Russia beats Liechtenstein 1-0

Guus Hiddink's Russia ground out a slender victory over hardworking Liechtenstein despite it being a close run in Vaduz, ESPN Soccernet reports.

Konstantin Zyryanov scored the game's only goal in the 38th minute, slipping the ball past Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle following a cross from Andrei Arshavin.

Russia struggled to stamp their authority on the game and had to wait until the 26th minute for their first chance when midfielder Dmitri Torbinsky headed awkwardly at Jehle following Arshavin's cross.

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko had the ball in the net in the 30th minute but was adjudged offside by the Irish officials, and a moment later almost caught out Jehle from long-range, only for his lob to fall narrowly wide of the goal.

But Russian fans breathed a sigh of relief seven minutes before the break when Zyryanov broke the deadlock for the visitors.

Arshavin was the instigator, guiding a ball in from the left to his former Zenit St Petersburg team-mate, who took a touch to bring the ball under control before nicking the ball past Jehle from eight yards.

But Liechtenstein were proving themselves no pushovers and, although creating relatively little, looked capable of causing the Russians problems, with lively midfielder Michele Polverino hitting a succession of long-range efforts towards Igor Akinfeev's goal.

After the restart Pavlyuchenko and Arshavin both had shots straight at Jehle in quick succession as Russia went in search of a killer second goal.

Yuri Zhirkov could have put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes to play but lobbed just wide of the post after Jehle had beaten Pavlyuchenko to a long ball, whilst Aleksandr Anyukov went down in the Liechtenstein box a moment later but was booked for simulation.

But whilst Russia's lead remained restricted to a single goal the possibility of a Liechtenstein equalizer was always there, and substitute Thomas Beck's long-range strike provided a reminder of the tight-rope Hiddink's men were walking.

Liechtenstein made the final stages very uncomfortable for Russia and Beck went close again in the 83rd minute, striking slightly wide from the edge of the box, whilst defender Fabio D'Elia, another replacement, forced Akinfeev into a save after heading down from a corner.

Germany top the group with 16 points from six matches.

Russia is second with 12 points from five matches.