Russia revive Euro 2016 hopes with narrow win over Sweden
MOSCOW --
Russia revived its hopes of qualifying for the 2016 European Championship by defeating Sweden 1-0 at home on Saturday.
Artyom Dzyuba ended Russia's 11-month wait for a competitive goal, scoring off the post in the 38th minute, after Igor Smolnikov played on Roman Shirokov's backheel pass.
Late on, Sweden's Martin Olsson cleared an Alexander Kokorin shot off the line.
It was Russia's first game under coach Leonid Slutsky, who was appointed last month as the replacement for the departed Fabio Capello, under whom Russia won two of its last 10 competitive games.
Russia stayed third in Group G but was only one point behind Sweden, which holds the second of the automatic qualifying places.
Group leader Austria hosted Moldova late Saturday, while Liechtenstein visited Montenegro.
