Republic of Ireland 2 - 3 Russia: Advocaat's Russians end Republic's perfect start

Republic of Ireland's 100 per cent record in Euro 2012 qualifying came to an end against Russia, but not before Giovanni Trapattoni's side had mounted a stirring comeback in a game in which they had looked dead and buried.

Robbie Keane hit the bar early on at the Aviva Stadium but for the next hour Dick Advocaat's men dominated and deservedly went three up through Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov.

A Keane penalty in the 72nd minute gave the hosts a lifeline and, when substitute Shane Long added a second six minutes later, it seemed the Republic could get something, but Russia held on to join their opponents on six points in Group B.

Russia got the breakthrough on 11 minutes when Andrey Arshavin's free-kick took a slight deflection before reaching Shay Given, who could only push it out to Sergei Ignashevich. His overhead kick back across the box sat up perfectly for Kerzhakov and he got enough power on his shot to beat the massed ranks on the Republic line.

The Republic found themselves two down in the 28th minute. Aleksandr Aniukov sent in a cross, and a lovely dummy by Kerzhakov allowed Dzagoev to drill the ball past Given.

Any hopes the home side had of getting something from the game seemed over in the 50th minute when Shirokov's 25-yard shot beat Given via a Richard Dunne deflection.

The Republic were given a lifeline when Keane won and converted a penalty after he tumbled under pressure from Chelsea defender Yuri Zhirkov.

And the Republic pulled another goal back with 12 minutes to go. Igor Akinfeev saved from Aiden McGeady but Long was following up and he managed to poke the ball just inside the far post.

Republic of Ireland: Given, O'Shea, Dunne, St. Ledger, Kilbane, Green, Whelan, Lawrence, McGeady, Keane, Doyle. Subs: Westwood, Fahey, McShane, Long, Gibson, Keogh, Cunningham.

Russia: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky, Zhirkov, Denisov, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Dzagoev, Arshavin, Kerzhakov. Subs: Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Semshov, Pogrebniak, Bystrov, Bilyaletdinov, Bukharov..

Referee: K Blom (Neth).

Attendance: 50,411