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Many gaps for Russia against Ireland
Russia recorded a goalless draw against Ireland on the "Luzhniki" in qualification from Group "B" for Euro2012.
Shay Given and Richard Dunne turned in heroic performances in Moscow as the Republic of Ireland survived an onslaught to keep their Euro2012 hopes alive.
Given produced three fine saves, the last of them a stunning 88th-minute stop from midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov's diving header, to extend his side's record run of clean sheets to seven.
But it took a remarkable goal-line block by Dunne to deny Igor Semshov before the break and another to keep out Roman Shirokov after it as the Russian assault ultimately came up short.
The Aston Villa defender finished the game wearing a makeshift number five shirt after being made to remove the bloodied original, with staff have to draw the number on a blank one using a marker pen.
But that may now be one of his proudest possessions after he led a gutsy rearguard action which keeps Ireland's hopes of automatic qualification from Group B alive.
Russia remain two points better off, but must travel to Slovakia next month, while Giovanni Trapattoni's men will end their campaign with a trip to Andorra and Armenia's visit to the Aviva Stadium.
They were certainly the happier as they left Moscow with a point for the first time, although they will know there is still plenty of work to be done if they are to pip the Russians to top spot.
Trapattoni said of Dunne's performance: "He was fantastic. I thank God that we had Richard in this game.
"He sacrificed himself because he went back on to the pitch with four stitches. He understood the need to stay on the pitch.
"Shay Given also saved two or three goals. They were fantastic saves.''
Dunne had to have stitches after suffering a head wound in a challenge on Yuri Zhirkov which cost him a second booking in as many games which will rule him out of next month's trip to Andorra.
He was made to change his shirt, but with no number five replacement on the sidelines, goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly had to write the number on a plain shirt in felt-tipped pen.
Trapattoni said: "In life, these things happen. We forgot the reserve shirt. We wrote the number five and thank God, he went back on to the pitch immediately.''
Trapattoni was quick to admit that his team had ridden its luck. He said: "It is impossible not to recognise that we have been lucky in this 90 minutes.
"The determination and the application on the pitch of the team, particularly of the senior players like Richard Dunne, Shay Given, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady was the pull for the younger players who gained confidence from them.
"That balance allowed us to achieve what I call a golden point.
"With this result, we can look to the future because we have cleared a big obstacle tonight.
"I told the players St Patrick was looking down on us tonight.''
Russia boss Dick Advocaat could not fault his players for their efforts, but admitted the failure to take their chances had proved costly.
He said: "I always start by saying that I'm happy with the result or not happy with the result so tonight, I will start by saying I'm not happy with the result.
"Without being chauvinistic, Russia played an excellent game, 90 minutes controlling the game and created seven or eight 100% chances, so I can only give my players praise for the way they played tonight.''