KAZAN, Russia: Striker Alexander Kokorin scored a brace as Russia routed Luxembourg 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier to move provisionally to the top of Group F.

Fabio Capello’s team recovered from its surprise 1-0 defeat in Northern Ireland last month to move one point clear of Portugal, having both played seven games. Portugal was playing in Belfast later Friday.

The Russians scored inside 20 seconds when Kokorin lobbed Luxembourg goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert after collecting a pass from Alexander Kerzhakov.

Kokorin doubled his team’s lead in the 35th minute with a header into the bottom-left corner. Kerzhakov and Alexander Samedov scored Russia’s other goals and Aurelien Joachim pulled one back for Luxembourg.

Russia will next face Israel at home before finishing its qualifying campaign at Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.

Jordan, Uzbek draw

In Amman, Jordan and Uzbekistan played out a scrappy 1-1 draw in the first leg of their World Cup Asia zone qualifying playoff on a terrible pitch in Amman on Friday.

The Uzbeks started brightly and had the best of possession and chances, only to fall behind to a Musab Al Laham goal in the 30th minute when the midfielder neatly slotted home after clever Jordanian passing.

The Uzbeks grabbed a vital away goal five minutes later, though, when their captain Server Djeparov exchanged passes with Jasur Khasanov before firing home a low left-foot drive from inside the area.

The winner after Tuesday’s second leg in Tashkent will advance to take on the fifth-placed South American side in the intercontinental playoff for a berth in Brazil.