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Tuesday June 10, 2008 Finished Tivoli Neu

4 - 1

Spain

Russia

  • Pavluchenko 86’

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  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Spain
    • Russia
    • 90+4' And there's the final whistle! 4-1 the final score after a fine performance from Spain. Stay with us for LIVE coverage of Greece v Sweden from 19:45 BST.
    • 90+1' GOAL! 4-1 Spain! Villa scoops the ball into Xavi's path, Xavi's volley is parried by Akinfeev and Fabregas dives in to head home!
    • 90' Great chance for Russia! Zyrianov's corner is half-cleared and then put back into the box, but with only the keeper to beat Semak curls a tame left-footer straight at Casillas!
    • 89' Pavlyuchenko wins a corner off Capdevila on the Russia right.
    • 88' Pavlyuchenko's goal will be nothing more than a consolation, but Russia have shown glimpses of quality that suggest they might be able to escape the group.
    • 86' GOAL! 3-1! Zyrianov's corner is flicked on at the near post by Shirokov before being powerfully headed home at the back post by Pavlyuchenko! And, for the first time in this tournament, both sides have scored in a game.
    • 85' Marchena concedes a corner on the Russia right.
    • 83' Zhirkov's left-wing free-kick is punched away by Casillas, who takes a knock to the head from Pavlyuchenko's shoulder in the process and stays down.
    • 81' Good effort Pavlyuchenko! The Russian number 19 sends a low right-footer skidding inches wide of the right-hand post from 25 yards.
    • 80' Capdevila concedes a free-kick for a foul on Torbinsky, who gets up to curl the ball well over the crossbar.
    • 79' Villa stabs a pass into the penalty area but it flicks off a defender and rolls back to Akinfeev.
    • 78' Xavi's pass towards Fabregas on the Spain right is intercepted by Zhirkov, who's really got up and down the Russian left flank this evening.
    • 77' Spain make their final change, with Xabi Alonso coming on for David Silva.
    • 76' And that, ladies and gentlemen, is game over.
    • 75' GOAL! 3-0 Spain! It's a hat-trick for Villa! He latches onto Fabregas's pass to the left-hand side of the area, cuts inside Shirokov and tucks the ball inside the near post!
    • 74' Akinfeev pounces on Fabregas's low cross from the right.
    • 73' Cazorla, Villa and Silva knock the ball around on the edge of the Russia box, before Silva sidesteps his man and thrashes a left-footer over the bar.
    • 72' Pavlyuchenko turns and fires a left-footed shot straight at Casillas from just outside the Spanish penalty area.
    • 70' Russia make a third change. Half-time substitute Bystrov is replaced by striker Roman Adamov, despite having only been on the pitch for 35 minutes! Hiddink evidently unimpressed by his efforts.
    • 69' Puyol produces a tremendous block to deny Pavlyuchenko!
    • 68' Cazorla is penalised for pulling back Anyukov inside the Russian penalty area.
    • 67' Spain go close twice! First, Senna's header from Xavi's corner is pushed out by Akinfeev, and then Silva follows up with a beautifully struck volley from outside the box that's straight at the Russia keeper!
    • 66' Pavlyuchenko is upended on the edge of the Spain box but no free-kick is given! And then, at the other end, Sergio Ramos's low cross towards Villa is brilliantly diverted behind by Anyukov!
    • 65' Villa slides a ball through to Fabregas on the Spain right and he looks to be clean through on goal but Akinfeev sprints out to clear!
    • 63' Spain make another substitution, with Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla replacing Andres Iniesta.
    • 61' Chance for Spain! Xavi dinks a pass into Silva inside the Russian box but he's challenged as he shoots and the ball spins back to Akinfeev.
    • 60' Sight of goal for Russia! Bilyaletdinov sends a low shot skidding just wide of the near post from about 25 yards!
    • 58' Great chance for Spain! They break down the left through Villa, and as he cuts inside onto his right foot the defence opens up completely, but he drills the ball straight at Akinfeev from just outside the box!
    • 57' A second change for Russia: Igor Semshov is replaced by Lokomotiv Moscow winger Dmitri Torbinsky, who looks like he will play just off Pavlyuchenko.
    • 56' Villa's pass towards Fabregas in midfield is just ahead of him and Russia mop it up.
    • 55' A loose pass from Zyrianov gives Spain a throw-in just inside the Russian half.
    • 54' Spain make their first substitution, and it's Torres who surprisingly makes way for Fabregas. The Liverpool man doesn't look too pleased about it.
