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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Football Union of Russia vs Belgium. International Match.

Fisht Olympic Stadium.

Football Union of Russia 3

  • V Vasin (3rd minute)
  • A Miranchuk (74th minute)
  • A Bukharov (92nd minute)

Belgium 3

  • K Mirallas (17th minute pen)
  • C Benteke (42nd minute, 45th minute)

Russia 3-3 Belgium: Christian Benteke scores twice but Belgium pegged back

Belgium's Christian Benteke (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Russia
Image: Belgium's Christian Benteke (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Russia

Christian Benteke scored twice but Belgium had to settle for a 3-3 draw against Russia in Tuesday's friendly.

The Crystal Palace striker struck just before the interval (42, 45) to give the visitors a commanding lead in Sochi after Everton's Kevin Mirallas had cancelled out Viktor Vasin's third-minute opener from the spot.

But Russia pulled one back 15 minutes from time through substitute Aleksey Miranchuk and then snatched a morale-boosting equaliser in stoppage-time, thanks to Alexander Bukharov.

The hosts were beaten 2-0 by the Ivory Coast in Krasnodar on Friday but will draw some heart from Tuesday's comeback, even if it was against an under-strength Belgium side without Premier League regulars like Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, who made a late cameo appearance.

Benteke proved an adequate replacement in attack as he won the penalty that led to the equaliser, powering his way into the box before drawing a foul from Roman Neustadter.

Alexander Bukharov scores a stoppage-time equaliser past Simon Mignolet
Image: Alexander Bukharov scores a stoppage-time equaliser past Simon Mignolet

Mirallas hit a poor spot-kick but Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's dive was in vain.

Neustadter had been involved in the opening goal when he punished poor defending, playing the ball back into the danger area for Vasin to tap home from close range.

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Belgium went ahead for the first time from a corner as Jan Vertonghen's goal-bound header was cleared straight to Benteke, who was left with a simple finish.

And the goalscorer grabbed a swift second when he headed in Nacer Chadli's inswinging free-kick to seemingly put his side on course for victory.

A host of second-half substitutions took some momentum from the game but Russia played on the counter and Miranchuk played a neat one-two with fellow substitute Bukharov before steering the ball into the net.

Rostov forward Bukharov then beat Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from eight yards out in the second minute of stoppage time to save the day for the hosts.

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