Russia has defeated 1988 champions the Netherlands, 3-1 in overtime, to
reach the semifinals of the European football championships in Basel,
Switzerland.
Roman Pavlyuchenko gave the Russians the lead in
the 56th minute, but Dutch captain Ruud van Nistelrooy equalized for
the Dutch in the 87th minute to send the match into extra time.
The
Russians scored twice in extra time when Dimitry Torbinski and Andrei
Arshavin scored within five minutes of each other. Torbinksi scored in
the 112th minute while Arshavin added another goal in the 116th minute.
This is the third match when an underdog team has beaten a
group winner - Portugal and Croatia both lost their quarterfinals. The
Netherlands had won all three of its preliminary round games in Group
C, including wins over World Cup champion Italy and finalists France.
Russia,
led by former Dutch national coach Guus Hiddink, will play the winner
of Sunday's quarterfinal between Spain and Italy. The other semifinal
has Germany facing Turkey.
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