Miranchuk bags Russia’s first win at Euro 2020 with 1-0 over Finland

Sports Desk, Jun 16 (EFE).- Russia’s Aleksei Miranchuk scored an excellent goal on Wednesday to edge a close and intense match against neighbors Finland and lead his team to its first win of the tournament.

Despite being surrounded by Finnish defenders, Miranchuk curled a shot into the top corner from inside the penalty area in first-half stoppage time to the delight of the majority of the 24,000 fans at St. Petersburg’s Krestovsky Stadium.

The win takes Russia into second place, pending Group B’s other game between first placed Belgium and fourth-placed Denmark, who lost their opening match against Finland.

The only blemish on an otherwise excellent afternoon for Russia was defender Mario Fernandes needing to be hospitalized for a spinal injury he sustained halfway through the first half after a nasty fall that saw him stretchered off the pitch with a neck brace. Team doctors said later that he had not sustained any serious injuries. EFE

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