Aleksandr Kerzhakov scored the winner while Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev kept out a penalty as Russia edged out Macedonia 1-0 in a 2012 European Championship qualifier on Tuesday.
Russia enjoyed the better of the first half and led at halftime after Zenit striker Kerzhakov scored in the eighth minute from a pass by Aleksandr Anyukov,
But the hosts improved after the break and were unlucky not to equalize when substitute Stevica Ristic's 66th-minute header hit the bar.
Macedonia has an even better chance when Russia substitute Alexei Berezutsky was penalized for handball in the area, but Akinfeev dived the right way to block Ilco Naumovski's penalty.
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Lineups:
Macedonia: Edin Nuredinovski, Vance Sikov, Nikolce Noveski, Igor Mitreski, Ivan Trickovski, Velice Sumulikoski, Mario Gjurovski (Armend Alimi, 79), Ilco Naumoski, Filip Despotovski (Slavco Georgievski, 78), Aleksandar Lazevski, Agim Ibraimi (Stevica Ristic, 48).
Russia: Igor Akinfeev, Aleksandr Anyukov, Vasili Berezutski, Sergei Ignashevich, Yuri Zhirkov, Roman Shirokov, Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Pavel Pogrebnyak, 79), Andrey Arshavin (Vladimir Bystrov, 81), Alan Dzagoev (Aleksei Berezutski, 61).
