Striker Dmitry Bulykin scored three goals and Alexander Mostovoi added another Wednesday as Russia beat Switzerland 4-1 in European Championship qualifying, keeping alive its hopes for a place in the finals.
Alex Frei had given Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
If Group 10 leader Switzerland had won on Wednesday, it could have earned a berth in the Euro 2004 finals for the second time since 1996. Switzerland will now have to beat Ireland at home on Oct. 11 to qualify directly. A draw in Basel will send them into the playoffs.
Dinamo Moscow striker Bulykin, playing his second match for Russia, equalized seven minutes later with a header off a cross from Rolan Gusev. Gusev capitalized on a mistake by Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler, who charged out to stop him on the right flank, leaving the goalmouth open for Bulykin to head home.
Four minutes later, striker Alexander Kerzhakov forced a stunning save from Zuberbuehler to stop his right-footed drive into the right lower corner of the net off a cross from Andrei Solomatin.
In the 33rd minute, Bulykin put Russia ahead 2-1 with a solo effort as he picked up a free-kick from Solomatin. Bulykin evaded several Swiss defenders to beat Zuberbuehler one-on-one with a low kick.
Russia fully dominated the second half, with Bulykin heading in his third goal off a corner kick from Mostovoi in the 59th minute. Russian captain Mostovoi, who plays for Spanish club Celta de Vigo, set the final score at 4-1 in the 72nd minute, heading in a cross from Sergei Ignashevich.
Switzerland has never beaten Russia -- or the Soviet Union -- in 11 matches. Russia has won seven times and drawn four. Russia beat Switzerland 4-0 two years ago to take them into the World Cup finals in Japan.
The win lands Russia in a tie for second place in Group 10 with Ireland, both with 11 points.
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