Russia remained on top while
Armenia, enjoying its best-ever qualifying campaign by playing its last four
games unbeaten, climbed to second, two points behind.
Other Group B contenders
Ireland and Slovakia played late Saturday, against Macedonia and last-place
Andorra respectively.
Russia enjoyed most of the
possession and missed a host of chances, while the host was visibly jittery
when attacking, opting for long-range shots that rarely troubled Russia
goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev.
Armenia had the first chance
but Henrik Mkhitaryan fired low and straight at Akinfeyev from 20 meters in the
seventh minute.
Russia's Alexander Kerzhakov
connected too lightly when he glanced wide from a Roman Shishkin cross in the
15th.
Minutes later Akinfeyev
parried away a long-range drive from Ghazaryan after a neat buildup.
Russia's first meaningful
effort came on 23 minutes with a low drive straight at the goalkeeper from
Alexander Kerzhakov after Alan Dzagoev played him through.
Armenia nearly handed the
lead to Russia when an interception from defender Hrayr Mkoyan forced
goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky into a reflex save after a Yury Zhirkov cross from
the left.
The close call inspired
Russia into a sustained period of pressure. Zhirkov beat two defenders and
curled a shot toward Berezovsky's top corner, but he tipped the shot away. On
the half-hour Igor Denisov played a one-two with Roman Shirokov to burst
through, but dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors missed a double
chance just before halftime when Shirokov's goalbound drive was blocked by
Mkoyan, and his followup shot was palmed away by Berezovsky.
Armenia came out with greater
intent after the break with Ghazaryan shooting straight at Akinfeyev. Soon
after, home midfielder Marcos Pizzelli squared a ball to striker Yura
Movsisyan, but the striker fired wide from six meters with Akinfeyev beaten.
After Kerzhakov struck over
from a tight angle, home substitute Edgar Manucharyan responded in kind from 20
meters despite being in acres of space on the edge of the Russian penalty area.
Dzagoyev came close on 66
minutes but an Armenian defender lunged to block, deflecting the ball just over
the crossbar.
Berezovsky again rescued
Armenia on 72 minutes, diving to smother a Kerzhakov shot after a surging
midfield run and pass from Shirokov.
The goalkeeper watched a
power drive from Kerzhakov 25 meters from goal sail just wide, then Shirokov's
placed shot also narrowly missed.
Andrei Arshavin, ineffective
for most of the match, curled a right-footed shot wide with 10 minutes left.
Armenia defended resolutely throughout the final minutes despite Russia coach
Dick Advocaat sending on attackers Pavel Pogrebnyak and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
