Shortly after the restart, Gary Caldwell powered in a short-range header that worked its way back out of the Dons defence, but Aiden McGeady flighted flighted in a searching cross for Samaras to double Celtic's tally with a cute header from six yards out.
Henrik Larsson had Sweden's best chance with a first-half header that hit the crossbar, but Russia nearly got its second goal in the 36th when Pavlyuchenko's shot also hit the woodwork.