THE Russian Bear finally awoke from hibernation in Saint Petersburg to get its Euro 2020 quest on track.
Asleep and slaughtered 3-0 in their first game against Belgium, they simply could not risk another below-par performance against surprise package Finland.
They came good with Aleksei Miranchuk curling home a fine winner in first-half injury time.
They could and should have had more but poor finishing and Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky denied them.
Finland for their part said they were not coming just for the point that would get them into the next stage after victory over Denmark.
That’s not how it looked though until they threw caution to the wind in the closing stages.
Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, in for the axed Anton Shunin, was barely tested.
The Eagle-Owls certainly started positively before having their wings clipped, with the ball in the back of the net after three minutes.
A loose clearance was latched onto by Jukka Raitala who delivered a superb cross into the centre of the area.
The men in red looked favourites to win the ball as they outnumbered Joal Pahjanpalo but he won it with a wonderful diving header.
Celebrations for Pahjanpalo, who had grabbed the winner against Denmark, were quickly muted.
Referee Danny Makkelle put his finger to his ear and the VAR told him the Finnish player was inches offside.
It was the early kick up the backside Russia needed.
Soon they had fashioned a great chance of their own when Magomed Ozdeov was teed up in front of goal only to slash his shot horribly high and and wide.
Artem Dzyuba, scorer of nine goals in qualifying, hit the foot of the upright.
Daler Kuzayev put a ball into the far post that substitute Vyacheslav Karavaev, on for the injured Maris Fernandes, looked favourite for.
From nowhere Jere Uronan steamed in to get his foot to the ball and get an accidental boot in his face from his opponent as well as both went to ground.
When the breakthrough came two minutes into first-half injury time it was worth waiting for.
There didn’t seem a slither of light for Miranchuk when he was surrounded by white shirts in the box.
But then he quickly eased the ball from his right foot to his left and the finished was exquisite curling shot past the outstretched arm of Hradecky and into the far corner.
More chances came for Russia after the break with most notably Daler Kuzyaev denied by an excellent full length finger tip save from Hradecky.
In injury time Rifat Zhemaletdinov blazed over when a chance opened up.
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Finland, in their first ever major tournament, were not outplayed but it is one of the tournament favourites Belgium for them now in their last game.
For Russia it is Denmark.
Like most of the groups in this competition things will be going to the wire.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
