Slovakia 0 Russia 1:ALAN Dzagoev's 71st-minute goal was enough to give Russia a crucial victory over Slovakia last night to all but send Dick Advocaat's side through to the European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.
Advocaat wasn’t getting carried away at the final whistle in Zilina but, with Andorra next up at home in Moscow, the Dutchman is aware Euro 2012 qualification is looking inevitable now.
The Russians avenged their Moscow defeat at the hands of Slovakia 13 months ago and they deserved their victory on a night when they enjoyed the majority of the possession and created the better scoring chances in front of a 10,087 crowd.
Only a valiant performance from Everton reserve goalkeeper Jan Mucha prevented the Russians from recording a more emphatic triumph.
“We are nearly there but we are not there yet,” said Advocaat as Russia prepared to fly out for Moscow last night ahead of Tuesday’s game with Andorra.
“I told the players not to celebrate at the end of the game because the job is not yet finished. We respected Slovakia tonight and we will respect Andorra in the final game.
“We are almost there and I am happy with that but we cannot afford to relax now. We deserved this win and I believe we deserve to be so close to qualification.”
Slovakia, who blew their chance with the 0-4 defeat at home to Armenia last time out, did little on the night to test a nervy Malafeev in the Russian goal.
Former Chelsea player and current Fenerbahce winger Miroslav Stoch provided the greatest threat for the home side on a night when they struggled to create clear-cut chances.
His best effort produced a good save from Russian goalkeeper Malafeev after 43 minutes while Holosko also tested the Russian early in the second-half.
That was as good as it got for the home side however on a night when it was win or bust.
Manager Vladimir Weiss, who led the team to the last World Cup in South Africa, was resigned to his side’s fate following a disappointing display.
“The better team won,” he said afterwards but he refused to speculate on his own future.
“Russia have the better individuals. We were not better in any section of the game,” he added
Weiss however was critical of Swedish referee Eriksson as one of his players, Karhan, was off the field for treatment and trying to get back on when the goal was scored.
“The most important moment in the goal was that the referee didn’t allow our player to re-enter the field, he was out of the field and because of that there was a gap for the Russians to move into,” added Weiss.
Russia did have the better of the chances but their only goal didn’t arrive until the 71st minute when CSKA midfielder Dzagoev fired home from 25 metres to finally beat Mucha.
Spurs striker Pavlyuchenko also had the ball in the net again two minutes later but this time the offside flag saved the home side.
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel began the day celebrating the arrival of his new son Matthew back on Merseyside. But he was the only Slovakian left with something to celebrate this morning. He also has the perfect excuse to miss Tuesday night’s now meaningless trip to Macedonia.
SLOVAKIA: Mucha; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan; Kucka (Guede 72 mins), Karhan (Sebo 85 mins), Stoch, Hamsik; Jendrisek, Holosko (Weiss 72 mins).
RUSSIA: Malafeev; Anyukov, V. Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Zhirkov (A Berezutsky 89 mins); Denisov, Ziryanov, Zyrjanov; Dzagoev (Samedov 88 mins), Arshavin, Pavyluchenko (Bogrebnak 86 mins).
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
