Russia run out winners against Armenia

Russia produced an impressive first-half display to secure a 2-0 friendly victory against Armenia in Krasnodar.

Fabio Capello's side, who face Algeria, Belgium and South Korea in Group H at this summer's FIFA World Cup, prevailed courtesy of Aleksandr Kokorin's back-heel and a Dmitri Kombarov penalty – the FC Spartak Moskva man's first international goal.

Armenia were depleted just before kick-off when Spartak's Aras Özbiliz picked up a thigh injury while warming up. Indeed the hosts were quickest out of the blocks, Roman Shirokov going close in the early stages.

Kokorin found the breakthrough midway through the opening period when he pounced on Aleksandr Samedov's cross from the right. Armenia were quick to respond, though, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan forcing Igor Akinfeev into a fine save. However, Russia held the upper hand and would have doubled their lead had Yuri Zhirkov not been thwarted by Roman Berezovski. Kombarov nevertheless did add a second soon enough, Samedov having been fouled in the area.

Though Capello made four half-time substitutions, his team remained in charge. Berezovski again needed to be on his guard to keep out Kombarov, before Armenia created decent chances of their own through Yura Movsisyan and Robert Arzumanyan. Next up for Russia is a friendly against Slovakia on 26 May.