WROCLAW, Poland: A vibrant
Russia took command of Group A on the opening day of the European Championships
with a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic here on Friday.
Alan Dzagoev
notched a brace with Roman Shirokov and Roman Pavlyuchenko grabbing one each as
Russia went two points clear at the top of the group following the earlier 1-1
draw between co-hosts Poland and Greece.
It was a statement of intent
from a team many are starting to regard as more than just outsiders for overall
victory.
For the Czechs though, Vaclav Pilar's strike was scant
consolation from a poor showing.
Russia seemed disjointed at the
beginning and it was the Czechs who bossed the opening exchanges as Dick
Advocaat's team struggled to find their rhythm.
But once they did, they
carved Michal Bilek's team open in ruthless fashion.
A clever backheel
from Arshavin set Yuri Zhirkov free at the byline and his cross found Aleksandr
Kerzhakov, but he couldn't direct his side-footed finish on target.
Yet
within 60 seconds, Russia were in front.
Dzagoev capitaised on two Czechs
bumping into each other in midfield to surge forwards and release Konstantin
Zyryanov down the right.
He picked out Kerzhakov at the back post and
when his header came back off the upright it was Dzagoev who arrived on the
scene in the right place and at the right time to drill home.
Dzagoev
then wasted a great chance as he took a wild swing when played in on the right
by Kerzhakov.
But on 23 minutes it was two as Arshavin played an incisive
ball into the box and although it was an inch too far in front of Kerzhakov,
Shirokov sneaked in around the back to dink the ball over Petr Cech.
The
Czechs produced little in terms of clear-cut chances but Jan Rezek flicked a
header into Vyacheslav Malafeev's arms before sending a weak shot straight at
the goalkeeper.
Another sweeping Russian move with Shirokov breaking from
deep ended with Kerzhakov blazing high over the bar.
The second period
began with a strangely muted atmosphere but seven minutes in it was livened up
as Jaroslav Plasil sliced open the Russian defence and Pilar skipped around
Malafeev before sliding the ball home.
Arshavin, enjoying one of his more
productive games, cleverly clipped in Kerzhakov but the Zenit St Petersburg
striker screwed his effort wide of the far post.
His next two efforts
were so awful that he was roundly jeered before Advocaat put him out of his
misery and brought on Pavlyuchenko instead.
Czech full-back Theodor Gebre
Selassie produced a showreel moment with a spectacular volley into the
side-netting and Malafeev got down well to clutch a thumped Tomas Rosicky effort
at the second attempt.
But 11 minutes from time, Dzagoev effectively
sealed the points with a rising finish from Pavlyuchenko's pass.
And then
Pavlyuchenko added an individual effort from the edge of the box following
dogged persistence.
SINGAPORE - It was just
another game, they said. The result did not matter, it is an opportunity to
experiment, a friendly.
Even if there were any who were convinced by
words thrown out by both camps ahead of the Causeway Challenge, there are none
after Friday night.
Singapore came back from the dead to draw 2-2 with
old rivals Malaysia in a match that saw crunching tackles, elbows thrown and
words exchanged - and a couple of spectacular goals.
The evening that
started with a Malaysian fans clashing with their Singapore counterparts in an
all-out brawl outside the stadium, ended with Malaysian reserve goalkeeper
Farizal Malias having to be pulled away from the fourth official - on two
occasions.
"The hype is there despite this being a friendly... we knew
it was going to be a physical and tough match, and it was. We started slow,
absorbed everything and played well in between -- until the last five minutes,"
said Malaysia coach K Rajagobal.
"We should be satisfied with the
result, but we deserved to win."
Azamuddin Akil scored in the 43rd
minute after an exquisite Norshahrul Idlan Talaha dummy left him inside the
six-yard box with only the goalkeeper to beat.
And Malaysia looked like
running away with the match just 15 minutes after the break, when skipper Safiq
Rahim left Izwan Mahbud rooted to the spot with a well-struck
freekick.
But Singapore launched a comeback, with a little help from Hong
Kong referee Ng Kai Lam. He awarded a hotly disputed indirect freekick inside
the box, after Qiu Li saw his 84th minute penalty saved, an offer Shahdan
Sulaiman accepted, his shot finding the top corner.
Qiu Li made amends
for that penalty miss in stoppage time with a training ground routine. His
cracking drive off a Shahdan freekick brought the 5,900 at Jalan Besar to their
feet, and sent Malaysian tempers flaring.
"I'm happy but we can be
better. We dominated the first period and should have scored a few goals," said
Radojko Avramovic.
"I've no problem whatever the result, I just wanted
to look at the quality that we have. With a bit of exposure some players will
come through."
Singapore started the match with an experimental team
without the likes of Fahrudin Mustafic, Qiu Li, Shi Jiayi and Daniel Bennett,
but the team made entirely up of LionsXII players displayed potential for the
future.
But with players missing the return leg due to National Service
commitments, it will be a different Singapore side that starts at the Shah Alam
Stadium on Tuesday.
And Malaysia are promising another fiery
affair.
Said Rajagobal: "I don't have to motivate my players any more,
this result motivates them already."
