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Russia - YUGOSLAVIA 1-1
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| Mijatovic (left) celebrates scoring his goal with Ivan Tomic |
Moscow, RUSSIA, June 2 (Reuters) - Russia stayed on course for a
place in next year's World Cup finals after drawing 1-1 at home
to Yugoslavia in their European group one qualifier on Saturday.
The Russians top the group with 14 points from six matches,
three ahead of second-placed Switzerland. Yugoslavia remain in fourth
place with six points from five games.
Yuri Kovtun put the hosts ahead in the 25th minute when his
mis-hit cross from the left sailed into the net, catching
Yugoslav goalkeeper Radovan Radakovic completely off-guard.
But Yugoslav captain Predrag Mijatovic, playing in his first
game after missing the last two qualifiers, equalised seven
minutes later when he latched on to a rebound after Ruslan
Nigmatullin had saved a close header from Savo Milosevic.
The Fiorentina striker, who quit the national team after a
row with former coach Milovan Djoric, beat Russia sweeper Igor
Chugainov to the ball and knocked it in to silence a
65,000-strong crowd.
Russia, who beat Yugoslavia 1-0 in Belgrade five weeks ago,
pressed forward after the interval but were left empty-handed.
In the end it was the Yugoslavs who were unlucky not to get
the full points after Sinisa Mihajlovic hit the post with a
trademark left-footed free kick from 20-metres six minutes from
time.
"We have to be satisfied with the outcome, especially taking
into account that we earned four points from two games against
Yugoslavia," said Russia coach Oleg Romantsev.
Former Yugoslav international Dejan Savicevic, who made his
debut as coach after taking over from the sacked Djoric last
month, was equally happy.
"Both teams played to win but they had to settle for a draw
in the end," he said. "But we're not disappointed to get at
least a point because it leaves us a chance for the play-offs."
*****
2002 World Cup group one qualifiers - previous results: Switzerland - Russia 0-1, Luxembourg - YUGOSLAVIA 0-2, Faroe Island - Slovenia 2-2, Switzerland - Faroe Islands 5-1, Luxembourg - Slovenia 1-2, Russia - Luxembourg 3-0, Slovenia - Switzerland 2-2, YUGOSLAVIA - Switzerland 1-1, Russia - Slovenia 1-1, Luxembourg - Faroe Islands 0-2, Slovenia - YUGOSLAVIA 1-1, Russia - Faroe Islands 1-0, Switzerland - Luxembourg 5-0, YUGOSLAVIA - Russia 0-1, Faroe Islands - Switzerland 1-0, Slovenia - Luxembourg 2-0, Russia - YUGOSLAVIA 1-1.
Group One - current standings
G W D L F-A Pts
1. Russia 6 4 2 0 8-2 14
2. Switzerland 6 3 2 1 14-5 11
3. Slovenia 6 2 4 0 10-7 10
4. YUGOSLAVIA 5 1 3 1 5-4 6
5. Faroe Islands 5 1 1 3 5-9 4
6. Luxembourg 5 0 0 6 1-16 0
*****
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