    • 53' A few edgy moments for Spain in the early stages of the second half... Cesc Fabregas is warming up.
    • 52' Bystrov runs into Capdevila on the Russian right.
    • 51' Chance for Russia! Bystrov gets his head to Zyrianov's cross from the left but puts his header straight at Casillas!
    • 50' Sergio Ramos concedes a free-kick for a foul on Zhirkov wide on the Russia left near Spain's right-hand corner flag. The free-kick is headed clear by Torres. And then Bystrov pops up on the left, and his low cross is kicked behind for a corner by Marchena!
    • 49' Pavlyuchenko is caught offside.
    • 48' Russia are being given a lot of time on the ball in the early stages of this second period. Bystrov gets away from Silva down the right but runs the ball out of play for a Spain goal kick.
    • 47' Puyol comes across from the centre to halt Zhirkov's progress down the Russian left.
    • 46' The second half begins. Russia have made a change at the break, with speedster Vladimir Bystrov coming on for Dmitri Sychev on the right flank.
    • 45+1' The half-time whistle goes, with Spain leading 2-0 thanks to those well-worked David Villa goals. Russia have it all to do in the second half.
    • 45' There will be one minute of added time.
    • 44' GOAL! 2-0 Spain! They break at pace from the corner, Iniesta slips a cute ball behind the Russia defence to Villa and he slots the ball between Akinfeev's legs to double Spain's lead! Lovely football.
    • 43' Casillas concedes a corner on the Russia left.
    • 42' From about 25 yards out, towards the left-hand side, Pavlyuchenko drives the free-kick into the wall. The ball comes back to him and he shrugs off Silva before cannoning a left-footer against the crossbar, but the whistle had already gone for a foul.
    • 41' Sergio Ramos goes down under a challenge from Semak on the Spain right, but the referee awards a goal kick. Russia break down the left, and Zhirkov wins a free-kick after a foul by Iniesta.
    • 40' Villa is penalised for hand-ball after running onto a high ball from deep.
    • 39' Xavi's left-wing corner lands at the feet of Villa, but team-mate Joan Capdevila gets in his way and Russia clear. Pavlyuchenko then pops up with the ball in Spain's box, but he's offside.
    • 38' Great play from Torres! He skins Kolodin wide on the left before teeing up Villa, and his shot is diverted behind for a corner.
    • 36' Casillas comfortably fields a high ball from deep on the Russia right.
    • 35' Russia are starting to see more of the ball now, and Spain are being gradually forced back.
    • 33' A crunching challenge from Sergio Ramos denies Zyrianov on the edge of the Spain box.
    • 32' Torres curls a weak left-footer straight at Akinfeev from just outside the Russian penalty area.
    • 31' Zyrianov is given offside on the Russia left.
    • 30' Zhirkov's low cross is cleared at the near post. Xavi then looks for Villa with a beautiful through-ball at the other end, but Villa is penalised for pulling back Zhirkov on the edge of the area.
    • 29' Zhirkov gets the better of Sergio Ramos on the Russia left before seeing his cross deflected behind for a corner.
    • 28' Villa is penalised for a high foot on the far side of the pitch.
    • 27' Shot from Villa! He drifts into the box from the left to receive a pass from Iniesta down the inside-right channel before lashing in a shot that Akinfeev pushes round the post!
    • 25' Bilyaletdinov drives in a right-footed effort from 25 yards but doesn't really connect with it properly and it's a straightforward save for Casillas.
    • 24' Save from Akinfeev! Torres touches the ball onto his right foot on the edge of the Russian area before drilling in a low shot towards the bottom-left corner that the Russia goalkeeper pushes away!
    • 23' RUSSIA HIT THE POST! A low cross from the right reaches Konstantin Zyrianov at the back post, and he turns the ball against the left-hand upright from 15 yards! Spain counter-attack, and Torres gets in behind the Russia defence before flicking a shot over Akinfeev but wide of the near post!
    • 22' Great awareness from Torres there, although Kolodin didn't exactly cover himself with glory.
    • 20' GOAL! 1-0 Spain! Torres outwits Kolodin on the left-hand corner of the penalty area before toeing the ball past the advancing Akinfeev to Villa, who sidefoots the ball into the empty net!
    • 19' Shirokov gets a talking to from referee Plautz after another untidy challenge on Torres.
    • 18' Opening for Spain! Villa jinks onto his left foot inside the Russia box and drills in a low shot that is blocked by Roman Shirokov at the near post.
