MOSCOW, October 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia were unfortunate not to come away with a draw in their World Cup 2010 qualifying tie against Germany in Dortmund on Saturday evening.
Despite missing a number of players through injury, Russia matched the Germans, beaten finalists at this summer's Euro 2008, for much of the first half, and outplayed their hosts for all of the second.
The Russians could have taken the lead as early as the 4th minute, Andrei Arshavin and Yuri Zhirkov linking well to set up Pavel Pogrebnyak with a clear scoring opportunity that the Zenit St. Petersburg striker could only put over the bar.
The let-off seemed to act as a wake-up call for Germany, and in the 9th minute Miroslav Klose played a well-timed ball in for Lukas Podolski to slam past Igor Akinfeyev in the Russian goal.
If Russia's central defense, so often the side's Achilles heel, was at fault for the German opener, the host's second goal was the result of a collective breakdown, Chelsea's Michael Ballack getting on the end of Bastian Schweinsteiger cross, the Bayern Munich player allowed acres of room by the generous Russians to consider his options.
Russia's Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink, took a gamble at half-time, replacing defender Renat Yanbaev and giving CSKA's 18-year-old striker, Alan Dzagoyev, his national side debut.
The gamble paid off almost at once, with Zenit's Alexander Anyukov robbing the Germans of possession in their own penalty box, his half-shot, half-cross leaving Arshavin with the simplest of tap-ins.
Russia, backed by a large contingent of increasingly vocal fans, poured forward, pinning the Germans into their own half for much of the second half. As they looked for the equalizer, both Anyukov and Arshavin tormented the German defense with runs down both flanks, and Dzagoyev and captain Sergei Semak went close shortly after Russia had pulled one back.
Hiddink's side continued to create chances, with Zhirkov and Arshavin seeing shots saved well by Rene Adler in the German goal, and Pogrebnyak just failing to get on the end of another piercing Arshavin pass.
The Germans only had one shot on target for the whole of the second half, albeit a dangerously swerving Piotr Trochowski attempt that cannoned off the Russian bar.
Indeed, the game was turning into a virtual remake of Zenit St Petersburg's recent 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, the Russians creating chance after chance, the ball somehow staying out of their opponent's net.
With three minutes to go, another superb example of swift passing from the Russians saw Dzagoyev almost become a national hero on his debut, his shot beating the German keeper, but bouncing back off the post.
"Where are you bird of good fortune?" cried the commentator on Russia's state-run Channel One.
Russia's 2-1 defeat means that Germany now have 7 points from three games, and Russia, after their 2-1 victory over Wales in the opening match of Group 4, have 3. In the group's other matches on Saturday, Finland beat Azerbaijan 1-0 in Helsinki, and Wales defeated Liechtenstein 2-0 in Cardiff.
Russia play Finland in Moscow on Wednesday, while Wales travel to Germany.
There are nine groups in the European qualifying zone. Each group winner earns an automatic place at the 2010 World Cup, while the best eight second-placed teams will play off against each other for the remaining four spots.
The 2010 World Cup will take place in South Africa, the first time it has been awarded to an African country.
GROUP 4 (3 games unless stated)
Germany - 7
Wales -6
Finland - 4 (2 games)
Russia -3 (2 games)
Azerbaijan - 1
Liechtenstein - 1
