Rubin Kazan were held to a goalless stalemate by Dynamo Kiev to ensure Group F remains tight going into the final fixtures.
Goalless in Russia to ensure Group F remains tight
Rubin Kazan were held to a goalless stalemate by Dynamo Kiev in Russia to ensure UEFA Champions League Group F remains tight going into the final fixtures.
The Russian champions - who successfully defended their domestic title over the weekend - had the best chance of the game via Alejandro Dominguez on the stroke of half-time, but Dynamo keeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy made a fantastic stop to save his scissor kick from 12 yards.
The result means there is still everything to play for in both sides' final group games on 9th December when Kazan travel to Inter, while Dynamo host reigning European champions Barca.
But the Ukrainians could have claimed the lead in wintery conditions in Kazan as early as the fourth minute when Andriy Shevchenko crossed from the right to Andriy Yarmolenko at the far post but he skied his effort over from close range.
Milos Ninkovic then had a shot blocked by Roman Sharonov before Alexander Bukharov's header at the other end was poor, although it took Shovkovskiy two attempts to gather the ball.
Shevchenko then set up Yarmolenko at the far post once more but again the youngster shot wide from close range, while Bukharov's long-range effort was then blocked by Ebert Betao in the 26th minute at the other end.
Dangerous cross
Just after the half-hour mark, Dominguez's effort from the left was saved by Shovkovskiy low to his right before the same player hit a dangerous cross across the face of goal but there was no Kazan player there to convert.
Artem Milevskiy then shot wide from 12 yards in the 35th minute before Shevchenko blasted a free-kick well over from long range.
Shevchenko was booked in the 37th minute for a challenge on Cristian Ansaldi before Dominguez's scissor kick just before half-time looked to have beaten Shovkovskiy but the keeper produced a fantastic save to his left, with the rebound then falling to Bukharov who headed over.
In the second period, Kazan keeper Sergei Ryzhikov had to be out quickly to save from Yarmolenko, with Shevchenko's shot from the rebound poor.
Dominguez was booked before substitute Vitali Kaleshin's cross from the right was parried away by Shovkovskiy, while Cristian Noboa also went into the referee's book for pulling back Ninkovic.
Headed over
Yarmolenko almost converted a free-kick by Gerson Magrao on 68 minutes but headed just over at the far post, before Shevchenko's shot was saved by Ryzhikov, who again saved from the same player soon afterwards.
Dominguez shot straight at the keeper on 77 minutes, while Milevskiy's long-range shot was pushed away by Ryzhikov at the other end.
Dominguez put in a dangerous free-kick from the right with five minutes to play, with Bukharov then heading back across goal but Atanda Yussuf headed out for a corner and Kazan could not capitalise.
In the dying seconds, Bukharov was played on goal but Magrao was back quickly to tackle as the game ran out goalless.
| Rubin Kazan |
Team Statistics |
Dinamo Kiev |
| 0 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
8 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 6 |
Corners |
7 |
| 20 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
5 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 74 |
Passing Success |
74.1 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
28 |
| 88.9 |
Tackles Success |
75 |
| 54.4 |
Possession |
45.6 |
| 46.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
53.6 |
|
