RUSSIA held on for a nervy 1-0 win over Finland to claim a vital three points in Group B at Euro 2020.
Aleksei Miranchuk’s first-half goal was enough at the Gazprom Arena for Russia to head home with the spoils.
- RESULT: Finland 0 Russia 1
- Finland XI: Hrdecky, Arajuuri, O’Shaughnessy, Toivio, Kamara, Lod, Pukki, Schuller, Uronen, Pohjanpalo, Raitala
- Russia XI: Safonov, Fernandes, Diveev, Ozdoev, Barinov, Zobnin, Dzhikiya, Miranchuk, Golovin, Dzyuba, Kuzyaev
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THAT’S ALL FROM SAINT PETERSBURG
Russia picked up an important 1-0 victory against Finland at the Saint Petersburg Stadium.
The Finnish national team thought they got the lead in the third minute when Jukka Raitala dispossessed Igor Diveev at the right flank and delivered a stunning cross to Joel Pohjanpalo.
Pohjanpalo headed the ball past Matvei Safonov but was caught just a few inches offside by VAR.
Russia got unlucky later as they lost Mario Fernandes to what appeared to be a back injury after an awkward landing.
But Stanislav Cherchesov’s men created plenty of opportunities and finally broke the deadlock in the second minute of stoppage time.
Aleksey Miranchuk danced around Finland’s backline and passed to Artem Dzyuba who then set his team-mate up in the area for a stunning curling shot that beat Lukas Hradecky.
Russia had chances to seal the win in the second half with Aleksandr Golovin and Rifat Zhemaletdinov but they both failed to hit the target.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a lovely evening!
GETTY IMAGES RUSS RIDER
Today’s result marked the fifth time Finland lose to Russia in all of their five meetings.
The Finnish national team’s losing streak has been extended and they now count 16 goals conceded and a mere one scored.
This was also the first ever time the two countries met in a major international tournament.
However, that didn’t end Russia’s winning run against the Scandinavians
GETTY IMAGES BOYZ N THE HOOD-OO
Russia broke a devastating hoodoo today thanks to their 1-0 victory over Finland.
That marked their first win in the Euros since June 2012 when they beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in the group stage.
Since then, the Russians endured four losses in their next six Euro matches.
Russia drew with Poland and lost to Greece in Euro 2012, drew with England and lost to Slovakia as well as Wales in 2016 and lost to Belgium last week
GETTY IMAGES
ART ATTACK
Zenit Saint Petersburg star Artem Dzyuba proved once more how essential he is for the Russian national team.
Dzyuba may not have scored against Finland but provided the assist for Aleksei Miranchuk’s winner.
That means the striker has participated in 22 goals in his last 21 international appearances.
More below:
UPDATED TABLE
Russia have climbed up to second place in Group B after their 1-0 win over Finland.
Stanislav Cherchesov’s men have overtaken the Finnish national team, who are now third.
However, Belgium and Denmark have yet to play their second game and will face off tomorrow.
More below:
STATS
Russia dominated 58.8 per cent of possession throughout the match against Finland.
Stanislav Cherchesov’s men produced a total of 14 shots, but only three of them were on target.
Finland, on the other hand, only managed 11 shots, one of which was on target.
The Russians stood out in the defensive side of things as they won 83.3 per cent of challenges
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FT: FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
Russia picked up an important victory against Finland at the Saint Petersburg Stadium.
The Finnish national team thought they got the lead in the opening minutes when Jukka Raitala dispossessed Igor Diveev at the right flank and delivered a stunning cross to Joel Pohjanpalo.
Pohjanpalo headed the ball past Matvei Safonov but was caught just an inch offside by VAR.
Russia got unlucky soon after as they lost Mario Fernandes to what appeared to be a back injury.
But Stanislav Cherchesov’s men created plenty of chances and finally broke the deadlock in the second minute of stoppage time.
Aleksey Miranchuk danced around Finland’s defence and passed to Artem Dzyuba who then set his team-mate up in the area for a stunning curling shot that beat Lukas Hradecky.
Russia had chances to seal the win in the second half with Aleksandr Golovin and Rifat Zhemaletdinov but they both just missed the target
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME IN SAINT PETERSBURG!!!!!!
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
90+3 WHAT A CHANCE!
Russia waste another big chance!
Zhemaletdinov breaks inside the area and fires a shot that just misses Hradecky’s top left corner
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
90 Five more minutes of added time to go until full-time!
Finland are running on fumes, which works very well for Russia
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
90 YELLOW CARD
Finland ace O’Shaughnessy gets booked for an elbow on Sobolev.
That was the right call from the ref
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
89 CHANCE!
Finland come close there!
O’Shaughnessy gets a header in the far post and sets up captain Arajuuri for one of his own but the ball just misses Safonov’s crossbar!
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
88 YELLOW CARD
Jikia, who now wears Russia’s armband after Dzyuba’s exit, gets booked for a rough challenge on Soiri
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
87 CHANCE
Russia international Zobnin tries a shot inside the box but sends the ball to the stands
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
85 SUBSTITUTION
And so Russia star Miranchuk makes way for Mukhin whereas Sobolev replaces Dzyuba
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
84 Another change from Finland manager Kanerva as Jensen takes Toivio’s place.
Russia boss Cherchesov prepare a double switch as well
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
83 Finland continue to push for a late equaliser but tempo has slowed down.
Russia are sitting back but prove to be quite lethal on the counter-attack with Miranchuk
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
80 Just 10 more minutes to go until full-time!
Tempo has slowed down but Finland continue to hold possession
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
78 Finland manager Kanerva makes a strange decision to take out Pukki, his top scorer, for Lappalainen, who has never netted a single goal for his country.
Time is running out, let’s see if this risk will pay off
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
75 SUBSTITUTION
Finland manager Kanerva makes a double change to shake things up a bit.
Raitala makes way for Soiri and shockingly enough, Pukki comes off for Lappalainen!
Quite a risky move from the Finish boss who has 15 minutes to equalise!
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
72 WHAT A CHANCE!
Russia keep wasting chances that would put the game to bed!
Dzyuba finds Kuzyayev down the left side of the area and the midfielder fires a beautiful low shot that is denied by a stunning save from Hradecky.
The Finland goalkeeper lunged to his left and made the save with his left hand
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
70 Russia are on the defensive now, just like Finland in the first half.
But unlike their counterparts, Cherchesov’s centre-back are defending much better by clearing almost all crossed from the wings
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
68 CHANCE
Kauko tries a long-range shot on his first contact with the ball but sends it wide
FINLAND 0-1 RUSSIA
67 SUBSTITUTION
Finland manager Kanerva makes his first switch of the match as Kauko replaces Schuller
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
