Russia secured a 2-1 win against Moldova in Chisinau on Friday to leave their Euro 2016 destiny in their own hands.

Full back Sergei Ignashevich and forward Arten Dzyuba set up the 2018 World Cup hosts' third win in as many matches since Leonid Slutsky took over in August from sacked Italian Fabio Capello.

Eugeniu Cebotaru was on target for Moldova.

The win tightened Russia's grip on the runner-up spot in Group G, and a point will now suffice in their closing qualifier against Montenegro next week to secure an automatic ticket to France.

Sweden, their rivals for the coveted second place berth behind runaway table toppers Austria, are third, two points adrift.

Moldova, spurred on by a capacity 12,000 home crowd at the Zimbru arena, tried to take the visitors' goal by storm in an attempt to record their first win of the campaign but Russia soon regained the initiative.

Russia's only serious chance in the first half came in the 28th minute when forward Alexander Kokorin went close with a header after a pinpoint cross from right-back Oleg Kuzmin.

In the 55th minute Kokorin forced Moldova goalkeeper Alexei Koselev into a diving save to deny his 22-yard low shot.

Three minutes later striker Artem Dzyuba stopped a freekick by Dmitry Kombarov with his chest in the area to feed Ignashevich, who hammered the ball past helpless Koselev from close range.

In the 78th minute Dzyuba doulbed Russia's advantage, sending the ball into the net after a well-served corner by Kombarov .

Midfielder Cebotaru pulled one back for Moldova with five minutes to go, when he headed the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box also after a corner.