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2002 World Cup - Russia 4 Switzerland 0

First Published: Oct 06, 2001

Russia return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1994 after with a first half hat trick from Vladimir Beschastnykh sealing their win at the Dynamo stadium in Moscow.

Rolan Gusev was fouled in the 14th minute and Beschastnykh smashed the spot kick past goalkeeper Jörg Stiel.

Marat Izmailov chipped a cross to the far post in the 20th minute for Beschastnykh to reach the ball and slam a header into the opposite corner of the net and he completed his hat trick by heading in from close range after Stiel failed to cut out a Yegor Titov cross.

David Sesa had hit an impressive swerving free kick in the fifth minute for the visiting team's best chance but it was saved but Russia almost started the second half with a fourth goal when Stiel turned an Ismailov shot onto the bar.

Beschastnykh saw Stiel save at his feet after that and the forward was fouled by Giuseppe Mazzarelli to allow Titov to launch a curling free kick into the net from the edge of the penalty area to leave Oleg Romantsev's Russia alone at the top of group one.