German national soccer squad labored to overcome Russia 2-1 in Dortmund on Saturday in their World Cup qualifier.
German Euro 2008 top scorer Lukas Podolski opened the score in the 9th minute while captain Michael Ballack added one in the 28thminute, making the home side 2-0 in the lead.
However, Russia, which impressed the world by overwhelming the Netherlands 3-0 in Euro 2008, fought back in the second half, and star striker Andrei Arshavin stabbed home his shot in the 51st minute to make it 2-1.
In fact, Russia staged intense pressure over the host team during the second half, and Arshavin's penetration brought numerous trouble for Germany.
Russia should have equalised when a ball over the defence put Progrebnyak one-on-one with Adler, but the German keeper scrambledaway the danger.
Goalkeeper Rene Adler thus became the star player for German squad as he kept away several dangerous shots.
The 23 year old from Levekusen made his fame from the game, hisinternational debut. He took the place of Robert Enke, who suffered a broken scaphoid bone in his left hand during a trainingsession, to win his first cap.
Germany remain a point clear at the top of Group Four on seven points with two wins and a draw after their win over Guus Hiddink's Russia team who are fourth in the table with three points from last month's 2-1 win over Wales.
In the next round, Germany face Wales at home in Moenchengladbach on Wednesday, the same night Russia play Finland in Moscow.
Source: Xinhua
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