    • 17' Chance for Russia! Right-back Aleksandr Anyukov gets away down the right before squaring the ball to Igor Semshov, but he puts his shot wide of the right-hand post! Then Russia come forward down the left, and Zhirkov is eventually crowded out by a combination of Puyol and Carlos Marchena.
    • 15' David Silva bursts forward down the Spanish inside-left channel before sending in a low, left-footed shot that's comfortably saved by Igor Akinfeev.
    • 14' Villa wins another free-kick in midfield after being clattered from behind by Semak. Spain's forwards are starting to look a little aggrieved by the close attentions of the Russian defenders.
    • 13' All very cagey here so far, with Spain predictably seeing most of the ball.
    • 12' Denis Kolodin concedes a free-kick for a foul from behind on Torres.
    • 11' Russia break at pace down the left, and Pavlyuchenko looks to thread a pass into the box but it's straight at Puyol. The ball is worked back to Pavlyuchenko, but he's offside.
    • 10' Villa wins a free-kick for a push by Sergei Semak in midfield.
    • 9' Sight of goal for Spain! Sergio Ramos picks out Villa with a lovely diagonal ball from the right, but after taking it down well on his chest the Valencia striker shanks the ball over the crossbar with his left foot.
    • 8' Torres cuts infield from the left flank before rolling a fairly tame right-footed effort wide of the near post.
    • 7' Xavi looks for a free-kick wide on the Spain left after running down a blind alley, but the referee waves play on.
    • 6' Pavlyuchenko looks for Zhirkov down the Russian left but Carles Puyol intervenes.
    • 5' Villa wins a free-kick wide on the Spain left, Xavi curls it in, but Russia are able to clear.
    • 4' Zhirkov's left-footed free-kick flashes right across the face of goal and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas gets nowhere near it!
    • 3' A high ball into the Spanish box is thumped out of play for a Russia throw on the near side by Sergio Ramos, before Yuri Zhirkov wins a free-kick off Senna on the Russian left.
    • 2' An aimless long ball down the Russian right drifts out of play for a throw-in to Spain.
    • 1' Off we go! Spain, in red shirts, dark blue shorts and dark blue socks, will kick from left to right in the first half, with Russia - in all white - kicking the other way. Obviously. Senna looks for Torres with a long ball towards the far side that bounces out of play for a Russian throw-in.
    • 17:00 The anthems are accompanied by some pretty impressive flashes of lightning around the ground. A slick playing surface will suit Spain's slick passing style.
    • 16:55 It's a mild but rainy late afternoon in Innsbruck. Our referee is Austria's Konrad Plautz. Plautz and his yellow-shirted officials lead the teams out of the tunnel.
    • 16:50 Spain began their 2006 World Cup campaign with a superb 4-0 victory over the Ukraine, but with pundits falling over themselves to declare them favourites for the competition, they were knocked out by an ageing France side at the last-16 stage. Still, a strong start will be vital in a group that is very difficult to call.
    • 16:45 Spain looked perilously short on ideas in the recent 1-0 friendly victory over the USA, with Torres starved of service at the tip of a Villa-less 4-5-1. They should offer much more of an attacking threat with two up front, while opinion on Russia's chances in this tournament ranges from 'outside chance' to 'hopeless chancers'.
    • 16:40 RUSSIA TEAM NEWS: Russia are without the key forward pairing of Pavel Pogrebnyak (knee) and Andrei Arshavin (suspended), so Spartak Moscow striker Roman Pavlyuchenko starts up front on his own in a 4-5-1 formation. Fleet-footed winger Vladimir Bystrov - thought by some to be the fastest player at the tournament - starts from the bench.
    • 16:35 SPAIN TEAM NEWS: Spain had doubts over striker David Villa (thigh) and midfielder Andres Iniesta (food poisoning) prior to the game, but both are fit and both start. Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna gets the nod over Liverpool's Xabi Alonso in the midfield holding role, while Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas must content himself with a place on the bench.
    • 16:30 Good afternoon and thank-you for joining us for LIVE coverage of this Group D opener between Spain and Russia from the Tivoli Neu Stadium in Innsbruck. Will this be the tournament in which Spain finally shake off their 'perennial underachievers' tag? And can Guus Hiddink's Russia scheme their way out of the tightest group in the competition? Kick-off is at 17:00 BST.

