Goals from Viktor Fayzulin and Roman Shirokov gave Russia a comfortable home win over Northern Ireland in Fabio Capello's first competitive game in charge.
The hosts went ahead on 30 minutes when Fayzulin calmly slotted past goalkeeper Roy Carroll following a neat cutback from Aleksandr Kerzhakov.
Carroll was beaten again on 78 minutes when Shirokov emphatically converted from the penalty spot after Gareth McAuley had been harshly judged to have fouled substitute Aleksandr Kokorin.
McAuley almost netted a reply two minutes later, but his looping header was hacked off the line by Fayzulin.
Northern Ireland now host Luxembourg on Tuesday night, while Russia visit Israel.
Written by
Robert Summerscales
Robert Summerscales
