kharin heroics help cis halt netherlands published: sunday 5 october 2003, 15.02cet
another defensive display earned a second point for the cis, with keeper dmitri kharin starring.
a 0-0 draw between the netherlands and the commonwealth of independent states (cis) left scotland's euro '92 elimination as the only certainty going into the final round of games in group b.
anatoli byshovets had fielded an unyielding side as the team representing the former soviet union drew 1-1 against germany in their opening game, and despite adding a second forward against the reigning european champions, they risked even less against the oranje. tellingly, dangerous manchester united fc winger andrei kanchelskis was used to mark bryan roy.
dmitri kharin made important saves from dennis bergkamp (twice), frank rijkaard and marco van basten's back-header. one of ronald koeman's fearsome free-kicks went close and van basten had a goal disallowed after running from behind akhrik tsveiba to head in a cross from jan wouters. the result left both sides knowing a last-day win would seal a semi-final place.