11.   When Brazil plays host to Ecuador in Sao Paulo Thursday, it will be defending an unbeaten record in World Cup qualifying home matches.

12.   A tie would preserve those unbeaten records and satisfy both Chelsea and Arsenal.

13.   Auckland maintained its unbeaten record after eight rounds of the tournament and surged four points clear of the second-placed Australian Capital Territory.

14.   Auckland now has four wins and a draw from five games but was less than convincing in retaining its unbeaten record against Canterbury.

15.   Auckland ran in six tries as it maintained its unbeaten record in the Southern Hemisphere tournament.

16.   Australia maintained its unbeaten record in the four-team tournament and is certain of a place in the final.

17.   But Grant, who puts his unbeaten record on the line Saturday night, is in no hurry to get to the top.

18.   Earlier, the Solomon Islands also preserved their unbeaten record.

19.   Eight of the nine South American teams are in action with the Colombians taking their unbeaten record to last place Venezuela but without top scorer Faustino Asprilla.

20.   Geelong rallied in the final quarter to defeat Essendon by seven points Sunday, wrecking the only remaining unbeaten record in the Australian Football League.