Austria beats Russia 1-0 in Euro 2016 qualifier

VIENNA (AP) — Substitute Rubin Okotie scored the winner for Austria in a 1-0 victory over Russia on Saturday, bringing his team a step closer to qualifying for a European Championship for the first time.

The win gave Austria a lead of five points over Russia at the top of Group G and four over Sweden, which was held to 1-1 by Montenegro.

Okotie, who replaced Marc Janko in the 59th minute, rounded off a counterattack set up by right winger Martin Harnik in the 73rd after he was left unmarked in front of Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

Referee Martin Atkinson ignored protests by Russian players who claimed Okotie was offside, and Russia coach Fabio Capello repeated the criticism afterward.

"It was a very fast counterattack and when the cross came, two players in front of the goal were offside for sure," Capello said through an interpreter.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returned to the national team after missing two qualifiers during his seven-week heel injury layoff, put Sweden ahead at Montenegro after scoring from short range in the ninth minute for his 51st goal in 101 internationals.

Montenegro captain Vladimir Jovetic leveled from the penalty spot in the 80th after he was brought down by Erkan Zengin.

In the other group game, Moldava lost 1-0 at home to Liechtenstein after defender Franz Burgmeier's goal in the 74th.

Austria remained unbeaten in nine straight matches since October 2013.

"The group table looks very good but it's too early to draw any conclusions," Austria coach Marcel Koller said.

Austria has never qualified for a European Championship though it took part as a co-host with Switzerland in 2008.

The top two teams in each group and the best third-place team will qualify directly for the tournament in France, while all remaining third-place teams will advance to playoffs.

"It was a true explosion of emotions," said Okotie, who also scored in Austria's 1-0 defeat of Montenegro last month.

Less than a minute before he found the net, Okotie thought he scored. His shot from short range was saved by Akinfeev, though TV footage appeared to show the goalie grabbed the ball from behind the line.

"I am sure the first ball was in as well," Okotie said. "So if my goal was offside, then it's just poetic justice."

Austria missed playmaker David Alaba, who underwent knee surgery last week, and lost defensive midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger with a musle injury during warmups. The team still dominated the openings phase.

Harnik came close twice in the first half.

On the other side, Aleksandr Kokorin hit the far post with a thundering 20-meter strike past goalkeeper Robert Almer in the 15th minute, and Sergei Ignashevich had his header saved by Almer with a spectacular dive shortly before a halftime.

Russia, which had captain Roman Shirokov back in the starting lineup after an injury layoff, had its best chance shortly afterward when Kokorin sent a header just wide.

The defeat left Russia with just one win from its last seven competitive matches and could put further pressure on Capello's position.

Capello has been in ongoing dispute with the Russian Football Untion, as he hasn't been paid since June, and the Italian said last month he was running out of patience.

The RFU admitted it can't afford his salary of an estimated $11 million a year, and it didn't extent contracts with Capello's long-term assistant coach, Christian Panucci, and fitness coach Massimo Neri, who were missing in Austria.

Capello declined to address the issue after the match and interrupted a Russian journalist who tried to ask him about it.

"The result isn't a fair reflection of the game," Capello said. "We allowed ourselves one mistake — and that was one too many. We tried to play aggressive, we wanted to play forward. I am satisfied with the team's performance."