Supporter on Field Cost Russia Victory, Coach Says

March 26, 2013

LONDON — A fan who ran onto the field in the closing minutes of Russia's friendly with Brazil on Monday caused his players to lose concentration and concede a last-minute goal that cost them victory, according to Russia coach Fabio Capello.

Russia was just minutes away from its first win against the five-time world champions in their fifth meeting against them since the end of the Soviet era, but allowed Brazil to score with a tap-in in the 90th minute to bring it to a 1-1 draw in front of 35,000 fans at Stamford Bridge.

Russia, which will stage the 2018 World Cup after Brazil in 2014, took the lead with 17 minutes to play when Viktor Faizulin found the net, but was undone in the dying seconds.

(Reuters)

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