Republic of Ireland 2 Russia 3:Republic of Ireland's 100 per cent record in Euro 2012 qualifying came to an end against Russia tonight, but not before Giovanni Trapattoni's side had mounted a stirring comeback in a game in which they had looked dead and buried.
Robbie Keane hit the bar early on at the Aviva Stadium but for the next hour Russia dominated and deservedly went three up through Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov.
A Keane penalty in the 72nd minute gave the hosts a lifeline and, when Shane Long added a second six minutes later, it seemed the home side could get something from the game, but Russia held on to join their opponents on six points in Group B.
Dzagoev had an early sighter on Shay Given’s net but shot wide of the post before the home side got the crowd going as they pushed forward in numbers.
They came within inches of taking the lead as the ball zipped around the Russia penalty area.
First Igor Akinfeev could not hold Aiden McGeady’s shot and, when the loose ball was picked up by Keane, his cross bounced off the bar with Kevin Doyle just unable to reach it.
The ball was played back into the area to McGeady on the left but no-one could get on the end of his fizzing low cross.
It took only another two minutes for the breakthrough to come, but, unfortunately for the home fans, it was Given who had to pick the ball out of his net.
Dunne gave away what appeared to be a soft free-kick for a foul on Roman Shirokov in the left channel and, when the free-kick was delivered by captain Andrey Arshavin, it took a slight deflection before reaching Given, who could only push it out to Sergei Ignashevich.
His overhead kick back across the box sat up perfectly for Kerzhakov, who was given far too much space by Glenn Whelan, and he beat the massed ranks on the Republic line.
The ease with which the visitors were finding space in and around the box was a real worry as first Shirokov shot over when he probably should have done better before Kerzhakov tested Given with a fierce shot.
The home side were not learning their lesson, though, and they found themselves two down in the 28th minute.
Aleksandr Aniukov was given time and space on the right to send in a cross, and a lovely dummy by the dangerous Kerzhakov allowed Dzagoev to drill the ball beyond a helpless Given.
Sean St Ledger at least managed to stop Dzagoev when he set off on another run but his challenge was high and late and he was deservedly shown the home side’s first yellow card.
Ireland had not had a sniff of a chance since their early flurry but, with the half coming to a close, Doyle did at least manage a shot on target, although it was easily held by Akinfeev.
Keane then just failed to pick out his strike partner after a decent move while, at the other end, St Ledger did enough to put off Kerzhakov when he was played in by Arshavin.
A lively end to the half saw Kerzhakov return the favour to his captain but the Arsenal forward pulled his shot wide of Given’s goal.
Trapattoni opted not to make any changes at half-time but the same pattern quickly emerged as Anuikov found space inside the area before shooting into the side-netting.
McGeady has never scored for his country but went close in the 48th minute after the ball was played back to him by Keane, the Spartak Moscow winger drawing a good save out of Akinfeev from a shot across goal.
Any hopes the home side had of getting something from the game were surely extinguished two minutes later, though, when Shirokov scored Russia’s third.
There did not look much danger when the midfielder let fly from 25 yards but, in attempting to block the shot, Dunne deflected the ball into his own net with Given stranded.
The defender tried to make up for his error straightaway, testing Akinfeev from distance, but Russia looked dangerous with every attack and St Ledger needed to be alert to keep out Arshavin before Kerzhakov beat Given to the ball only to discover none of his team-mates had kept up with him.
With an hour gone, Trapattoni sent on Reading striker Long for Liam Lawrence, and he was swiftly followed by Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson, on for Whelan.
His final change saw Keith Fahey introduced for Doyle in the 71st minute, and moments later they were given a lifeline when Keane chased a long ball into the area and tumbled under pressure from Chelsea defender Yury Zhirkov.
There looked to be minimal contact but Dutch referee Kevin Blom pointed to the penalty spot and Keane sent Akinfeev the wrong way to extend his record goal tally to 45.
It seemed certain to be only a consolation but suddenly the home side looked a threat, and they could have pulled another goal back had Kevin Kilbane’s control been better six yards out.
Incredibly, given the one-sided nature of the match thus far, they did manage a second with 12 minutes still to play. Akinfeev saved again from McGeady but this time Long was following up and he managed to poke the ball just inside the far post.
The roar around the stadium was deafening but the hosts could not find an equaliser, and in fact should have conceded a fourth only for substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak to fluff his lines six yards out.
The final action saw the home side screaming for a penalty when St Ledger went over in the box, but Blom blew his whistle only to signal the end of the game.