Russia progress to semis
Russia 2-0 Luxembourg
May 8 2006
By Andrew Haigh, Stade John Grun, Mondorf.
Russia will meet Germany in the semi-finals of the European Under-17 championships after they struggled past a
defiant Luxembourg.
The hosts, who before the match had to win the tie by seven goals to qualify, suprisingly dominated against Russia
who were favourites to take the runners-up spot.
However, despite having many first-half opportunites to take the lead through Gilles Bettmer and Miralem Pjanic,
Luxembourg could not beat Russian goalkeeper Evgeny Pomazan.
And they were made to pay for their string of misses when Russia's star midfielder Igor Gorbatenko gave his side
the lead on 32 minutes.
He volleyed home a Jan Bobrovskiy lofted pass from the right edge of the penalty and effectivly ended the home
supporter's slim hope of a victory.
After the break, Luxembourg continued to threat and should have drawn level four minutes in when Ricardo Thom burst
through the Russian defence only to be halted by a desperate last minute challenge.
Pjanic, who scored the consolation in their 7-1 loss to Spain, should have made the most of yet another opportunity
but his effort could only find the side netting.
Russia then sealed the match on 75 minutes when Evgeny Korataev struck.
Gorbatenko was once again the instigater as his run down the left and cross was fumbled by Fabiano Castellani into
the path of Aleksandr Sapeta who found Korataev to score the winner.
Although mostly against the run of play, the victory was the result of the Russian's superior physical ability
in comparison to a youthful Luxembourg side, who had a number of 15-year-olds in their ranks.
Teams:
Russia: Evgeny Pomazan, Sergey Morozov, Artem Samsonov, Evgeny Korotaev, Semen Fomin, Igor Gorbatenko, Yan Bobrovskiy,
Dmitry Ryzhov (Alexandr Marenich, 40), Roman Amirkhanov (Pavel Mochalin, 72), Amir Kashiev, Denis Shcherbak (Alexander
Sapeta, 51).
Subs: Roman Savenkov, Vadim Gagloev, Alexander Prudnikov.
Luxembourg: Fabiano Castellani, Massimo Martino, Christophe Scholer, Michel Kettenmeyer, Jerome Marcolino (Pit
Hilbert, 74), Gilles Bettmer, Miralem Pjanic, Matthew De Cae, Mirko Albanese, Ricardo Thom (Paul Bossi, 70), Mato
Djuric (Mathias Janisch, 38).
Subs: Andrew Bill, Tom Siebenaler, Lars Gerson, Richard Jankowoy. |
