Russia Defeat Wales 2-1 on a Wet Night in Moscow

On a rainy Wednesday night Russia beat Wales 2-1 in their opening 2010 World Cup Qualifying match in Moscow.

Russia began the game with the same 11 who started against Spain in the semifinal of this summer's Euro 2008. The game started off in favor of Russia, who had nearly gone ahead through a sliding strike by Roman Pavlyuchenko.

However, it was Wales who had the first clear-cut chance. Gareth Bale was taken down in the box by Sergei Semak and was awarded a penalty. However, keeper Igor Akinfeev did well do stop the shot and keep the game scoreless.

Bale's miss marked the second game in a row where Wales had failed to score from the spot, as Jason Koumas missed against Azerbaijan in Cardif four days earlier.  

Five minutes later Russia were awarded a penalty themselves, after Carl Robinson took down Yuri Zhirkov. Pavlyuchenko would step up and show new Spurs teammate Bale how to finish a penalty, giving Russia a 1-0 lead. The former Spartak Moscow striker was then joined by his teammates to rock the baby, to signify the birth of Pavlyuchenko's daughter.

Russia would look to add a second goal as they sent waves of attacks on the banged-up Welsh defense. The teams would go to the dressing rooms with the same score, with Wales having no shots on goal.

However, Wales quickly found momentum out of the gate and it would be Joe Ledley who gave his side a shock equalizer. His goal was orchestrated by Bale, who cut past two defenders to find the open Cardiff midfielder.

Minutes later, trainer Guus Hiddink would send out Zenit striker Pavel Pogrebnyak to try and snatch a victory in the dying moments.

He would get his chance as fellow Zenit teammate Andrei Arshavin raced down the left flank and crossed in a shot that was headed by Konstantin Zyryanov and wonderfully saved by Hennessey. However, the ball would bounce to Pogrebnyak who slotted home past a defender giving Russia the 2-1 lead, and ultimately the win.

The game marked the return of Pogrebnyak, who missed out on his side's Euro 2008 campaign due to a knee injury sustained in a friendly against Serbia. The match also signified the beginning of Russia's home matches at the modern Lokomotiv Stadium—instead of the Luzhniki, where Russia defeated England en-route to Austria and Switzerland.

Russia's next match will be away to group favorites Germany, while Wales looks to rebound against lowly Liechtenstein. Both games are scheduled for October.