Ireland live to fight another day after a less that exciting draw. Russia 0 Republic of Ireland 0: Shay Given and Richard Dunne kept Russia at bay as the Republic of Ireland somehow managed to snatch a point in the face of relentless pressure to keep Ireland’s slim qualification hopes just about intact.
Given produced three stunning saves, including one to keep out Konstantin Zyryanov’s 88th-minute header, while Dunne made vital blocks from Igor Semshov and Roman Shirokov and Ireland left Moscow with a point for the first time.
Russia, who went into the game two points clear of Ireland at the top of Group B, dominated throughout, but simply could not find a way through the white shirts as Ireland collected a seventh successive clean sheet.
"They had many chances, but our defence was fantastic, Shay Given, Richard Dunne and O'Dea," said Giovanni Trapattoni afterwards. "This is a good point because they they have another game against Slovakia.
"In one month, I hope we will be fitter, because some players were not as fit - like Robbie Keane, McGeady and Doyle.
He added: "I think Russia have a very different game against Slovakia. But at the moment it is better to look at ourselves. Armenia and Andorra, we must believe in the result we had here."
A battered Richard Dunne, who landed face first on the running track after tackling Zhirkov on the touchline in hte second half, was pleased wtih the effort shown by the team.
“It was tough game and we knew we had to come here and do something similar to what we did in Paris,” he said. “I think it’s seven games without a goal now and hopefully it’s kept us in the competition.
He added: “I take bangs and knocks all the time in games, but to come here and get a point is a good result. We knuckled down and gave a performance I think we can be proud off."
The Aston Villa defender, who will miss the Andorra game after a yellow card was harshly awarded after that tackle, finished the game wearing a makeshift number five shirt after being made to remove the bloodied original. FAI staff had to draw the number on a blank one using a marker pen, but that may now be one of his proudest possessions after he led a gutsy defensive effort that keeps hopes of automatic qualification from Group B alive.
Russia remain two points better off, but must travel to Slovakia next month, while Giovanni Trapattoni’s men will end their campaign with a trip to Andorra and Armenia’s visit to the Aviva Stadium.
They were certainly the happier as they left Moscow with a point for the first time, although they will know there is still plenty of work to be done if they are to pip the Russians to top spot.
Former Chelsea midfielder Yuri Zhirkov was a menace on the left hand side of an attacking midfield trio, while Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin and the hugely impressive Semshov were mesmeric as they dragged their Irish counterparts all over the field. But as so often during Trapattoni’s reign, what his players lacked in quality, they made up for in effort, commitment and a sheer bloody-minded refusal to concede.
Given had to dive low to his left to turn away Arshavin’s eighth-minute shot after Stephen Kelly had denied Zhirkov with a well-timed challenge, and was then sent sprawling in the opposite direction by Semshov’s acrobatic 22nd-minute volley after striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov had picked him out with a right-wing cross.
However, the Villa keeper was left hopelessly exposed 12 minutes before the break and could only look on in anticipation of the roar from behind his goal 12 minutes before the break when Zhirkov cut into the penalty area leaving bewildered defenders in his wake.
The midfielder’s cross left Semshov with a seemingly simple task, but he could not believe his eyes when Dunne turned up on the line and somehow blocked his shot.
Russia battered away at Ireland, who had only one shot of note during the opening 45 minutes when Kevin Doyle fired straight at keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, but the hosts were repeatedly thwarted by dogged, if not always textbook, defence.
Given needed the help of a post to keep out Zhirkov’s corner on the stroke of half-time, and Damien Duff hacked a Sergei Ignashevich header off the line in the dying seconds to send the visitors in at the break level, although perhaps not sure quite how.
Dunne save Ireland once again within three minutes of the restart when he threw himself in front of Shirokov’s shot at point-blank range after Arshavin had
slid him in.
Arshavin whipped a dipping shot just over the bar and then opened up the Ireland defence once again to present Semshov with a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. However, instead of shooting, the midfielder rolled the ball square, expecting substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko to provide the finishing touch.
The Tottenham man had not anticipated the pass and the ball ran harmlessly across the penalty area and was cleared as the Republic’s luck held.
Substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov skied horribly over the bar six minutes after coming on as a 76th-minute replacement for Zhirkov, who was injured as Dunne’s challenge sent both players clattering onto the running track and also resulted in the Irishman’s facial wound.
The drama was far from over, and there were two minutes of normal time remaining when Zyryanov dived to meet a cross with a firm header just yards out but Given somehow managed to repel his effort.
The ball fell to Semshov as the Russian was given a chance to atone for his earlier profligacy, but Keith Andrews made a last-ditch block to ensure Irish pride — and their clean sheet — remained intact.
Russia: Vyacheslav Malafeyev; Alexander Anyukov, Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Alexei Berezutsky; Igor Semshov, Roman Shirokov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Yuri Zhirkov (Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 76), Andrei Arshavin; Alexander Kerzhakov (Roman Pavlyuchenko 54).
Rep of Ireland: Shay Given; Stephen Kelly, Darren O'Dea, Richard Dunne, Stephen Ward; Damien Duff (Stephen Hunt 67), Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady; Kevin Doyle (Simon Cox 59), Robbie Keane.
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
