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Zyryanov gets only goal
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Konstantin Zyryanov scores against Liechtenstein
Photo REUTERS
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Guus Hiddink's Russia ground out a slender victory over
hardworking Liechtenstein despite being run close in Vaduz.
Konstantin Zyryanov scored the game's only goal in the 38th minute, slipping
the ball past Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle following a cross from
Andrei Arshavin.
Russia struggled to stamp their authority on the game and had to wait
until the 26th minute for their first chance when midfielder Dmitri Torbinsky
headed awkwardly at Jehle following Arshavin's cross.
Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko had the ball in the net in the 30th
minute but was adjudged offside by the Irish officials, and a moment later
almost caught out Jehle from long-range, only for his lob to fall narrowly
wide of the goal.
But Russian fans breathed a sigh of relief seven minutes before the break
when Zyryanov broke the deadlock for the visitors.
Arshavin was the instigator, guiding a ball in from the left to his former
Zenit St Petersburg team-mate, who took a touch to bring the ball under
control before nicking the ball past Jehle from eight yards.
But Liechtenstein were proving themselves no pushovers and, although creating
relatively little, looked capable of causing the Russians problems, with
lively midfielder Michele Polverino hitting a succession of long-range
efforts towards Igor Akinfeev's goal.
After the restart Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin both had shots straight at
Jehle in quick succession as Russia went in search of a killer second
goal.
Yuri Zhirkov could have put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes to play
but lobbed just wide of the post after Jehle had beaten Pavlyuchenko to
a long ball, whilst Aleksandr Anyukov went down in the Liechtenstein box
a moment later but was booked for simulation.
But whilst Russia's lead remained restricted to a single goal the possibility
of a Liechtenstein equaliser was always there, and substitute Thomas Beck's
long-range strike provided a reminder of the tight-rope Hiddink's men
were walking.
Liechtenstein made the final stages very uncomfortable for Russia and
Beck went close again in the 83rd minute, striking narrowly wide from
the edge of the box, whilst defender Fabio D'Elia, another replacement,
forced Akinfeev into a save after heading down from a corner.
Soccernet.espn.go.com,
April 1, 2009
Liechtenstein - Russia - 0:1
Scoring Summary
Liechtenstein: -
Russia: Konstatin Zurianov (38)
Match Information
Stadium: Rheinpark Stadion
Attendance: 5,679
Official(s): David Mckeon (Referee)
Teams
Liechtenstein
1 Peter Jehle
6 Martin Stocklasa
7 Yves Oehri
15 Franz-Josef Vogt
2 Marco Ritzberger
3 Michael Stocklasa
5 Andreas Gerster
18 Michele Polverino
11 Franz Burgmeier
13 Martin Buechel
10 Mario Frick
Russia
1 Igor Akinfeev
18 Yuri Zhirkov
2 Aleksandr Aniukov
4 Sergei Ignashevich
5 Vasili Berezutsky
7 Igor Denisov
8 Igor Semshov
16 Dmitri Torbinsky
17 Konstatin Zurianov
9 Roman Pavlyuchenko
10 Andrei Arshavin
Substitutions
Raphael Rohrer for Yves Oehri (46)
Sergei Semak for Dmitri Torbinsky (66)
Fabio D'Elia for Franz-Josef Vogt (61)
Pavel Pogrebniak for Roman Pavlyuchenko (84)
Thomas Beck for Martin Buechel (75)
Yellow Cards
Aleksandr Aniukov (82)
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