Football
2017 International Friendly, International Friendly
RUS 
3
FT
 BEL
3
ESPN staff 7y

Russia score twice late to salvage friendly draw with Belgium

Alexander Bukharov salvaged a 3-3 draw for Russia against Belgium in stoppage time to cap a late comeback in a friendly in Sochi on Tuesday.

Defender Viktor Vasin had given Russia an early lead before Roman Neustadter gave away a penalty with a clumsy challenge on Belgium forward Christian Benteke.

Kevin Mirallas converted the spot kick, and Benteke followed up with a pair of goals shortly before half-time.

Substitute Bukharov set up Alexei Miranchuk to make it 3-2 in the 76th minute, before leveling in the second minute of time added on.

Despite the encouraging comeback, next year's World Cup host Russia have still won only two of their last 13 games.

It was the first football match at the 47,700-seat Fisht stadium in Sochi, which hosted the Winter Olympic opening ceremony in 2014 but needed extensive reconstruction for the 2018 World Cup.

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