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| A disappointing draw for Rubin as they chase European glory [AFP] |
Rubin Kazan were held to a 0-0 draw by Dynamo Kiev in their Champions League qualifier, denting both teams' hopes of progressing from Group F.
Russian champions Rubin, who clinched their second domestic consecutive league title on Saturday, and their Ukrainian opponents had few clear chances in a game played in difficult conditions with snow falling on the pitch in Kazan.
The result meant Rubin failed to really turn on any pressure on the defending champions Barcelona who host Inter Milan at Nou Camp in the later game.
Rubin are on six points in Group F and Dynamo remain bottom of the group with five points.
Cautious start
Both teams started cautiously trying to avoid unnecessary risks and failed to warm up the crowd under light snow.
Rubin dominated possession in the first half and came close several times.
With three strikers in the starting line-up, Dynamo could not break through a disciplined Rubin defence and failed to create a single clear scoring opportunity before the interval.
Rubin's Argentine striker Alejandro Dominguez missed the best chance late in the first half when his overhead kick was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Olexander Shovkovsky and Alexander Bukharov headed over the bar with a follow-up.
Earlier, Bukharov had a shot on goal from Dominguez's cross from the left in the 34th. Shovkovsky blocked Dominguez's shot from the left four minutes later.
"It was a tough and very even match today," Rubin manager Kurban Berdyev said.
"We managed to add a point and I'm really grateful to my players for their performance."
Firing wide
Dynamo had their first scoring opportunity in the 51st, but Andriy Yarmolenko failed to beat Sergei Ryzhikov one-on-one and Shevchenko then fired the rebound wide of the empty net.
The home side then seized the initiative, threatening Dynamo's goal at the sold-out Centralny stadium.
Dynamo replied with sharp counter attacks and Ryzhikov blocked Gerson Magrao's low shot from just inside the box in the 64th and another one from Shevchenko from 15 metres five minutes later.
Shevchenko had another clear chance in the 75th but Ryzhikov managed to touch the ball with his heel to send it for a corner kick. Artem Milevskiy had his second shot on goal blocked by Ryzhikov in the 80th.
Rubin dominated in the fading minutes of the match but Bukharov missed to score the winner as he came one-on one with Shovkovskiy in injury time.
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