“The dream came true”: what is Ovechkin’s debut for football Dynamo memorable for

A few weeks are left before the start of the new football season in Russia, but Dynamo Moscow gave the fans a big holiday in advance, making a real show out of their first friendly match.

And the most unusual opponent was chosen for him - a team of famous bloggers "Amkal".

But it was not this fact that attracted enormous attention to the game, but the participation of Alexander Ovechkin in it.

One of the best hockey players on the planet signed a symbolic contract with his favorite club and received the third number, under which his father Mikhail once played for the team.

In general, such a step did not come as a big surprise.

First, the Washington forward has repeatedly confessed his love for football.

He takes advantage of every opportunity to get on the field, although he often takes the position of goalkeeper to avoid injury.

Secondly, the forward is a real fan of the blue and white, and tries to attend games whenever possible.

Finally, in an interview in 2020, he bluntly stated that he wanted to play for the capital's team.

“I am a Dynamo Moscow fan in all sports.

Of course, I would like to debut.

If there is such an opportunity for the club.

It all depends on the combination of circumstances, on the management and coaching staff and, of course, on the team, ”said the athlete.

And now, two years later, his dream came true.

In turn, the new head coach of the team, Slavisa Jokanovic, who also had to make his debut in his post, promised to use the hockey player as an attacker.

Ovechkin himself, through social networks, invited all the fans to the VTB Arena to watch the historic event with their own eyes.

Many football fans followed Ovechkin's call and began to actively fill the stadium two hours before the starting whistle.

Moreover, many of them came to cheer for Amkal.

“We love this team and try not to miss a single match.

Yes, of course, it will be difficult to compete with the RPL team, but there are always chances.

Let them have Ovechkin, but we have Mikhail Krapivnikov and Viktor Blatov.

Moreover, Amkal has already met with the youth team of CSKA and achieved a draw, ”recalled one of the team’s fans.

But the majority still wanted to first of all look at the great hockey player on the football field.

Many came to the stands with their families.

“Sasha is ours, a Dynamo player to the marrow of his bones.

The fact that he agreed to such an experiment only confirms his incredible class as an athlete.

He is good on the ice and on the lawn.

I think I could prove myself in figure skating if I wanted to, ”the man who brought his two sons to football suggested jokingly.

There were among the fans and personal fans of Alexander.

“I am a huge fan of his and I try to watch all the Washington games, even if they sometimes go late at night.

Ovechkin is not just an athlete, but a real treasure of Russia.

Just look at his performance.

I am sure he will score today, ”one of the fans predicted.

By the way, one of the bookmakers offered to bet on five events with the participation of an eminent newcomer: a goal, a yellow card, a removal, an assist and the fact that he would spend at least 15 minutes on the field.

Dynamo arranged a real holiday for all the participants.

Before the game, a number of well-known performers performed right on the lawn, from Lev Leshchenko to the birthday boy Yegor Creed, who, according to rumors, could join Amkal's squad.

For his 28th birthday, he wore a T-shirt with the same numbers on the back.

And Philip Kirkorov did not sing, but he was in the stands and greeted the fans.

Just under one of Creed's compositions, Dynamo players, including Ovechkin, appeared on the field to deafening applause.

It is curious that Alexander was the only player who put on a pink shirt-front.

Apparently, this was done so that even in the farthest rows they could see him.

He also stood out noticeably from the new partners with gray hair.

The hockey player handled the ball quite confidently.

For example, during a two-touch square, he managed to throw a projectile between the opponent's legs, which caused the whole team to laugh.

Perhaps the main intrigue concerned whether Ovechkin would get into the starting lineup or come on as a substitute during the game.

Jokanovic decided not to torment numerous spectators and released the newcomer from the first minutes.

In attack, he made a duet with the Russian national team striker Fedor Smolov.

Moreover, the athlete received the captain's armband.

Yes, and in principle, the blue and white in a friendly match with an amateur team appeared almost in the optimal composition.

Unless young defender Saba Sazonov and midfielder Luka Gagnidze got their chance.

When it came to the announcement of the line-up, the fans of the white-and-blues, when the name of Ovechkin was announced, were literally delighted, because a bold dream suddenly turned into reality.

It was felt that Ovechkin, as a real athlete, did not intend to be satisfied with the very fact of entering the field, but he definitely wanted to hit someone else's goal.

From the first moments of the match, he was located not far from someone else's penalty area, watching for the moment to strike.

At the same time, Alexander not only stood waiting for his chance, but worked for the team.

He actively tried to go into pressure and even recorded a couple of interceptions.

After one of them, the hockey player got the first opportunity to excel.

He famously played the wall with Smolov, but failed to adapt to the partner's return pass and lost his balance.

Fans greeted every meeting of the forward with the ball with a standing ovation.

He also received enormous pleasure from what was happening and smiled a lot.

For example, he immediately discussed something with a laugh with his opponent (probably asked to play not too rough), and later helped another Amkal player to his feet after an unpleasant joint.

However, Ovechkin's signature toughness in the game has not gone away.

I remember a chic power reception on the left flank of the attack, after which the opponent literally flew off to the sideline.

Following Alexander tried to give a tricky pass with a scoop to move Smolov.

But he simply had no right to leave the field without a goal.

Moreover, he managed to strike a productive blow even when Jokanovic was preparing a replacement for him in the person of Daniil Fomin.

The striker correctly opened under Smolov, and he made an excellent discount with his heel in touch.

Alexander figured out the episode as a real scorer and sent the ball into the far corner.

It is difficult to describe what was happening at that moment in the stadium.

The hockey player was truly happy, but fans and partners were no less happy for him.

Almost immediately, the newcomer, to the applause of the audience, went to the bench, passing the bandage to his partner.

Before leaving, he thanked the stands for a long time for their excellent support.

By the way, the Russian national team quickly reacted to a successful debut.

On the social networks of the national team, they made a collage of Ovechkin in the form of the national team and advised them to wait for an imminent call.

So far, the reality of this event seems low, but at first I didn’t believe in the game for Dynamo either.

Therefore, Alexander has a chance to set another achievement - to play for the national teams of the country in two sports at once.

The hockey player himself during the break did not hide his happiness and thanked his partners for the opportunity to score a goal.

“The dream has come true!

Of course, I dreamed of scoring the ball.

There was one more moment, it was necessary to beat, but I tried to find Smolov with a pass.

We must also pay tribute to the fact that the guys found me in that position, gave me under the left leg.

Well, as they say, I got it, ”the striker summed up.

By the way, the match ended with a confident victory for Dynamo with a score of 5:0.