Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia's Artem Dzyuba scores their third goal REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Russia booked their place in next year's European Championship finals with a comprehensive 5-0 win over 10-man Cyprus away in Nicosia on Sunday.
Russia are the third team to qualify for the 24-team tournament, following Group I rivals Belgium and Italy from Group J.
The Russians needed only draw to ensure a top two finish and qualification but an early strike from Denis Cheryshev set them on their way to a their seventh victory in eight qualification games.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia's Aleksandr Golovin in action with Cyprus's Charis Kyriakou REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
The Valencia winger then turned provider as he set up Magomed Ozdoev for the second goal in the 23rd minute.
Artem Dyzuba made it 3-0 and Aleksandr Golovin added a fourth with two minutes to play.
Cheryshev finished off the victory with the last shot of the game.
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia's Artem Dzyuba celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia's Artem Dzyuba, Fedor Kudryashov and team mates celebrate at the end of the match REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov reacts REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia fan before the match REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia's Artem Dzyuba celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Yiannis KourtoglouSoccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Russia - GSP Stadium, Strovolos, Cyprus - October 13, 2019 Russia's Alexey Ionov during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou
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