Steely Slovakians seal second spot

'Greatest game'
Slovakia coach Dušan Galis, who will continue at least until the end of the World Cup, said: "It was the greatest game of my coaching career and I admire both the players and the crowd for their performance against a very strong Russian team. This is not my victory, but a victory for the whole of Slovakia."

Ambitious hosts
Although they knew a single point would be enough, Slovakia set out to take all three as they poured forward. Szilárd Németh brought a good save from Igor Akinfeev after he was played through by a diagonal ball from Róbert Vittek, but might have done better had he struck his shot more cleanly.

Čontofalský saves
Despite the Slovakians having more clear chances, Russia dominated possession and could have gone in front on 19 minutes only for Kamil Čontofalský to make a brilliant double save from Marat Izmailov and Alexander Kerzhakov.

Impressive Škrtel
The home side were otherwise solid in defence, with Martin Škrtel in particular excelling against FC Zenit St. Petersburg colleagues Andrei Arshavin and Kerzhakov. Vittek and Ivan Hodúr both had opportunities to give Slovakia some much-needed breathing space but again Akinfeev was equal to their efforts.

Russia denied
With time running out, Russia threw everybody forward, bringing on an extra striker in substitute Roman Pavluchenko. Yet they could come no closer than Arshavin's 66th-minute effort, the striker's shot deflecting into the side netting. Slovakia will play off against another second-place team over two legs on 12 and 16 November.