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Switzerland - 2 Russia - 2 Russia shrugged off their poor away form as they fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against…

Mon Jun 09 2003 - 01:00

Switzerland - 2 Russia - 2 Russia shrugged off their poor away form as they fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Group 10 leaders Switzerland with the help of a hotly-disputed penalty on Saturday.

The result left Switzerland still two points clear at the top, now with nine points. Russia and the Republic of Ireland both have seven points, and Albania have five points. All four have played five games.

After a competitive opening spell on a sultry evening Swiss striker Alexander Frei struck twice with excellent opportunist goals after 14 and 16 minutes to put the hosts in charge.

He struck his first goal from 20 metres after following up a shot by the hard-working Hakan Yakin. Goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov fumbled, the ball ran loose and Frei found the net with a clean close-range finish.

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The Swiss striker grabbed his second goal to complete a clever, fast move on the left as the ball was moved swiftly from veteran forward Stephane Chapuisat, making his 92nd appearance for Switzerland, inside to Yakin.

The quick-thinking Yakin was immediately under pressure, but flicked another square pass to his right and Frei drove the ball past Ovchinnikov from 15 metres.

Russia pulled a goal back after 24 minutes when central defender Sergei Ignashevich headed in a free-kick from Igor Yanovsky on the right.

In the second half, the Russians pushed hard for an equaliser and found it when attacking midfielder Igor Yanovsky tangled with midfielder Raphael Wicky and, after some pulling and pushing by both, went down in the area.

After heated protests in which Murat Yakin was cautioned, Ignashevich drove the spot-kick high into the net to equalise after 68 minutes, leaving the Russians to hold out, which they duly did.

SWITZERLAND: Stiel, Haas, Magnin (Berner 63), Muller (Henchoz 82), Murat Yakin, Celestini, Cabanas, Wicky (Vogel 71), Frei, Hakan Yakin, Chapuisat. Subs Not Used: Zuberbuehler, Meyer, Spycher, Rama. Booked: Muller, Murat Yakin, Berner. Goals: Frei 14, 16.

RUSSIA: Ovchinnikov, Vasili Berezutsky, Kovtun, Smertin, Semak (Jewsikov 82), Ignashevitch, Gusev, Aldonin, Popov (Sychev 46), Kariaka (Bystrov 52), Mandrykin. Subs Not Used: Alexei Berezutsky, Solomatin, Boulykin, Yanovski. Booked: Yanovski, Bystrov. Goals: Ignashevitch 24, 68 pen.

Referee: D Ibanez (Spain)