Match Report
17 points separated the sides: Russia 2nd on 22, Cyprus 5th on 5. Cyprus's recent output lagged their position: 47th on form over five rounds while 5th in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: Russia 1.9 scored and 0.6 conceded per game, Cyprus 0.4 and 2.1, with the league averaging 1.53.
Russia came in having won three on the spin. Cyprus had not won in 5 games. The last-five ledger: Russia 12/15, Cyprus 1/15.
Stade Pennaguer Bihan 1 in Plomelin staged the fixture, a ground that holds 67,800. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Russia led 1-0 at the break, before 5 more goals closed it at 6-0.