Departure Dynamo and Krasnodar
The gaming day started in Vladivostok and immediately pleased with a loud sensation. The local club Luch-Energia beat Moscow Dynamo with a minimum score. Moreover, it cannot be said that the blue and white brought the backup team to the Far East, because Maximilian Philip, Oscar Hillemark, and Roman Neustedter entered the field. In addition, the team captain Anton Shunin returned to the gate.
But even the presence of all these stars did not help wards Dmitry Khokhlova get into the next round. They never found an answer to the goal of Cyril Marushchak. Thus, the Muscovites extended their unbeaten run in all tournaments to four matches. However, the club’s press service was optimistic about the incident, indicating that now the team will be able to focus on RPL.
True, Dynamo fans did not satisfy this outcome at all, so the players again had to answer them. This time, a difficult conversation with the fans took place at Shunin, who tried to assure them that the players were leaving all their strength on the field. In turn, Khokhlov blamed the defeat of the judges.
No less sensational was the defeat in Nizhny Novgorod of Krasnodar. Moreover, Murad Musaev also put almost all of his leaders in the starting lineup. Southerners possessed an advantage, but in general did not have the best match. The meeting went to a goalless draw and extra time, but ten minutes before the final whistle the hosts managed to snatch victory.
“Brought” the ball into their own goal the newcomer of the “bulls” Cayo. He tried to beat the experienced Alexander Stavpec near his own free kick, but failed. And the ex-footballer of the Urals, without thinking twice, sent the shell exactly to the far corner. So “Krasnodar” suffered a third defeat in all tournaments and flew out of the Russian Cup.
Thriller in Khabarovsk
Perhaps the most exciting match of the 1/16 finals took place in Khabarovsk, where the local SKA-Khabarovsk, which recently played in the Premier League, and Akhmat met themselves. The Grozny residents started the season extremely unsuccessfully and were eager to rehabilitate themselves, at least in the Russian Cup.
However, as a result, the wards of Rashid Rakhimov nearly suffered another defeat. The meeting went for a long time to a goalless draw, but in the end the teams still exchanged goals scored. First, midfielder Bernard Berisha brought the guests ahead, and then the hosts scored a penalty.
In extra time, the Khabarovsk people completely stepped forward thanks to a successful rebound from the defender of Grozny Zoran Nizhich. But "Akhmat" found the strength to recoup. As a "joker" Magomed Mitrishev showed himself perfectly. The striker scored just a few minutes after appearing on the field.
As a result, it all ended in a penalty shootout. The first mistake in the “lottery” was made precisely by the players of “Akhmat” - the goalkeeper parried Ismael's shot. But the next two shots of the owners completely fell past the target. As a result, the wards of Rakhimov were able to maintain the advantage and gain the upper hand in the hardest match.
Departure Sochi
Things reached the penalty spot in Yaroslavl, where the local “Shinnik” and the representative of the Sochi RPL in 90 minutes of the main and 30 minutes of extra time failed to hit each other’s gates. In the “lottery”, luck smiled at the hosts - 5: 4. So the elite division of Russian football was left without one representative.
“Chertanovo” and “Orenburg” were also unable to print the bill in regular time, but in an extra 30-minute the team of Vladimir Fedotov still squeezed the metropolitan team. Goals were marked by a substitute Joel Fameye and Artyom Kuliev, who scored in the third match in a row. At the same time, the hosts were forced to play in the minority for more than 80 minutes in connection with the removal of defender Yegor Kondakov.
Hard trials for the grandees
The RPL leaders have also shown their status. First of all, Zenit players took to the field, who were to face off against the Yenisei. As a result, after the first half, Petersburgers minimally lost in the long run. The midfielder of the Krasnoyarsk Konstantin Savichev failed a terrific shot from a long distance.
But after the break, Sergei Semak's wards in the class squeezed an opponent. First, Alex Sutormin scored a penalty and scored the third goal in the last two matches for Zenit, and then Robert Mack, after transferring Oleg Shatov, sent a shot into the net with a rebound from the bar.
CSKA Moscow in a match with “Alania”, on the contrary, came forward already in the second minute. Before the game began, Takuma Nishimura earned a penalty, which was realized by Ilzat Akhmetov. For a young football player, this goal was the second in his career for the red-blue. However, Vladikavkaz, driven by 15 thousand native fans, very soon also managed to get the right to the penalty spot, Batraz Khadartsev from the “point” also did not miss.
But nevertheless, the favorite class was reflected in this match. In southern Russia, Nisimura came to the fore. He not only earned a penalty, but also scored a double. It is also worth noting the excellent assists Akhmetov and Fedor Chalov to the Japanese.
