Russia overcome the Republic of Ireland in Dublin
Russia survived a late fight-back from the Republic of Ireland in the teams' Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday evening, coming away with a 3–2 win over Giovanni Trapattoni's side.
Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov scored for Russia before Robbie Keane and Shane Long pulled two goals back for the home team in the second half.
Ireland opened the match brightly, as Aiden McGeady's early strike was saved by Igor Akinfeev before Keane smashed the rebound onto the bar and McGeady had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Kevin
Blom.
Russia get two goals in the first half
d**k Advocaat's team benefited from Ireland's defensive lapse in the 10th minute, when Andrey Arshavin's free kick was acrobatically knocked across goal by Sergei Ignashevich before Kerzhakov struck the
loose ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.
As the away team continued to pressure Ireland in their own half, the creative Arshavin then sent Alexander Anyukov flying on the right wing with 28 minutes played. The right-back's low cross set up Dzagoev
to send a low, first-time strike in to the net from the penalty spot.
Arsenal's Arshavin then came close to scoring himself just before the break, but his effort from Kerzhakov's cut-back flew wide of the left post.
Shirokov added to the home crowd's misery five minutes into the second half, when his speculative effort from 25 yards deflected off Richard Dunne to beat a wrong-footed Shay Given at the near post. At
that point, it seemed there was no coming back for the Irish team.
Ireland's late efforts prove futile
But Keane, Ireland's captain, seemed intent on changing things as he hit a well-placed penalty into Akinfeev's right corner after having been fouled by Yuri Zhirkov with 72 minutes played.
Only five minutes later, Given's long free kick sailed into the Russian box, where Akinfeev parried the first effort before Long stole in to hit the rebound into the as Advocaat's defence was caught snoozing.
Ireland pressed Russia for an equaliser in the last 15 minutes, but never came closer than a penalty shout after McGeady's ball into the Russian box. The unyielding Blom waved play on and Russia came away
with three points from Dublin's Aviva Stadium.
Advocaat's team are now level with Slovakia on six points in Group B, but sit in second place with a lesser goal difference. Ireland, also on six points, are third behind Russia by virtue of losing to
their only internal meeting so far.
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