Euro 2016

[monks data]

European Championship | Qualifiers

Sep 8, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein
0-7
Russia

Kaufmann (40')

FT(HT: 0-3)

Dzyuba (21', 45', 73', 90'), Kokorin (40' pen.), Smolov (77'), Dzagoev (85')

Match Report

Reaction

Football

Russia beat Liechtenstein to move second in Group G

By Chris O'Keefe, Reporter

Published: September 8 2015 | 21:36

Last updated: September 9 2015 | 13:12

Artem Dzyuba scores four goals as Russia thrash Liechtenstein to move second in Group G.

Russia have moved into the automatic qualification places in Group G after comfortably winning their Euro 2016 qualifier 7-0 against 10-man Liechtenstein this evening.

Leonid Slutsky's team took advantage of Sweden's home defeat against Austria to move into second place with two group games left.

Russia's Fedor Smolov celebrates after scoring his team's fifth goal during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Liechtenstein and Russia at the Rheintal stadium in Vaduz on September 8, 2015 © Getty Images

Russia took the lead on 21 minutes when Roman Shirokov found himself one on one with Peter Jehle, but chose to back-heel the ball into the path of Artem Dzyuba, who slotted into an empty net.

Liechtenstein were reduced to 10 men after Daniel Kaufmann was deemed to have denied Dzyuba a goalscoring opportunity when he bundled the forward over in the penalty area.

Aleksandr Kokorin calmly sent his spot kick into the bottom left corner, beyond the despairing dive of Jehle.

Russias Artem Dzyuba (R) celebrate with his teammate Alan Dzagoev after scoring during the Euro 2016 qualifying football match between Liechtenstein and Russia at the Rheintal stadium in Vaduz on September 8, 2015 © Getty Images

On the stroke of half time, Russia wrapped up victory as Dzyuba latched on to Shirokov's lofted through-ball to score.

Jehle made a series of saves from Alan Dzogoev and Shriokov, but was unable to keep out Dzyuba, who completed his hat-trick with 17 minutes remaining.

Fedor Smolov then got on the scoresheet for Slutsky's side before Dzagoev added a sixth with five minutes left.

There was still time for Dzyuba to score his fourth of the evening as Russia finished with seven and move two points ahead of Sweden in the standings.