Mick McCarthy's Republic of Ireland team extended the coldest of welcomes to their Russian visitors tonight by scoring two goals, hitting the post twice and even fielding two different teams on their way to an enjoyable victory.
On a night which saw two players win Irish caps for the first time Millwall midfielder Steven Reid, making his second international appearance, rifled the home side into the lead after, you guessed it, two minutes.
Robbie Keane nodded a second after 19 minutes to complete the scoring.
After an entertaining night's football, manager McCarthy will be particularly pleased that his team's nack of seizing most chances up front while "riding their luck" at the back and conceding most of the possession is still a successful one.
The Russians, with Mostovoi, the main orchestrator, kept control of the ball for long periods although restricted for the most part to hopeful shots from distance.
Vladimir Bestchastnykh did head the ball against the bar in the first half and Igor Titov was guilty of dismal finishing on more than one occasion but for the most part Ireland's defence was untroubled.
Ireland were spurred on as ever by Roy Keane, who was more than ably assisted in the first half by fellow Corkman Colin Healy.
If Ireland started the match in rip-roaring fashion it was largely thanks to the robust tackling of Healy and Damien Duff.
Both players contributed enormously to an exhilirating first half though neither had a direct hand in the goals.
Reid's strike came after an Ian Harte free-kick was only cleared as far as the edge of the box. The Millwall man hammered a low right-footer first time and wheeled away in jubilation when he saw it squirm under the body of goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin.
Keane's goal came when he headed home from eight yards after Finnan had concluded an enterprising run by picking the Leeds man out perfectly.
Harte curled a 25-yard free-kick against the inside of the post and Clinton Morrison hammered a shot against the butt of the post towards the end of the match as the Irish side played which fluidity and verve dispite wholesale changes at half-time and throughout the second half.
McCarthy will be happy but his counterpart will surely be looking to revenge the humiliation in the Euro 2004 qualifiers.