  • Summary

    • 90+1' GOAL! 4-1 Spain! Villa scoops the ball into Xavi's path, Xavi's volley is parried by Akinfeev and Fabregas dives in to head home!
    • 90' Great chance for Russia! Zyrianov's corner is half-cleared and then put back into the box, but with only the keeper to beat Semak curls a tame left-footer straight at Casillas!
    • 86' GOAL! 3-1! Zyrianov's corner is flicked on at the near post by Shirokov before being powerfully headed home at the back post by Pavlyuchenko! And, for the first time in this tournament, both sides have scored in a game.
    • 81' Good effort Pavlyuchenko! The Russian number 19 sends a low right-footer skidding inches wide of the right-hand post from 25 yards.
    • 75' GOAL! 3-0 Spain! It's a hat-trick for Villa! He latches onto Fabregas's pass to the left-hand side of the area, cuts inside Shirokov and tucks the ball inside the near post!
    • 69' Puyol produces a tremendous block to deny Pavlyuchenko!
    • 67' Spain go close twice! First, Senna's header from Xavi's corner is pushed out by Akinfeev, and then Silva follows up with a beautifully struck volley from outside the box that's straight at the Russia keeper!
    • 66' Pavlyuchenko is upended on the edge of the Spain box but no free-kick is given! And then, at the other end, Sergio Ramos's low cross towards Villa is brilliantly diverted behind by Anyukov!
    • 65' Villa slides a ball through to Fabregas on the Spain right and he looks to be clean through on goal but Akinfeev sprints out to clear!
    • 61' Chance for Spain! Xavi dinks a pass into Silva inside the Russian box but he's challenged as he shoots and the ball spins back to Akinfeev.
    • 60' Sight of goal for Russia! Bilyaletdinov sends a low shot skidding just wide of the near post from about 25 yards!
    • 58' Great chance for Spain! They break down the left through Villa, and as he cuts inside onto his right foot the defence opens up completely, but he drills the ball straight at Akinfeev from just outside the box!
    • 51' Chance for Russia! Bystrov gets his head to Zyrianov's cross from the left but puts his header straight at Casillas!
    • 44' GOAL! 2-0 Spain! They break at pace from the corner, Iniesta slips a cute ball behind the Russia defence to Villa and he slots the ball between Akinfeev's legs to double Spain's lead! Lovely football.
    • 38' Great play from Torres! He skins Kolodin wide on the left before teeing up Villa, and his shot is diverted behind for a corner.
    • 27' Shot from Villa! He drifts into the box from the left to receive a pass from Iniesta down the inside-right channel before lashing in a shot that Akinfeev pushes round the post!
    • 24' Save from Akinfeev! Torres touches the ball onto his right foot on the edge of the Russian area before drilling in a low shot towards the bottom-left corner that the Russia goalkeeper pushes away!
    • 23' RUSSIA HIT THE POST! A low cross from the right reaches Konstantin Zyrianov at the back post, and he turns the ball against the left-hand upright from 15 yards! Spain counter-attack, and Torres gets in behind the Russia defence before flicking a shot over Akinfeev but wide of the near post!
    • 20' GOAL! 1-0 Spain! Torres outwits Kolodin on the left-hand corner of the penalty area before toeing the ball past the advancing Akinfeev to Villa, who sidefoots the ball into the empty net!
    • 18' Opening for Spain! Villa jinks onto his left foot inside the Russia box and drills in a low shot that is blocked by Roman Shirokov at the near post.
    • 17' Chance for Russia! Right-back Aleksandr Anyukov gets away down the right before squaring the ball to Igor Semshov, but he puts his shot wide of the right-hand post! Then Russia come forward down the left, and Zhirkov is eventually crowded out by a combination of Puyol and Carlos Marchena.
    • 9' Sight of goal for Spain! Sergio Ramos picks out Villa with a lovely diagonal ball from the right, but after taking it down well on his chest the Valencia striker shanks the ball over the crossbar with his left foot.
    • 4' Zhirkov's left-footed free-kick flashes right across the face of goal and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas gets nowhere near it!

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