Cabella's goal and Gorodov's reliability: how Krasnodar took points away from Chelsea in the Champions League

Chelsea reserve squad

Last week Krasnodar became the only Russian team that managed to make it to the spring stage of European competition.

Beating Rennes with a minimum score, the southerners secured themselves third place in Group E and a ticket to the 1/16 finals of the Europa League. 

In the last match of the Champions League group stage debut for themselves, Murad Musaev's charges in London met with Chelsea, which in the first five rounds scored 13 points out of 15 possible and could no longer drop below first place, and therefore did not have much tournament motivation. 

In turn, Krasnodar got the opportunity not only to take revenge for the crushing defeat in the home match in October (0: 4), but also to become the first Russian team to score points at the legendary Stamford Bridge.

Previously, CSKA, Spartak and Rubin suffered defeats here.

At the same time, Musaev was tempted to save a number of leaders on the eve of the most important confrontation with Lokomotiv in the RPL.

But the coaching staff of the guests from the first minutes released all the strongest on the field, especially Igor Smolnikov, Wanderson, Christian Ramirez, Remi Cabella and Victor Klasson played with Rotor only 45 minutes each, and Markus Berg watched the meeting from the bench.

The exception was the goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, who was not even in the application in the capital of Great Britain for unclear reasons.

His place at the last line was taken by Evgeny Gorodov. 

But Frank Lampard, by contrast, gave the reservists a chance.

In particular, Kurt Zuma, Marcos Alonso, N'Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Olivier Giroud remained on the bench.

But 19-year-old midfielders Billy Gilmour and Faustino Angiorin got their chance.

The latter had to make his debut in the Champions League.  

Goal exchange in the middle of the first half

Despite the fact that Chelsea entered the field far from the main team, the hosts started the match quite actively and immediately seized the initiative.

They tried to stretch the opponent's defense across the flanks and immediately went into high pressure when they lost the ball.

And Kai Havertz led the team's attacks, who regularly filled the semi-flanks and played short combinations with partners. 

However, having got used to it, “Krasnodar” made two dangerous counterattacks.

In the 12th minute, Victor Klasson pulled out with a pass to the right to Wanderson.

As a result, the Brazilian got the ball out of the way, and the offensive stalled.

Nevertheless, the southerners brought the attack to hit Tonny de Villena from the penalty area above the gate.

Klasson missed an even more dangerous moment.

The Swede received a pass from a partner in the left corner of the penalty area and shot into the far corner from Andreas Christensen.

The shell passed next to the barbell. 

The hosts ignored the calls at their gates and conceded in the middle of the first half.

After a great diagonal partner Ramirez picked up the ball on the left flank and found the transfer in the penalty Klasson.

In turn, the Scandinavian made a discount on Cabella, and Remi shot straight into the near corner and scored his third goal in the current Champions League season.

Unfortunately, the guests did not count for long.

Literally in the next attack, Chelsea earned a penalty.

And again, as in the first match between the teams, Kayo did not play in the best way, who did not keep track of Tammy Abraham in the penalty area and tripped him, although Ramirez seemed to have time to insure his partner.

Jorginho converted the penalty confidently.

The Brazilian rolled the ball to his right corner, and Gorodov remained in place. 

Immediately the defense of Krasnodar failed again.

Abraham received the ball near the penalty area between Martynovich and Kayo, but, trying to send the ball into the target over the Gorodov, who came forward, did not hit the goal. 

In general, scoring, the Londoners regained control of the ball, but did not create really dangerous moments.

However, it is worth noting that young Gilmore and Angorin looked bright in their composition.

Faustino was especially distinguished, who gave several subtle transmissions.

The barren pressure of the favorite

Chelsea also started the second half from a position of strength, but chances at Gorodov's goal ceased to arise at all.

The defenders of Krasnodar were quite confident in dealing with their opponents.

The experienced Alexander Martynovich was especially good, who managed to win the fight in the absolute majority of episodes. 

Moreover, in the 64th minute, the guests organized a dangerous counterattack after de Villena's excellent selection in the center of the field.

The attack ended with Wanderson's blow from the penalty line into the far corner with a rebound from the lawn.

Arrisabalaga dealt with the threat with some difficulty. 

Chelsea immediately responded with a dangerous attack.

Ramirez made a serious mistake in his own penalty area, who allowed Abraham to rob himself.

Tammy took advantage of the opponent's blot and shot hard into the near corner from close range.

In this episode, Gorodov saved the Russian team by playing in a timely manner with his foot. 

This moment became a kind of trigger for Londoners.

They again took control of the ball and pushed the opponent to the goal.

In addition, Caio suffered a knee injury.

He could not continue the game, and Yegor Sorokin entered the field instead. 

Feeling that the southerners were beginning to run out of strength, Lampard released Kante, Werner and Giroud one after another.

Krasnodar has become even more difficult.

In this situation, Musaev did not hesitate with substitutions, who made a triple castling.

Evgeny Chernov, Magomed-Shapi Suleimanov and Ruslan Kambolov entered the game.  

The release of fresh players helped Krasnodar, if not to take the ball under its control, then move the game away from its own goal.

In the time remaining before the final whistle, Chelsea had no chances.

The four minutes added by the chief judge did not help them either. 

Thus, the southerners, gaining five points, worthily completed the group stage of the Champions League and became the first Russian team in history, which managed to score points at Stamford Bridge.

Also Krasnodar is the second national team that managed not to lose to Chelsea.