Let's party: Russia celebrate their second goal [AFP]

The victory means Russia will advance to next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland if it wins its final two games at Israel on November 17 and at Andorra four days later.
 
England host Croatia in their final game on November 21.
 
Pavlyuchenko scored in the 69th and 73rd minutes on the artificial field at Luzhniki Stadium after Wayne Rooney had given England the lead after 29 minutes.

Pavlyuchenko, who had come on as a 58th-minute substitute, scored the winning goal off a rebound after England goalkeeper Paul Robinson pushed away an attempt from Alexei Berezutskiy.

Earlier, he scored from the penalty sport to bring Russia level after Konstantin Zyryanov was brought down by Rooney on the edge of the box.

Cameras don't lie

Television replays suggested that Rooney was outside the box when he fouled Zyryanov.

However, replays also suggested Rooney was offside when he chested the ball onto his foot and volleyed into goal after a flick on from Michael Owen.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard, who was the captain in the place of the injured John Terry, could have made it 2-0 in the 51st with a great chance but his shot went wide.

Russia is in third place in Group E with 21 points, behind Croatia with 26 and England with 23.

Only the top teams in each group advance to the final tournament.

England, which beat the Russians 3-0 at Wembley on Sept. 12, has the edge if the two teams end up with the same number of points.

New surface

Russia appeared more confident on the artificial surface, which made the ball travel faster, and had more possession in the first half.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had a shot blocked in the 21st and Zyryanov hit the post in the 26th, with Berezutskiy heading wide from the resulting corner.

Russia also pressured England with five corners in the closing minutes of the first half, but England's makeshift defence held firm.

England's other chance in the first half came from Joleon Lescott, the defender making his first England start in place of injured left back Ashley Cole, who headed over in the 15th.

After enjoying a fairly comfortable opening hour England's defence became busier shortly before Russia's goals, with Sol Campbell blocking shots from Dmitry Torbinskiy and Bilyaletdinov.

England coach Steve McClaren brought on midfielders Frank Lampard, Stewart Downing and striker Peter Crouch as substitutes as England searched for a draw.

In the 86th, Rooney had a shot turned around the post and Campbell headed over the bar.

The win is the first for a team coached by Guus Hiddink against English opposition in 10 attempts.

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