Second-half goals from substitutes Gary Doherty and
Clinton Morrison failed to prevent the Republic of
Ireland from a 4-2 defeat to Russia.
Andrei
Kariaka and Vladimir Beschastnykh had handed the Russians
a deserved first-half lead - before Mick McCarthy's
battle-hardened troops hit back.
Spurs' Doherty halved the deficit immediately after
the break but just when it looked like the Republic
were forcing their way back into this opening Euro
2004 qualifier, Russia struck again.
Substitute Alexander Kerzhakov restored the home side's
margin - only for Birmingham striker Morrison to bring
the Republic right back into it.
But Russia took maximum points when Phil Babb put
through his own net to ensure the home side finished
the game with a two-goal cushion.
The visitors were on the backfoot as early as the
10th minute at the impressive Lokomotiv Stadium as
the home side looked to make an early impression.
The Russians, under the guidance of new coach Valeri
Gazzaev, forced a quick corner and from an almighty
goalmouth scramble came within a whisker of breaking
the deadlock through Kariaka.
Sergei Semak then missed a golden chance to force
the opener when he snatched at a close-range effort
with Shay Given stranded and the goal at his mercy.
And, on 14 minutes, Beschastnykh saw his clever lob
fly just wide of Given's post.
McCarthy kept faith with the same side that served
him so well at the World Cup, with Jason McAteer starting
ahead of Gary Kelly in midfield and livewires Robbie
Keane and Damien Duff spearheading the Republic's
strikeforce.
Indeed, it was Duff who almost found the net when
his deflected shot from the edge of the box struck
the bar - but that was where the Blackburn flyer's
efforts came to a sad end.
Duff was replaced shortly after when he pulled up
in pain and was promptly replaced by Morrison.
To compound matters, Russia quickly marched forward
and made their early dominance pay with a smart goal.
Steve Finnan was caught napping by Kariaka, who calmly
cut inside before firing beyond Given to the delight
of the raucous home support.
Then, in the 25th minute, the Republic found themselves
in deeper trouble.
Matt Holland lost possession in midfield and the Russians
poured forward as the ball fell to Beschastnykh. The
Spartak Moscow striker gave Given little chance as
he lashed home his 26th international goal.
The Republic looked stunned but soon established some
pattern and purpose to their play, with Keane providing
the impetus up front with his tireless running. The
visitors forced a succession of corners but the home
side appeared to have the cutting edge in the shape
of the impressive Beschastnykh.
Ian Harte saw his long-range free-kick fly past the
post before the Russians wasted a good opportunity
to extend their lead seconds before the break when
an unmarked Igor Yanovsky failed to connect on to
a Eugini Aldonin cross from the right wing.
Russia replaced goalscorer Beschastnykh at half-time
with Kerzhakov and were content to sit back on their
two-goal cushion - but it proved somewhat costly when
Doherty, on for Keane, headed home Harte's corner
to halve the deficit.
But no sooner had Ireland scored, Russia went down
the other end to restore the margin when substitute
Kerzhakov stooped low to direct a cross past Given.
Morrison enhanced his growing reputation at international
level when he rounded off a neat move involving Finnan
and Mark Kinsella to claw the Republic back into the
game, but Babb's own goal helped Russia to hold their
nerve and take the points.
