Pavlyuchenko steers Russia to victory

Russia 2 Azerbaijan 0

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored one and created another as Guus Hiddink’s Russia recorded a straightforward 2-0 win over Azerbaijan in Moscow.

The match was Hiddink’s first in charge of Russia since combining the role with that of Chelsea manager, and his side did what was required of them against the group minnows without ever really excelling.

The first half was an underwhelming spectacle, with Russia struggling to assert themselves and Azerbaijan unable to offer anything but a succession of wild and speculative long-range shots.

Andrey Arshavin went close for Russia in the third minute, capitalising on some shaky Azerbaijan defending only to shoot straight at goalkeeper Farkhad Veliyev.

Pavlyuchenko, despite his key contribution to the game’s outcome, at times looked out of sorts, which was epitomised in the 28th minute when he scuffed a shot in a good position after fine work by Yuri Zhirkov to create the opening.

The opening goal came four minutes later and was not without controversy.

The Belgian referee ordered Pavlyuchenko’s original free-kick to be retaken after encroachment by an Azerbaijan defender, which the Tottenham striker duly dispatched at the second attempt, bending the ball through the chaotic Azerbaijani wall and under the unsighted Veliyev.

Russia went close to doubling the lead early in the second half when Igor Semshov’s drilled cross eluded Arshavin by a whisker, and substitute Alan Dzagoev could have finished after a further cutback from Semshov only to stumble at the crucial moment.

Azerbaijan were weakened when Brazilian-born striker Fabio Luis Ramim hobbled off on the hour after an unfortunate knock on the knee, but the visitors remained a threat on the counter and created a decent opening in the 66th minute when Elvar Bakhshiyev struck a 20-yard shot wide of Igor Akinfeev’s post.

But Russia wrapped things up with twenty minutes to play as Pavlyuchenko, in his final act before being replaced by Pavel Pogrebniak, slipped a ball through the Azerbaijan defence for Konstantin Zyryanov to rattle the second past Veliyev.

The Azerbaijan goalkeeper kept out a Sergei Ignashevich effort in the dying moments as Russia threatened a third whilst Azerbaijan were unlucky not to claim a consolation when substitute Vagif Dzavadov struck the upright in stoppage time.