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After failing to clear a simple ball whilst pressured by Rolan Gusev, Barnard brought down the Russian just outside the Welsh box. From the freekick Vadim Evseevh headed home to knock Wales out.
Barnard, along with the majority of his team-mates, struggled all evening and rounded off a miserable night with a booking.
Ryan Giggs hit the post just before the break and Gary Speed wasted a good chance when unmarked straight after the interval. Otherwise Wales found themselves out played and out thought by a better side.
The 31-year-old spoke of his disappointment but also pointed to some Russian playacting.
"I ran myself into the ground," Barnard told the Grimsby Telegraph. "I think we all did. We knew the first-half performance wasn't good enough and we didn't take the game to them.
"But in the second half we did and just couldn't score. If we had gone it at 1-1, if Giggsy's shot had gone in, I think we would have gone on to win.
"The momentum was with us but we missed a couple of chances and I thought there was only one team in it.
"For their goal the referee gave a free-kick but it was a strange one. I tried to shepherd the ball out but he got around me.
"As he crossed the ball in the linesman gave the free-kick for handball and the ref gave it for shirt-pulling. We still don't know what it was for.
"But they were diving and throwing themselves all over the place all night."
Despite his disappointment, Barnard is now looking ahead to quallfying and playing in the 2006 in Germany.
"Players are playing longer these days and if I can keep myself fit, then you never know," Barnard added.
"The World Cup is only in two years time and the matches will start again after next summer."