Soccer-Marica strike hands Romania 1-0 win in Lithuania

MARIJAMPOLE, June 6 (Reuters) - Romania beat Lithuania 1-0 with a Ciprian Marica strike on Saturday to revive their slim hopes of qualifying from World Cup Group Seven.

Marica got the winner for the visitors with a powerful low shot past Zydrunas Karcemarskas in the 38th minute.

The Lithuania keeper then managed to keep out another strong Marica's shot from inside the area in the 71st minute at the Marijampole stadium in south-western Lithuania.

Substitute Ignas Dedura had a chance to equalise in the 87th from close range but Romania keeper Damut Coman made the save.

Romania remain second-bottom of the six-team group but now have seven points from six matches, while Lithuania stay in third place with nine points after seven games.

Leaders Serbia, who beat fourth-placed Austria 1-0 on Saturday, have 15 points from six matches followed by France, who did not play, with 10 from five games.

The group winners qualify for the finals while the best eight runners-up from the nine groups go through to a playoff.

(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Ken Ferris To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)