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Classy Russia overcome Holland to reach Euro 2008 semis

21/06/2008

Russia have reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008 after beating Holland 3-1 in extra time in Basle this evening.

Goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Ruud van Nistelrooy saw the game end 1-1 after 90 minutes. But Russia were the better side in extra-time and scored twice through Dmitri Torbinski and Andrei Arshavin.

Russia settled the better side and had a great chance to take the lead after 15 minutes when Arshavin found Pavlyuchenko in the Holland penalty area, but the talented striker headed over when completely free.

Marco van Basten's side played with a great swagger in the group stages, but they failed to play their passing style of football in this game. The closest they came in the first-half was from a Rafael van der Vaart free-kick which went agonisingly across the Russia goal as van Nistelrooy and Nigel de Jong failed to make contact.

Russian playmaker Arshavin then found space on the edge of the Holland penalty area and after taking on Andre Ooijer he unleashed a low shot which was destined for the bottom right hand corner of the goal before Edwin van der Sar got fingertips on the ball and pushed it away.

The resulting Russian corner fell at the feet of Denis Kolodin and from 25 yards out he tried a powerful effort on goal which was tipped over by van der Sar. The same player had another long-range effort a couple of minutes later which went inches over the bar.

15 minutes into the second-half and Russia took a deserved lead. Arshavin worked the ball to the left-wing to Sergei Semak who whipped in a delightful ball into the box and Pavlyuchenko got in front of Joris Mathijsen to side-foot the ball into the goal.

Van Basten threw on Robin van Persie and Ibrahim Affelay to give the Dutch more attacking zest, and with five minutes left on the clock Holland got their equaliser, as Van Nistelrooy headed home a brilliant free-kick from Sneijder.

Russia almost took the lead again at the start of extra-time as Pavlyuchenko cut in from the left-wing and drove in a shot which rattled the bar.

The Russians were by far the better side during extra-time and scored with only seven minutes left. Arshavin again was the instigator as his lofted ball into the box went over van der sar and fell almost on the goal line and Torbinski dived in to score.

Arshavin wrapped up a well-deserved win as Holland fell asleep from a Russia throw and Arshavin ghosted into the Dutch box and drilled the ball through the legs of Edwin van der Sar.