MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - None of Russia's three remaining representatives in the Europa League managed to make the competition's group stages on Thursday evening on a disastrous night for the domestic game.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Urals side Amkar gave London's Fulham a fright with a 90th minute goal from Martin Kushev to put them 1-0 up, but were unable to get a second to take them through on the away goals rule.
Dynamo Moscow, who drew their first leg 0-0 with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria a week ago, looked to be in command of the tie after a 10th minute header from Russian international Alexander Kerzhakov. However, CSKA scored four minutes later to level the game through a Spas Delev diving header and Ivan Ivanov struck the winner in the 55th minute to give the Bulgarians a 2-1 win on the night and on aggregate.
2008 UEFA Cup champions Zenit St. Petersburg, 4-3 down from the first leg against Nacional in Portugal, opened the scoring with a Fatih Tekke shot in the 34th minute. Playing in torrential rain in front of former manager Dick Advocaat, Igor Semshov had two chances to seal victory with minutes remaining, but a defensive error in the 89th minute let Ruben Micael nod home the winner. Zenit threw men forward, but the game finished 1-1 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate to Nacional.
The draw for the group stages takes tomorrow in Nyon, Switzerland.
