A team of former Russian football stars have reached the final of the annual Legends Cup in Moscow after beating Portugal on Saturday.
An 8-4 win over Portugal in the second and final group stage match was enough for Russia to top the group, and they will now face either the Netherlands or Ukraine in Sunday’s final.
The Russia team, containing such famous names as striker Dmitry Alenichev and midfielders Yegor Titov and Alexey Smertin, had earlier beaten a Germany team containing striker Oliver Neuville 10-4.
Sergei Kiryakov, the 42-year-old former Hamburg striker who is now coach of the Russian under-21 international side, was Russia's driving force against Portugal with four goals.
Defender Alexander Shmarko contributed two goals, with one apiece from Titov and striker Vladimir Beschastnykh.
The Legends Cup has been played annually in Moscow since 2009, with Russia winning all three competitions so far. Should the Netherlands make the final, it would be a repeat of the 2011 final, which Russia won 13-4.
