MOSCOW, Oct 7 - A late equaliser from substitute Amit Ben Shushan gave Israel
a 1-1 draw with Russia in their Euro 2008 Group E qualifier on Saturday.
The home team made a flying start, Andrei Arshavin outsprinting a defender in
the fifth minute to slot the ball inside the post from 10 metres after being put
through by Pavel Pogrebnyak.
Pogrebnyak then wasted four excellent chances in the first half, twice
missing the far post and twice firing straight at Israel keeper Dudu Aouate from
close range.
The Russians, who dominated possession, paid the price for their misses when
Israel levelled from a rare counter-attack.
Shushan pounced to score after Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev had saved
from substitute Toto Tamuz.
The visitors, missing strikers Yaniv Katan and Omer Golan through injury,
rarely troubled Akinfeyev until Idan Tal tested the CSKA Moscow keeper with a
low drive from the edge of the box early in the second half.
Russia manager Guus Hiddink could not hide his frustration.
"We're very disappointed with the result," the Dutchman told a news
conference.
"We controlled the game in many ways. We had four or five clear chances but
it's an old law of football that if you don't score they come back and score
from the only chance they have."
Russia, under Hiddink, have two points from two home matches following a 0-0
draw with Croatia last month.
Hiddink's counterpart Dror Kashtan was happy with the result.
"We achieved exactly what we set out to do," he said. "We added another point
to our tally which we hope in the end will enable us to qualify for the finals."
Israel, who have seven points from three games, share top spot with England.
The Israelis have gone 13 competitive matches without defeat.
The last time they lost in a World Cup or European Championship qualifier was
a 3-0 defeat by France in Paris in October 2003, a Euro 2004 qualifier.
