Dzagoev paces Russia to 4-1 win over Czech Republic

Alan Dzagoev celebrates his second score of the game Friday, a tally that helped Russia top the Czech Republic 4-1.

Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/ZUMAPRESS.com

Russia 4	Czech Republic 1
Final :: Wroclaw, Poland
Dzagoev 15' Shirokov 24' Dzagoev 79' Pavlyuchenko 82'	Pilar 51'

WROCLAW, Poland (AP) -- Alan Dzagoev scored a goal in each half in Russia's masterful display of attacking soccer to beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in their European Championship Group A opener Friday.

Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov gave Russia a 2-0 halftime lead before Vaclav Pilar in the 52nd minute game the Czechs brief hopes of a comeback.

Dzagoev replied with his second in the 80th minute, and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko added a fourth in the 82nd.

Russia, a surprise semifinalist four years ago, showed it has the potential to go even further in Poland and Ukraine.

If Euro 2012's opening 1-1 draw between Poland and Greece had more drama than quality, the second group match was a feast of offensive soccer.

Russia coach Dick Advocaat said before the match he considered his team an outsider for the title, but may have to revise his opinion after the emphatic victory. Of course, Russia is unlikely to meet many defenses as accommodating as the Czech back four.

After weathering a tough opening 10 minutes, Russia settled into its fluid passing game and tore apart the Czech defense.

Dzagoev sent home a loose ball after Konstantin Zyryanov floated a cross to the far side and Aleksandr Kerzhakov's header hit the goalpost and bounced to the CSKA Moscow midfielder in the 15th minute.

Dzagoev should have scored again minutes later, but blasted his shot wide after Kerzhakov found him free on the right side.

WILSON: Russia shows hint of potential

Shirokov made no such mistake in the 24th minute when he ran onto a diagonal pass from the left by Andrei Arshavin and cleverly lifted the ball over Petr Cech's desperate dive for his seventh intentional goal.

After Russian chances early in the second half went off-target, the Czechs replied. Pilar beat the offsides trap to run onto a pass from Petr Jiracek, get around Vyacheslav Malafeev and slide the ball home in the 52nd minute.

And after Kerzhakov missed two more good chances, Czech Republic right back Theodor Gebre Selassie nearly scored a spectacular equalizer in the 72nd. His powerful right volley went into the side netting, and Tomas Rosicky came close with a low shot that Malafeev saved.

But Russia then stepped it up a gear as Dzagoev slammed home another shot after a pass from Pavlyuchenko and Pavlyuchenko, on for Kerzhakov, held off three Czech defenders and drove a rising shot past Cech.

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