by Patrick Kluivert. "Now have to start working toward the World Cup." With Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbing Swedens winner in one of the early matches in the latest batch of qualifiers, the Germans knew they would have to wait until next month to progress. They had little trouble seeing off the Faeroes, who were reduced to 10 men late on, with Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller scoring the goals. Austria can still catch Sweden for second place after beating Ireland 1-0 in Vienna. A nail-biting finish is guaranteed in Englands group after Roy Hodgsons side — featuring Frank Lampard in his 100th international appearance — held on for a goalless draw in Kyiv to stay in command with two games left. Three points separates the English from Montenegro, Ukraine (who are both one behind) and fourth-place Poland, which thrashed San Marino 5-1. Poland must still travel to Ukraine and England, which first plays Montenegro at home. Russia only has to beat Azerbaijan and Luxembourg — the groups bottom two teams — away to qualify for its first World Cup since 2002 and condemn Portugal to the playoffs. Vasiliy Berezutsky, Aleksandr Kokorin and Denis Glushakov scored for Fabio Capellos side in Moscow. Elsewhere in Group F, Luxembourg beat Northern Ireland 3-2 for only its fourth win in 122 World Cup qualifiers and its first at home since 1972. ' ' '