a hard fought victory

In a teeming storm, Russia defeated a plucky Wales squad 2-1 at Lokomotiv Stadium.

The match started fast with Russia attacking in waves and Wales playing well behind the ball. After ten minutes Wales confidence began to build and started to push forward. At the sixteenth minute on a strong run down the left side of the area, Sergei Semak pulled down Tottenham’s Gareth Bale in a horrible challenge and the spot was pointed to. In a moment that possibly turned the match, CSKA Moscow’s Igor Akinfeev walled-up the goal and denied the shot. Only five minutes later, in a call many could debate, Carl Robinson fouled Konstatin Zurianov in the area and a penalty was awarded. Ex-Spartak Moscow-man (that is hard to get used to) Roman Pavluchenko calmly stepped up and drove the ball to the back of the net giving Russia the 1-0 lead. With the rain picking up at a heavy pace, the match went to the half at the same score.

Wales came up fast after the break, looking as the aggressor and after pressuring for twenty minutes, Cardiff City’s Joe Ledley drew the match level to the shock of the home crowd. At the seventy-fourth minute, like many viewers, I moved to the edge of my seat as Zenit Saint Petersburg Pavel Pogrebniak entered the match and waited to see his predatory skills come into play. It wasn’t long as at the eighty-second minute a rebound off Wales ‘keeper Wayne Hennessey was pounced upon by Pavel and Russia took a 2-1 lead and the victory.

Russia’s World Cup efforts return on October 11 and 15 against Germany and Finland respectively.

Match Details
Wales
Wayne Hennessey,Chris Gunter,Craig Morgan,Ashley Williams,Gareth Bale,Simon Davies,Carl Fletcher,Carl Robinson (Samuel Ricketts 46),David Edwards (Steve Evans 77),Joe Ledley,Sam Vokes(Ched Evans 62)
Subs Not Used: Myhill, Stock, Cotterill, Earnshaw.
Goals: Ledley 67

Russia
Igor Akinfeev,Aleksandr Aniukov,Denis Kolodin,Sergei Ignashevich,Yuri Zhirkov,Konstatin Zurianov,Dmitri Torbinsky,Igor Semshov,Sergei Semak(Pogrebnyak 74),Andrei Arshavin,Roman Pavluchenko(Bystrov 90)
Subs Not Used: Malafeev, Vasili Berezutsky, Alexei Berezutsky, Yanbaev.
Goals: Pavlyuchenko 22 pen, Pogrebnyak 81.