Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored twice as Russia defeated Slovenia 2-1 in the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Late Pecnik strike takes shine off hosts' win
Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored twice as Russia defeated Slovenia 2-1 in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying play-off.
The home side took the lead in the 40th minute when Bilyaletdinov received a pass from Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko before turning and blasting a right-footed effort into the top corner.
The left-winger then doubled the advantage the other side of the break when he slotted home from close range following some good work from Andrey Arshavin.
But substitute Nejc Pecnik pounced on a rebound with two minutes left to give Slovenia a vital away goal and ensure that the tie is finely balanced ahead of the second leg in Maribor.
Slovenia made the brighter start in front of 80,000 fans at the Luzhniki Stadium as Milivoje Novakovic pulled the ball back from the left but Valter Birsa's shot was deflected wide by Yuri Zhirkov.
Zhirkov then set off from his own half and tricked his way into the heart of the Slovenia penalty area, but his shot was kept out by the feet of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
Opener
Marko Suler's precise lofted pass then put Zlatko Dedic in behind the home defence but he was forced wide by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and sent a weak shot wide of the near post.
Sergei Ignashevich's fierce low drive from a 30-yard free-kick saw Handanovic again save with his legs.
Ignashevich made an important challenge as Dedic looked to break again before Russia conjured an excellent 41st-minute opener.
Pavlyuchenko's pass found Bilyaletdinov on the edge of the box and the Everton player beat defenders Suler and Bostjan Cesar with a neat drag-back before finishing powerfully with his weaker right foot.
The game then threatened to boil over as Andrey Arshavin was booked in first-half injury-time for a petulant slap in the chest of Slovenia full-back Miso Brecko, who went down theatrically.
Two Zhirkov crosses saw Arshavin head wide before Pavlyuchenko's weak effort was blocked by Cesar.
Handanovic then tipped over a ferociously hit Ignashevich free-kick but Russia went 2-0 up in the 52nd minute.
Calm finish
Bilyaletdinov got in the way of Arshavin's cross but finished calmly when the ball ricocheted back into his path off Konstantin Zyryanov.
Vasili Berezutskiy made a strong tackle to halt Dedic's threatening run and Handanovic made an awkward save from Pavlyuchenko's drive at his near post.
Suler was up well to cut out Bilyaletdinov's teasing through-ball and Pavlyuchenko had a diving header held by Handanovic.
Bystrov lobbed wastefully over the bar after marginally beating the offside trap, before Russia had a let-off as Suler seemed to be impeded when jumping for a corner at the near post.
Bilyaletdinov came close to netting an unlikely hat-trick as a late header flashed wide and Pecnik shot wide after Novakovic's mishit volley bounced to him.
But the substitute was on hand a minute later to head home from close range after Akinfeev did well to tip away Robert Koren's shot.
And Suler could have equalised in stoppage time when he ghosted into the area unmarked but his well-hit attempt was turned behind superbly by Akinfeev.
