Republic of Ireland's 100% record in Euro 2012 qualifying came to an end against Russia, but not before Giovanni Trapattoni's side had mounted a stirring comeback in a game in which they had looked dead and buried.

• Dunne blasts lack of plan B

• Palmer: Ireland fall into one-dimensional Trap

Robbie Keane hit the bar early on at the Aviva Stadium but for the next hour

Russia dominated and deservedly went three up through Alexander Kerzhakov, Alan

Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov.

A Keane penalty in the 72nd minute gave the hosts a lifeline and, when

substitute Shane Long added a second six minutes later, it seemed the Republic

could get something from the game, but Russia held on to join their opponents on

six points in Group B.

Victory for Armenia over Slovakia earlier in the day gave the Republic the

chance to take a stranglehold on the group, and it briefly looked like they

might be able to do just that.

After Russia had enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening seven

minutes, the home side suddenly had three chances in quick succession.

First Aiden McGeady, who has been impressive for new club Spartak Moscow,

tested Igor Akinfeev with a shot the Russia keeper could not hold onto.

Captain Keane picked up the loose ball and his cross bounced off the bar with

Kevin Doyle waiting at the far post before another ball into the box fell for

McGeady, whose fizzing cross-shot evaded all his team-mates.

It took only another three minutes for the breakthrough to come, but,

unfortunately for the home fans, it was Shay Given who had to pick the ball out

of his net.

Richard Dunne gave away what appeared to be a soft free-kick for a foul on

Shirokov in the left channel and, when the set-piece was delivered by captain

Andrey Arshavin, it took a slight deflection before reaching Given, who could

only push it out to Sergei Ignashevich.

His overhead kick back across the box sat up perfectly for Kerzhakov and he

managed to get enough power on his shot to beat the massed ranks on the Republic

line.

The ease with which the visitors were finding space in and around the box would

certainly have worried Trapattoni as first Shirokov shot over when he probably

should have done better before Kerzhakov tested Given with a fierce strike.

The Republic were not learning their lesson, though, and they found themselves

two down in the 28th minute.

Aleksandr Aniukov was given time and space on the right to send in a cross, and

a lovely dummy by the dangerous Kerzhakov allowed Dzagoev to drill the ball

beyond a helpless Given.

The hosts at least managed a couple of forays into the Russia box with the half

coming to a close as first Doyle shot weakly at Akinfeev before Keane just

failed to pick out his strike partner after a promising move.

But the visitors could also have added to their tally, with Kerzhakov and

Arshavin shooting off target, and at the start of the second half they were at

it again as Aniukov found the side-netting.

McGeady, who has never scored for the Republic, then drew a decent save from

Akinfeev but any hopes the home side had of getting something from the game

seemed over two minutes later when Shirokov scored Russia's third.

There did not look much danger when the midfielder let fly from 25 yards but,

in attempting to block the shot, Dunne deflected the ball into his own net with

Given stranded.

The defender tried to make up for his error straight away, testing Akinfeev

from distance, but Russia looked dangerous with every attack and Sean St Ledger

needed to be alert to keep out Arshavin before Kerzhakov beat Given to the ball

only to discover none of his team-mates had kept up with him.

The Republic's final change saw Keith Fahey introduced for Doyle in the 71st

minute, and moments later they were given a lifeline when Keane chased a long

ball into the area and tumbled under pressure from Chelsea defender Yuri

Zhirkov.

There looked to be minimal contact but Dutch referee Kevin Blom pointed to the

penalty spot and Keane sent Akinfeev the wrong way to extend his record goal

tally to 45.

It seemed certain to be only a consolation but suddenly the Republic looked a

threat, and they could have pulled another goal back had Kevin Kilbane's control

been better six yards out.

Incredibly, given the one-sided nature of the match thus far, they did manage a

second with 12 minutes still to play. Akinfeev saved again from McGeady but this

time Long was following up and he managed to poke the ball just inside the far

post.

The roar around the stadium was deafening but the hosts could not find an

equaliser, and in fact should have conceded a fourth only for substitute Pavel

Pogrebniak to fluff his lines six yards out.

The final action saw the home side screaming for a penalty when St Ledger went

over in the box, but Blom blew his whistle only to signal the end of the game.