Russia stride out in front
Saturday, March 29, 2003
Article summary
Russia's Under-21 side brushed aside Albania 4-1 in Tirana on Saturday.
Article body
Russia's Under-21 side strengthened their grip at the top of UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 10 on Saturday by brushing aside Albania 4-1 at the Selman Stermazi stadium in Tirana.
Cruise control
Russia dominated an entirely one-sided encounter and now lead their section on 12 points, five ahead of second-placed Switzerland. A goal on the half-hour mark from Anton Rogotchi and another from Roman Pavlyuchenko ten minutes after the break sealed the win.
No comeback
Any Albanian hopes of clawing themselves back into contention were shattered when Dmitri Sytchev, who was left out of the senior squad by coach Valeri Gazzaev for being "out of form", struck the third in the 82nd minute. Spartak Gogniev applied the finishing touch to the victory in the 86th minute.
Sytchev strike
Sytchev was arguably Russia's player of the FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, scoring in his country's 3-2 defeat by Belgium. He subsequently served a four-month suspension, however, after walking out on former club FC Spartak Moskva.
Easy win
Slovakia, meanwhile, collected their first three points in Group 7, comfortably defeating bottom side F.Y.R Macedonia 2-0 with goals from Branizlav Obzera and Robert Jez. They lie in the penultimate spot, behind leaders Turkey, second-placed Portugal and England.
Razhkou magic
In Saturday’s final game, Ihar Razhkou inspired Belarus to a 3-0 win against Moldova. The striker scored in the sixth minute, doubled the lead on the half-hour and capped a fine individual display by slamming in the third shortly after half time.
Czech leaders
Belarus have now won two out of four qualifiers and lie three points behind the Czech Republic, who lead Group 3. Moldova are bottom, having lost all three of their games.