First Derby in February and Dynamo Black Series
The championship of Russia in the current season resumed unusually early. On Friday, the 20th round opened with the “Wings of the Soviets” - “Orenburg” match, and already on Saturday the fans got the opportunity to enjoy the classic metropolitan derby between Dynamo and Spartak. It is noteworthy that the teams for the first time in history met in an official match in February.
At the same time, it was difficult to overestimate the significance of the game for both. Red and white in case of defeat risked to fall even closer to the relegation zone. It was necessary for blue and white to win, so as not to lag behind competitors in the struggle for sixth place. Indeed, unlike the opponent, the wards of Kirill Novikov from the Russian Cup have already dropped out and can only count on getting into European competitions through the championship.
Fans, moreover, were waiting with great interest for the confrontation between two young coaches, 39-year-old Novikov and 34-year-old Domenico Tedesco. Both took the team in the fall and in winter spent a full preseason with them, rebuilding them for themselves.
But the confrontation of eminent attacking newcomers Alexander Sobolev and Nikolai Komlichenko from the first minutes did not happen. The forward of the Russian national team remained in reserve, while Sobolev, rented from Krylia Sovetov, ended up in the starting lineup. Moreover, the duet in front with him was Esekiel Ponce, who in the first round match with spiked boots flew into the chest of Anton Šunin, for which he received a red card.
In general, the teams “mirrored” each other's schemes. Both played in alignment with three central defenders. And on the left flank of Dynamo went rookie Dmitry Skopintsev.
At Spartak, the place of the injured Nail Umyarov was taken by Alex Kral, whose company in the center of the field was Roman Zobnin. Zelimkhan Bakayev predictably settled higher.
Goal Bakaev and zero shots on target
Spartak started the game more actively and immediately seized the initiative. From the first minutes Sobolev attracted attention. Almost in the first attack, he, trying to close the transfer of a partner, almost injured Anton Shunin. Fortunately, the goalkeeper quickly came to his senses and continued the game.
The beginner was diligent in the future. He boldly opened up on the entire front of the attack, sometimes leaving for the flanks, and won a lot of horse martial arts. Ponce looked exactly the same way productively.
And already in the 14th minute Sobolev got an excellent opportunity to score a debut goal for red and white. Having processed the ideal transfer of Bakaev by the breast, he was right in front of Shunin, but he managed to fend off the forward shot at point-blank range.
After a successful debut, the guests took a short break and allowed to demonstrate their strengths Dynamo. The opponent made a bet on the races of fast Sylvester Igbun and Clinton N'Zhye and an active game on the flanks of Skopintsev and Sebastian Szymanski. But the owners failed to create truly dangerous moments.
But the guests, after half an hour after the game opened an account during the counterattack. Tedesco's winter work was not in vain. After losing in the center of the field, Bakayev picked up the ball and threw Sobolev into the breakthrough. He processed the shell not too well, but managed to return it back to his partner. Zelimkhan, breaking into the penalty area, made a perfect pause and struck precisely into the far corner.
And after a few minutes Sobolev missed another advantageous moment. From the corner of the box, Alexander did not hit the far nine. Dynamo responded with a dangerous counterattack and an inaccurate blow to N'Zhye in the near corner. In general, the blue and white in the first half were marked by only two shots, of which not one was on target.
Lack of luck and an accurate hit Zobnina
To remedy the situation, at the beginning of the second half, Novikov expectedly threw the rookie Komlichenko into the battle, all the more injured Szymanski. And Nikolai in the first attack almost scored. Having pushed the defender aside with a mighty body, the striker from outside the box struck into the far corner, but hit the post.
But “Spartak” realized its moment a few minutes later. Bakaev gave the subtlest pass to someone else's penalty area on Zobnin, and he perfectly shot under the far post.
In general, Zelimkhan was very good that evening, literally every touch of the tribune was greeted with applause. He aggravated the situation with smart gears and led partners to blows.
No mistakes, too. So, after a rare cutoff of the tenth number of red-white ones on the alien half of the field, the hosts launched a quick counterattack on the right flank. Once again, Komlichenko missed an amazing chance to score. Having received the ball from N'Zhye, Nikolai easily removed the defender and was directly in front of Alexander Maksimenko and the goal, but managed to break into the crossbar.
Spartacists could well score. For example, in one of the moments the defenders took out a shell from the goal line after a blow by Ponce. Then Tedesco began to make replacements in order to refresh the game. In particular, Bakaev and Sobolev left the field. Both fans carried out applause. Although Alexander lost sight of the break, on the whole he had a good match for his debut and even gave away an assist.
Spartak resumed the season with a victory over a principled rival, revived the hope for the best in the hearts of its fans and ahead of Dynamo in the standings.