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The Republic of Ireland held on and held out in Moscow for a point that keeps them in contention in Group B.Victory would have taken them above their hosts and back to the summit but they hardly threatened Russia's goal.
Instead they had to defend and defend as Dick Advocaat's side piled on the pressure without finding the net.
It was the Republic's seventh successive shut-out, an impressive run by anyone's standards, but it also opened the door for Slovakia to squeeze Giovanni Trapattoni's men out into third place later in the evening.
But that didn't happen as Armenia pulled off a sensational 4-0 win over the Slovaks, who meet Russia next.
The news of that result was music to Irish ears and the performance in Moscow had certainly been excellent defensively - the kind they will need if they are to make and then prosper in the play-offs.
HIGHLIGHTS:
8 mins: Andrei Arshavin's well-struck low effort from outside the box is turned round a post by the diving Shay Given.
21 mins: Igor Semshov's shot on the turn rears off the artificial turf but Given pulls off another quality save to keep it out.
33 mins: Richard Dunne blocks Semshov's goal-bound effort after good work on the left by ex-Chelsea man Yuri Zhirkov.
44 mins: Damien Duff clears off the line as Ireland hang on.
56 mins: Semshov tries to set up a non-existent colleague after bursting into a shooting position in the box.
64 mins: Substitute Simon Cox blasts a rare Irish shot well over.
68 mins: Robbie Keane heads over form a free kick.
74 mins: Dunne is booked for a challenge on Zhirkov that left both men needing extensive treatment.
82 mins: Substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov blazes a really good chance to win it it well over.
88 mins: Konstantin Zyryanov slides in at the back post but Given somehow manages to keep out his diving header.
REACTION:
Trapattoni praised Dunne for his immense contribution.
"He was fantastic. I thank God that we had Richard in this game. He sacrificed himself because he went back on to the pitch with four stitches. He understood the need to stay on the pitch."
Dunne had to change his shirt in the second half, with goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly having to write his number on it with felt-tipped pen.
"In life, these things happen. We forgot the reserve shirt. We wrote the number five and thank God, he went back on to the pitch immediately."
The Italian admitted his side had been second best throughout.
"It is impossible not to recognise that we have been lucky in this 90 minutes. The determination and the application on the pitch of the team, particularly of the senior players like Richard Dunne, Shay Given, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady was the pull for the younger players who gained confidence from them.
"That balance allowed us to achieve what I call a golden point. With this result, we can look to the future because we have cleared a big obstacle tonight. I told the players St Patrick was looking down on us tonight."
Advocaat knew two points had been squandered.
"I always start by saying that I'm happy with the result or not happy with the result so tonight, I will start by saying I'm not happy with the result.
"Without being chauvinistic, Russia played an excellent game, 90 minutes controlling the game and created seven or eight 100% chances, so I can only give my players praise for the way they played tonight."
WHAT IT MEANS: That anything is possible in this crazy group. Ireland could win it - or even end up fourth. Certainly they must not slip up in Andorra, who have lost to everybody so far, and with Slovakia and Russia due to play each other next, points will be dropped by one or both rivals. But suddenly Armenia are in the picture too, above the Slovaks in third place now and boasting the best goal difference tally of the group. They are the Irish's final opponents - and, barring disaster in Andorra, a home victory in Dublin will guarantee the play-offs at the very least.
RUSSIA 0 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Russia (4-2-3-1): Malafeev 6; Anyukov 7, V Berezutski 7, Ignashevich 7, A Berezutski 7; Semshov 7, Shirokov 7; Arshavin 7, Zyryanov 7, Zhirkov 7 (Bilyaletdinov 76, 2); Kerzhakov 6 (Pavlyuchenko 54, 6).
Subs (not used): Shunin, Pogrebnyak, Torbinski, Glushakov, Shishkin.
Republic of Ireland (4-4-2): Given 8; Kelly 7, Dunne 10, O'Dea 7, Ward 5; Duff 7 (Hunt 67, 6), Whelan 6, Andrews 6, McGeady 7; Keane 5, Doyle 5 (Cox 58, 5).
Subs (not used): Westwood, Foley, Delaney, Lawrence, McCarthy.
REFEREE: Felix Brych (Germany)
ATTENDANCE: tbc
NEXT UP:
- Republic of Ireland v Andorra (Away), Euro 2012 qualifier 07/10 2030 BST
- Russia v Slovakia (Away) Euro 2012 qualifiers 07/10 1915 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH: Richard Dunne (Ireland). Heroic at the back with his clearances, goal-line and otherwise. Shed blood for the cause too, and was annoyed when the referee made him change his shirt - and have his number written on the new one in felt tip.
Dunne had to change his shirt in the second half, with goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly having to write his number on it with felt-tipped pen.
"In life, these things happen. We forgot the reserve shirt. We wrote the number five and thank God, he went back on to the pitch immediately."
The Italian admitted his side had been second best throughout.
"It is impossible not to recognise that we have been lucky in this 90 minutes. The determination and the application on the pitch of the team, particularly of the senior players like Richard Dunne, Shay Given, Keith Andrews, Aiden McGeady was the pull for the younger players who gained confidence from them.
"That balance allowed us to achieve what I call a golden point. With this result, we can look to the future because we have cleared a big obstacle tonight. I told the players St Patrick was looking down on us tonight."
Advocaat knew two points had been squandered.
"I always start by saying that I'm happy with the result or not happy with the result so tonight, I will start by saying I'm not happy with the result.
"Without being chauvinistic, Russia played an excellent game, 90 minutes controlling the game and created seven or eight 100% chances, so I can only give my players praise for the way they played tonight."
WHAT IT MEANS: That anything is possible in this crazy group. Ireland could win it - or even end up fourth. Certainly they must not slip up in Andorra, who have lost to everybody so far, and with Slovakia and Russia due to play each other next, points will be dropped by one or both rivals. But suddenly Armenia are in the picture too, above the Slovaks in third place now and boasting the best goal difference tally of the group. They are the Irish's final opponents - and, barring disaster in Andorra, a home victory in Dublin will guarantee the play-offs at the very least.
RUSSIA 0 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Russia (4-2-3-1): Malafeev 6; Anyukov 7, V Berezutski 7, Ignashevich 7, A Berezutski 7; Semshov 7, Shirokov 7; Arshavin 7, Zyryanov 7, Zhirkov 7 (Bilyaletdinov 76, 2); Kerzhakov 6 (Pavlyuchenko 54, 6).
Subs (not used): Shunin, Pogrebnyak, Torbinski, Glushakov, Shishkin.
Republic of Ireland (4-4-2): Given 8; Kelly 7, Dunne 10, O'Dea 7, Ward 5; Duff 7 (Hunt 67, 6), Whelan 6, Andrews 6, McGeady 7; Keane 5, Doyle 5 (Cox 58, 5).
Subs (not used): Westwood, Foley, Delaney, Lawrence, McCarthy.
REFEREE: Felix Brych (Germany)
ATTENDANCE: tbc
NEXT UP:
- Republic of Ireland v Andorra (Away), Euro 2012 qualifier 07/10 2030 BST
- Russia v Slovakia (Away) Euro 2012 qualifiers 07/10 1915 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH: Richard Dunne (Ireland). Heroic at the back with his clearances, goal-line and otherwise. Shed blood for the cause too, and was annoyed when the referee made him change his shirt - and have his number written on the new one in felt tip.
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