Russia draws against England in Euro 2016 opener
Russian national football team have scored in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw against favorites England in their starting Group B match at Euro 2016 in Marseille, France.
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The young and speedy English team was quick to take control of the ball and dominated possession until the end of the first half.
Wayne Rooney and his teammates created several challenges, but none of them posed an unsolvable task for experienced Russian goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev.
Team Russia managed to score one shot on target before the break, with defender Sergey Ignashevich testing English goalie, Joe Hart, with a header.
The Russian side stepped up its game in the second half and created a few good chances.
But England was still more dangerous and eventually pulled ahead in the 73rd minute of play at Velodrome stadium.
Defensive midfielder, Eric Dier, landed a free-kick to leave Akinfeev no chance, putting England one up on the goals.
The Englishmen seemed to be headed for the win, but the Russians kept seeking an equalizer until the final whistle.
The team found one in the 92nd minute, with substitute Aleksandr Glushkov scoring into an empty net after captain Vasily Berezutsky won a midair battle for the ball in the English box, leaving the score 1-1.
Russia celebrate the goal that grabbed them a late draw.#ENGRUS#EURO2016pic.twitter.com/gXpx0wr9U9
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO) 11 июня 2016 г.
There was violence in Marseille ahead of the match as at least 10 people as English and Russian fans clashed with each other and the police.
In another Group B encounter of the day, European rookies Wales cruised to a 2-1 win against Slovakia.
The Welsh team’s star player, Gareth Bale, made it 1-0 in the 10th minute of play from a free-kick.
Slovakia equalized through Ondrej Duda after the break, but only to concede again as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu resorted the lead for Wales in the 80th minute, 2-1.
