Portugal's struggles took a slight upturn in fortune with a 1-1 draw away to group leaders Denmark, but the side coached by Carlos Queiroz still have much to do to make South Africa.
The Chelsea three of José Bosingwa, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco all played the whole game and Deco had a chance to score after Niclas Bendtner had given the home side the lead.
It took a late equaliser from debutant Liedson to earn the point that keeps Portuguese hopes alive. They are seven points off the top and three behind second-place Hungary where they travel to play on Wednesday. The top team in each group goes to the Finals automatically with the second-place sides entering a round of play-offs.
Petr Cech was beaten twice as Czech Republic were held to a draw at neighbours and group leaders Slovakia. The Chelsea goalkeeper had a busy night in a game that featured another equaliser inside the final 10 minutes. Slovakia were down to 10 men when they surrendered the lead.
Miroslav Stoch was on the Slovakian bench but was not called into action. The match was refereed by Tom Henning Ovrebo, the name at the centre of much controversy when Barcelona visited Stamford Bridge last season.
Slovakia have a seven-point lead over the Czechs who are five points behind second-placed Northern Ireland who have played a game more.
France are now struggling for automatic qualification after a 1-1 home draw against Romania. Nicolas Anelka played the full game but Florent Malouda was not named among the subs.
A single point won leaves the French four points behind group leaders Serbia. The two sides meet in Belgrade on Wednesday.
In the African World Cup qualifiers it is going far more smoothly for Ivory Coast who are now just a point away from a place in South Africa.
Didier Drogba scored twice in a 5-0 win over Burkina Faso, one of the goals direct from a free-kick. Salomon Kalou played the whole game, Drogba the first 84 minutes. There are two games to go for the Ivorians who have a 100 per cent record.
In friendly fixtures on Saturday, Frank Lampard was typically reliable from the penalty spot in England's home match against Slovenia, scoring a first-half opening goal in a 2-1 win.
The Chelsea midfielder was one of six England players substituted in the game with an important qualifier to come on Wednesday. He played the first-half only.
Ashley Cole and John Terry lasted the full 90 minutes, at the end of which Cole was named man of the match as he took his excellent club form onto the international stage.
Terry had a different central defence partner in each half and was not powerless to do anything about the away team's late consolation goal. When the game was still goalless, the captain headed a corner powerfully against the crossbar.
Michael Ballack played 80 minutes in Germany's 2-0 home friendly win over South Africa and hit the post with a header as well as having a hand in the first goal.
Yury Zhirkov was not fit to play in Russia's 3-0 win over Liechtenstein.
Chelsea reserve team midfielder Conor Clifford played for Republic of Ireland Under 19s in their opening match in a four-nation tournament but were denied a single-goal win by a late Dutch equaliser
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