Russia have convincingly beaten Andorra 4-0 in their EURO 2008 Group E qualifier in St Petersburg on Saturday, with a hat-trick from Seville FC striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov to take them to the top of Group E.

Russia scored within eight minutes of this Group E encounter as Seville FC striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov lobbed it over Andorran goalkeeper Koldo Álvarez who was off his line to make it 1-0.

Kerzhakov got his second goal just ten minutes later with another lob. This time from a pass from Yuri Zhirkov, which he lifted over Koldo Álvarez, who was rushing out of his goal.

Kerzhakov got his hat-trick just four minutes into the second half. Vladimir Bystrov crossed into the box for Zhirkov’s hard shot to be parried right into the path of Kerzhakov, who tucked the ball away to make it 3-0 and win the match ball.

Russia extended their lead further in the 71st minute when substitute Dmitri Sychev slid the box under Koldo Álvarez from inside the box after a lovely ball played in by Andrei Arshavin.

The win means that Russia will go to the top of Group E, ahead of Croatia - at least for a few hours.

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