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Russia too strong for Tunisia

Heads up for Tunisia's Riadh Bouaziz (left) and Titov, who got Russia's first goal

KOBE, Japan (Reuters) -- Russia made a solid start to their World Cup campaign when they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Tunisia and moved to the top of group H.

Second-half goals from Yegor Titov and Valery Karpin, from the penalty spot, secured Russia the victory their dominance warranted, though they impressed only intermittently.

In fact, it was not until Tunisia goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel's 59th minute mistake -- pounced upon by Titov for the breakthrough -- that Russia settled.

The result put them top of group H, but rivals Japan and Belgium, who drew 2-2 on Tuesday, will have seen little to fear.

Russia coach Oleg Romantsev was pleased with the result, but not the performance of his side.

"It was a good game for the fans but there will be reprimands for my players after the game," Romantsev said. "We cannot allow our opponents to create so many chances and we created chances ourselves but did not finish them off. So we have work to do in both penalty areas."

Tunisia joint coach Ammar Souayah said conceding two quick goals had made it difficult for his team to recover.

"It's true that we held out well for an hour but we conceded two quick goals against a very strong and experienced Russian team and it was difficult for us to come back," he said.

Vladimir Beschastnykh made some intelligent runs on occasions, but too often the talented Karpin and Titov, who also dragged a right foot shot wide in the final moments of the first half, pondered in possession.

In fact, it was Tunisia who nearly took the lead after 21 minutes when Hassen Gabsi burst through on the counter-attack and defenders Yuri Nikiforov and Yuri Kovtun combined to bundle the ball agonisingly wide of the post.

They then began the second half brightly, with Slim Ben Achour firing inches wide from 20 metres and Karpin rescuing Russia with a brilliant defensive header when Adel Sellimi was poised to head home.

But shortly after that flurry, their hopes of only a second ever World Cup finals victory -- 24 years after the first -- disappeared.

Boumnijel's throw out of defence gifted possession to Russia and, after the ball fell kindly to him just inside the area, Titov clipped a right foot shot low past the embarrassed keeper.

Four minutes later, substitute Dmitry Sychev -- on for Beschastnykh -- was tripped in the area by Radhi Jaidi and, after referee Peter Prendergast pointed to the spot, Karpin coolly stepped up to send Boumnijel the wrong way.

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