Austria have secured a 1-0 victory over Russia in their Euro 2016 qualifier at the Luzhniki Stadium.

The visitors were the first to threaten when Zlatko Junuzovic lined up an effort at goal with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box, but his shot was saved by Igor Akinfeev.

Russia hit back with a good opportunity as Yuri Zhirkov raided down the left and found the run of Aleksandr Kokorin, but his effort at goal was well held by Robert Almer.

Austria took the lead in the 33rd minute when Marc Janko collected the ball inside the area and drilled an effort beyond the reach of Akinfeev and into the net.

In the second half, the home side pushed to get back into the match and Dmitriy Kombarov came close when he guided a header at goal from a free kick, but his effort went just wide of the post.

Zhirkov was the next Russia to try his luck with a strike from distance as he drove the ball at goal with his left foot after being teed up by Oleg Shatov, but Almer made the stop to deny the winger.

The game became open in the late stages as both sides had chances to find the net, but Shatov missed an opportunity for the home side, while Junozovic failed to kill the game off for Austria.

Russia piled numbers forward in the dying minutes, but the visitors held out to record an impressive three points.

Written by
Simon Sinclair