Tunisia Blunders Are Costly

(Wednesday, June 5, 2002) - Russia got two goals in a five-minute stretch of the second half from Egor Titov and Valery Karpin to overcome a game Tunisia in a Group H match in Kobe, Japan. Both goals came on defensive miscues by the Africans.

Though Tunisia worked hard throughout the match, it was the Russians who created most of the chances with their superior technical abilities. Karpin’s goal came from the penalty spot after Radhi Jaidi felled the dangerous Dmitri Sychev in the box. Russia vault to the top of the group with the victory and will look to beat co-hosts Japan next. Tunisia plays Belgium on 10 June.

Valery Karpin was without his normal striking partner Alexandr Mostovoi, with whom they form a lethal duo in Spain’s La Liga with Celta Vigo in addition to the Russian national squad, but he still looked dangerous early. After Vladimir Beschastnykh was fouled at the top of the penalty area, Karpin’s rocket was punched away by Tunisia goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel (3’).

Russia provided this chance, but it was Tunisia who opened the game quickly, hunting for the early strike. But when Andrei Solomatin fired a 25-metre shot that Boumnijel fumbled, it seemed to mark a change in the momentum (15’).

Showing some pace on the counter-attack, Tunisia nearly capitalised by virtue of an own goal. Slim Ben Achour’s pass through the middle to Hassen Gabsi was headed off by a pair of Russian defenders, but they inadvertently knocked the ball past their goalkeeper, Ruslan Nigmatullin and the ball slowly rolled inches wide of the post (21’).

At the other end, Russia created another scoring opportunity and Marat Izmailov’s long blast was stopped by a diving Boumnijel (22’). Russia had another chance with Yuri Nikiforov’s 25-metre free kick, but his effort went well wide of the mark (38’). A final shot by Egor Titov just before the half-time whistle also rolled wide of the goal (47’+).

By the end of the half, Tunisia had done well defensively, certainly deserving of a level score at the interval, while Russia, who enjoyed a 5-1 advantage in shots on target, were left to contemplate their finishing.

Russia opened the second half with another miss when half-time substitute Dmitry Khokhlov sent a header wide from Karpin’s right-side free kick (47’). With all their chances, it seemed Russia were sure to score eventually, but their poor marksmanship appeared to increase the Africans’ confidence.

Tunisia’s hopes for a goal against the run of play were almost answered by Ben Achour. With a clear look at goal, the midfielder received a backpass and powered a shot just outside the near post from 20 metres (53’).

Then the Russian’s missed the mark again. This time from a corner kick when Ruslan Pimenov knocked a right-footer outside the post from inside the goal box (56’). Finally Russia were able to combine power and accuracy when Titov took advantage of bad distribution by Boumnijel and fired a shot into the lower-left corner. Although the Tunisia goalkeeper did manage to get a hand on the ball, he could not keep it from getting by him (1:0, 59’).

Karpin hit the same corner from the penalty spot minutes later to double the advantage (2:0, 63’). Dmitri Sychev had made a long run into the penalty area and when he tried to cut past Jaidi, he was cut down and the referee pointed to the spot.

Some nice work in the attacking end nearly resulted in a third goal for Russia in the closing minutes, but it was not necessary. With a comfortable lead, Russia did well getting numbers behind the ball and limiting the danger of Tunisia’s chances for the remainder of the match.