MOSCOW, April 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia beat Liechtenstein 1-0 in a Group 4 World Cup qualifier in Vaduz on Wednesday evening in a match that saw few chances and a great deal of frustration for Guus Hiddink's side.
As is so often the case when they face the minnows of international soccer, Russia completely failed to find their rhythm and were fortunate not to concede a late equalizer to a side that occupies 151st place in the FIFA rankings.
Liechtenstein, with a population over 4,000 times smaller than Russia's some 142 million, were never overawed by the Euro 2008 semi-finalists, and more than matched their more illustrious guests in the early stages.
Indeed, it was the hosts who created the first chances, Liechtenstein winning two corners in succession after threatening crosses, giving the crowd in the 6,000-capaicty Rheinpark Stadium cause to hope that a sensation might be on the cards.
Russia eventually found the net in the 30th minute, a well-worked combination of passes ending with Roman Pavlyuchenko blasting the ball home. Unfortunately for Russia, however, the linesman had already signaled for offside.
With half-time approaching and the scoreboard operators still idle, Russia sprang into action in the 38th minute, Andrei Arshavin threading through a pass for Konstantin Zyryanov to scoop the ball into the net for his second goal in as many internationals.
The second half saw much the same story, with Russia lacking imagination and speed, and Liechtenstein holding their own.
Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko threatened on the hour, before Chelsea target Yuri Zhirkov went just wide with a chip from outside the box, but Russia were clearly already thinking about the flight home.
However, their casualness almost cost them vital qualifying points towards the end of the game, substitute Thomas Beck shooting just wide for Liechtenstein with eight minutes on the clock, and then Igor Akinfeev forced to save following a clever corner.
"Not one of our side's best matches, but the result suits us," said the commentator on Russia's state-run Channel One, his words summing up the evening perfectly.
Despite the disappointing display, the win means that Russia have now taken 12 points from five matches and trail group leaders Germany, who beat Wales 2-0 in Cardiff on Wednesday, by four points. Russia have however played a game less than the Germans.
The first-placed side in each of the nine European qualifying groups goes through to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, while the best eight second-placed sides play off for a spot at the tournament.
GROUP 4
Germany - 16 (six games played)
Russia - 12 (five)
Wales - 6 (six)
Finland - 7 (four)
Azerbaijan - 1 (four)
Liechtenstein -1 (five)
