Euro2008 Quarter Final ~ Holland 1 Russia 3 (aet)

Russia's place in the last four is sealed with the outstanding Arshavin firing in their third goal past Van der Sar

It's unbelievable what they did tactically, to outplay tactically and physically the Dutch team is almost a miracle

By Citizen Correspondent Sir Stephen

Date Posted: 06/21/08

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Sublime Russia break Dutch hearts as an Andrei Arshavin-inspired Russia beat the Dutch 3-1 to reach the Euro 2008 semi-finals. It took extra-time to get there, but goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko, Dimitri Torbinski and Andrei Arshavin ensured that a Ruud van Nistelrooy strike proved to be nothing more than a consolation...

Russia's Andrei Arshavin was the architect as they dumped Holland out of Euro 2008 after extra time.

Russia took the lead in normal time when Roman Pavlyuchenko volleyed home, only for Ruud van Nistelrooy to head in an 86th-minute leveller for the Dutch. But the brilliant Arshavin tormented Holland throughout and he crossed for Dmitri Torbinski to prod home. Arshavin then sealed a semi-final spot in the 116th minute as he ran through and fired low past Edwin van der Sar.

Russia almost had to play with 10 men in extra time after Denis Kolodin was sent off by Lubos Michel in stoppage time, only for the referee to reverse his decision after a chat with one of his assistants. It was the first European Championship quarter-final that did not have to be decided by penalties after going into extra time and was just reward for another spellbinding performance from the young Russians and their destroyer-in-chief Arshavin. The 27-year-old, who missed Russia's first two Euro 2008 games through suspension, was in electric form and as Holland tired in the extra period, they could not get near him.

It was a triumph too for Russia's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink and his side will now meet either Spain or Italy in Vienna on Thursday in the semi-finals. From the start Russia settled better than their more-fancied opponents as the Dutch struggled to match the fluidity of their earlier Euro 2008 performances.

Hiddink's men found joy down the flanks, exposing full-backs Gio van Bronckhorst and Khalid Boulahrouz, with one fine cross headed over from eight yards by Pavlyuchenko.