Russia eased to a 2-0 win over Iraq in a pleasant on Sunday as they performed their first world fit on house soil since November 2021 after being barred from world competitions over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Substitute Anton Miranchuk fired Russia forward in a while after halftime, pouncing on a rebound after Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachim parried Alexander Sobolev’s low shot to his proper.
Sergei Pinyaev then grabbed a classy 2d, turning into Russia’s youngest ever goalscorer within the procedure at 18 years, 4 months and 24 days. The Lokomotiv Moscow winger exploited Iraq’s top defensive position, prior to chopping in from the left and squeezing a low shot to the goalkeeper’s proper.
The hosts ruled ownership however struggled to make it pay within the first part, with Ayman Hussein and Ibrahim Bayesh squandering just right alternatives for the guests.
Official attendance on the 68,000-seater Gazprom Arena used to be 23,818. The stadium have been because of host ultimate yr’s Champions League ultimate prior to Russia used to be stripped of that honour.
Both European football frame UEFA and world soccer’s governing frame FIFA made up our minds in February 2022 that every one Russian groups – nationwide or membership aspects – can be suspended from their competitions following the invasion.
Russia’s males have performed simply 4 fits since Moscow launched into what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, all clear of house, profitable 2-1 in Kyrgyzstan ultimate September, prior to attracts towards Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran.
The hosts created a couple of possibilities within the first part, with Russia’s absolute best second coming from Danil Fomin, who pressured a super save from Hassan Hachim after 36 mins.
But Iraq got here closest to opening the scoring at the counter assault, with Hussein blazing huge from a good perspective, prior to Bayesh noticed his shot from 20 yards stored very easily through Sergei Pesyakov.
The Russian goalkeeper seemed shaky at the ball, virtually gifting Iraq a function two times with unfastened passes.
Miranchuk squandered a possibility to double his tally within the sixty fifth minute, whilst Sobolev struck the bar with a header two mins later.