Ireland's hopes of qualifying for next summer's European Championship finals in Portugal suffered a big blow as Brian Kerr's men were held at home by Russia.
Having hauled themselves back into contention in the qualifying campaign with three wins and a draw under Brian Kerr, this Lansdowne Road stalemate means both Switzerland and Russia can finish ahead of them in Group 10.
Russia face leaders Switzerland in Moscow on Wednesday, then Ireland end their campaign against the Swiss next month, and they will almost certainly need to win in Basle if they are to be in the shake-up for places in Portugal.
To make matters worse, skipper Kenny Cunningham marred his 50th cap by collecting his second booking of the campaign, ruling him out of the crucial game in Switzerland.
Ireland started poorly and lost John O'Shea on through an ankle injury after 26 minutes and the Manchester United defender was replaced by Ian Harte.
The home side took the lead through Duff when the Chelsea man picked up the ball midway inside the Russian half, jinked his way past a couple of challenges and let fly from 25 yards. The ball took a wicked deflection off Onopko which wrong-footed the goalkeeper and it bounced into the bottom left corner to send the packed Lansdowne Road crowd wild with delight.
Given had to be alert after 41 minutes to tip over a 20-yard shot from Kerzhakov, but disaster struck from the resulting corner. Given was crowded out as he tried to punch clear Alexander Mostovoi's cross, and when the ball dropped for Sergey Ignashevich he swept home the equaliser from six yards.
Kerr gambled on giving his team an extra attacking impetus when he replaced Lee Carsley with Stephen Reid on the right flank at half time, but the gamble failed to produce the much-needed goal.
Russia's spoiling tactics presented plenty of free-kicks but each time the chance was spurned.
The visitors were happy to sit on their point and for the first time in Kerr's reign Ireland had no answer.
Ireland: Shea Given, Steven Carr, Kenny Cunningham, Gary Breen, John O'Shea (Ian Harte 25), Lee Carsley (Steven Reid 45), Matt Holland, Colin Healy, Kevin Kilbane, Clinton Morrison (Gary Doherty 73), Damien Duff. Subs not used: Colgan, Finnan, Reid, Kinsella, Connolly.
Russia: Ovchinnikov, Sennikov, Evseev, Smertin, Alenitchev (Aldonin 39),Ignashevich, Onopko, Gusev, Boulykin, Mostovoi, Esipov (Kerzhakov 33). Subs not used: Malafeev, Nizhegorodov, Radimov, Loskov, Sychev.
Filed by James Boylan
