Roman Pavlyuchenko hat-trick helps Russia to a cruising 3-1 victory over Armenia
Russia beat Armenia with a convincing 3-1 margin in the Euro 2012 qualifying Group B match played at Stadion Petrovskij on Saturday. After going one goal down, Russia made a remarkable comeback, courtesy a spectacular Roman Pavlyuchenko hat-trick.
Russia have now climbed to the top of the Group B table having earned 13 points from their six games. The Sbornaya’s first position on the table is far from confirmed, as victories for Republic of Ireland and Slovakia in their respective matches against
Andorra and Macedonia on Saturday would put Russia’s position under threat; Ireland and Slovakia, who are rallying at 10 points each, are placed second and third respectively in the group.
Armenia took the lead in the 25th minute when Markos Pizzelli poked the ball past Russian goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev. But Vardan Minasyan’s men could not hold on to the lead, as Pavlyuchenko equalised barely a minute later for Dick Advocaat’s
team.
Fortunes were favouring the 29-year-old Tottenham Hotspurs striker, who put Russia in front in the 59th minute, before completing his hat-trick from the spot in the 73rd minute. The referee awarded Russia a penalty after Sergei Ignashevich
made a hard check on Yuri Zhirkov inside the area. Despite moving two goals ahead of Armenia, Dick Advocaat’s men kept on piling up pressure on their opponents.
The match was a heated affair with the referee booking as many as seven players during the proceedings.
Armenia now must come up with some ideas to keep their qualification hopes alive as they are placed fourth on the table with just seven points. Beside Roman Pavlyuchenko, who will remember the night fondly, Russian shot-stopper
Igor Akinfeev was another standout performer who made some astonishing saves in the game.