Russia take Tiraspol spoils

Goals from Evgeny Balyaykin and Pavel Mamaev combined with a late Alan Gatagov penalty handed Russia a comfortable win against Moldova to deny Romania top billing in UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group 1.

Game in hand
The game was all but over for the hosts midway through the first half, with Igor Gorbatenko setting Balyaykin up for Russia's first on 17 minutes before Mamaev's perfectly executed free-kick found the back of Anatol Chirinciuc's net eleven minutes later. Aleksandr Kokorin had a chance to make it 3-0 just after the hour when Mamaev sent him through on goal but he just missed the target, while the latter's finishing failed him when one-on-one with Chirinciuc ten minutes from time. Pressure paid, however, with Gagatov converting from the spot after a foul on Mamaev. Russia are level on 18 points with Romania, who won 4-1 against Latvia today, but boast a superior goal difference.