Russia scrape a draw with Netherlands

Konstantin Zyryanov scored a late penalty to help Russia earn a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in a friendly on Wednesday.

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s first-half strike gave the visitors a deserved 1-0 lead with the Dutch eager to avenge their defeat by Guus Hiddink’s men in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals two months ago, by putting one past keeper Igor Akinfeyev, with a delicate curling left-footed shot into the top corner from just outside the area in the 25th minute.

The home team fielded an almost identical lineup to that which beat the Netherlands 3-1 in their last meeting during the European Championship in June. The Dutch were missing defender Khalid Boulahrouz and midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Orlando Engelaar through injury as well as goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, who retired from the international game after Euro 2008.

The Russians stunned the much-fancied Dutch 3-1 in extra time at the European Championship in June, securing their best showing at a major tournament in Twenty years and a personal victory for Hiddink over his home country.

The Dutch, who recorded a comfortable 4-1 win over Russia in a friendly in Amsterdam in February last year, dominated for much of the lively encounter at Moscow’s Lokomotiv stadium, with van Persie being the most active for the visitors until he was substituted by Ibrahim Afellay midway through the second half.

The Russians lost their top striker Roman Pavlyuchenko to injury late in the first half but escaped with a draw when Zyryanov calmly slotted home from the spot for the equaliser 12 minutes from time after Giovanni van Bronckhorst fouled Dmitry Torbinsky inside the box.

Arshavin was substituted in the 86th minute when Roman Vorobyev took the field.

Dutch substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink wasted a great chance in added time when he was left alone in front of Russia’s goal, but Akinfeyev made a fine save from close range.