A “Spartacus” in Naberezhnye Chelny in the confrontation with KAMAZ victory brought double Esekiel Ponce. However, the red and white can hardly be satisfied with their game, because the modest PFL team managed to give Oleg Kononov's wards a real fight. The latter was again asked by their own fans to resign. Fans of the capital hung in the stands an insulting banner addressed to the coach, in which they urged him to “pick up his jacket” and go home.
Finally, Rostov made its way further. Moreover, the team didn’t even have to go anywhere after meeting with Tambov in Saransk, because in the Cup of the country it was opposed by the local Mordovia. The match was held not at the new stadium, but at the old Start Arena. Afflicted by a financial disaster, a local club simply cannot afford such an expensive rental. The fate of the confrontation was decided at the start of the second half, when the guests first earned a penalty, which was realized by Ivelin Popov, and then helped young Alexander Saplinov excel.
Farewell to the elite teams
Meanwhile, the Tambov, Krylya Sovetov, and Rubin RPL frankly failed, giving them no chance losing to rivals from the FNL. The wards of Alexander Grigoryan were especially “distinguished”, who at the exit conceded four unanswered goals from Tom. Apparently, the team simply did not have enough emotions and strength after a major victory over Rostov in the RPL.
Continues the fall and the Ruby. To four consecutive losses in the Premier League, Kazan added a devastating defeat in Khimki. Andrei Talalayev’s wards in second place in the FNL showed themselves to be more than a battle-worthy team and did not leave the slightest chance to an opponent from the elite.
The Torpedo, which confidently leads the second strongest Russian football championship, also made it to the next stage. Black-and-white at the native stadium named after Eduard Streltsov confidently outplayed the “Wings of the Soviets” fighting for survival in the RPL. The goals scored were Maxim Shorkin and Ivan Sergeev, while the experienced Alexander Ryazantsev gave two assists. By the way, for Sergeyev this goal was already 11th in the current season. Well, “Torpedo” seems ready not only to return to the elite, but also able to make its way into the Cup of the country.
The double of Pogrebnyak and the difficult victories of Arsenal and Ufa
At the same time, the Tula Arsenal, the Yekaterinburg Ural and Ufa in competition with the teams from the FNL were stronger. The success of the current finalists of the Yekaterinburg tournament is especially noteworthy. Wards of Dmitry Parfyonov in Novorossiysk beat “Chernomorets” thanks to the double of the most experienced Pavel Pogrebnyak. For the 35-year-old striker, these goals were the first in the current season. They also helped him get around such famous scorers as Valery Gazzayev and Igor Kolyvanov in the Grigory Fedotov Club. Pogrebyanka now has 118 goals for a career in all tournaments.
Arsenal and Ufa victories were much more difficult. The Tula players pulled out Victoria over the Voronezh Fakel only in the 90th minute thanks to a goal from defender Maxim Belyaev. And the Ufa residents only once hit the gates of the Seagull, but this was enough to break into the next round. At the same time, the teams finished the match in unequal compositions. First, the defender of the hosts, Vladislav Dubovoi, was removed, and after a few minutes, the guest player Alexei Nikitin.
Trophy Winner Departure
Finally, the game day ended with another loud sensation. Following the Krasnodar and Dynamo, the current Lokomotiv Moscow trophy winner leaves the tournament. Moreover, the railroad met for the second time in a row at the 1/16 final stage with Baltika. Last year, the red-green beat the opponent in extra time, but this time lost in the penalty shootout.
In fairness, Yuri Semin on the eve of the most important match between the RPL and Zenit did not take a number of leaders to Kaliningrad and gave a chance to reservists and youth: Alexander Kolomeytsev, Dmitry Rybchinsky, Daniil Kulikov and Roman Tugarev.
Despite this, in the middle of the first half, the Portuguese forward Eder put forward the guests, who a year ago just scored the winning goal. This time the Portuguese excelled, competently playing on the rebound after a corner. However, Muscovites were not able to keep the advantage in the long run. 15 minutes before the end of regular time, Yan Kazaev sent a shot on target at close range.
As a result, the fate of the confrontation was decided in a penalty shootout, and this time luck smiled at Kaliningrad Baltika. Only the defender Murilo realized his attempt at the guests, while the hosts realized all four hits and made it to the 1/8 finals, where they will play with another metropolitan team - Torpedo.
🔜 9 teams # RPL continue to fight for # Olympus Cup of Russia pic.twitter.com / MEGVNL9wzp
- Russian Premier League (@rfpl) September 25, 2019The next round of the Russian Cup will be held on October 30. The fight in it will continue only nine of the 16 teams of the Russian Premier League.