GROUP F Russia 2 Northern Ireland 0:NORTHERN IRELAND'S campaign got off to a losing start as goals from Viktor Fayzulin and Roman Shirokov gave Fabio Capello's Russia three points in Moscow last night.
The visitors set up to steal a point and for 30 minutes looked as though they might, only for Fayzulin to break the deadlock with a smart finish from eight yards.
Russia’s second came from a hotly-disputed penalty, Shirokov coolly converting after left-back Craig Cathcart had been harshly treated by the referee.
“I felt at 1-0 we were well in the game and that the penalty – a very soft penalty – killed the game for us,” said Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.
The manager had handed 34-year-old goalkeeper Roy Carroll a first competitive start for six years. He also opted to leave Dean Shiels on the bench in favour of Jamie Ward despite man-of-the-match performances in his last two appearances.
Alexander Kerzhakov had the first shot of the match early on but could not test Carroll from the edge of the area. In the 18th minute the Zenit St Petersburg striker was played in by Vladimir Bystrov but he took an extra touch before firing wide.
The visitors responded with a hard-earned corner which Gareth McAuley nodded just off target.
Yet after half an hour Russia broke the deadlock. Bystrov unlocked the defence with a carefully-weighted pass, Kerzhakov centred the ball from the edge of the penalty box and the onrushing Fayzulin sent a first-time effort into the top corner.
Shirokov almost put Russia two in front four minutes later only for Carroll to save well with his feet at the near post. By now Russia were dominating possession.
The second half began in flat fashion, briefly brought to life when Berezutsky headed Dmitry Kombarov’s 54th-minute corner just wide of the far post.
Northern Ireland were struggling for a foothold in the game, with lone striker Kyle Lafferty increasingly isolated.
Kerzhakov came close to doubling the lead when he crashed a free kick his shot against the post.
After 78 minutes Russia were awarded the softest of penalties, Alexander Kokorin going down under minimal contact from Cathcart. The visitors were furious, Cathcart was booked, but Shirokov rolled home the spot-kick.
RUSSIA: Akinfeyev; Anyukov, Ignashevich, Berezutsky, Kombarov; Shirokov, Denisov, Bystrov, Faizulin (Glushakov 85); Dzagoyev (Kokorin 58), Kerzhakov.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll; McAuley, Cathcart, Hughes, Evans, Baird, Davis, Brunt, Evans (Shiels 84), Ward (Little 76), Lafferty.
Referee: AM Lahoz(Spain)
