Many RPL clubs hoped to fill the pause for national team matches with friendly matches. However, the terrible tragedy that occurred at Crocus City Hall on March 22 made adjustments. Dynamo canceled the confrontation with Krylia Sovetov, although it was supposed to take place at the team’s base behind closed doors. Blue and White general director Pavel Pivovarov called this the only correct decision in the current situation.
“At such moments, sports tasks immediately fade into the background. There was an order from Moscow and Moscow region authorities to cancel cultural and sporting events. Later, a similar order was received from the RFU regarding football matches. And most importantly, there is common sense,” Sport-Express quotes the functionary.
“Spartak”, unlike its principal rival, was supposed to meet with “Neftchi” in Baku, and not in Moscow, but also refused to enter the field.
“Now our entire team’s thoughts are with the families of the victims and with those who suffered in yesterday’s terrible tragedy. We thank the Baku club for your understanding, with whom we will definitely play in the future. We mourn together with all of Russia,” says a message on the official website of the red and white.
In turn, Zenit planned a voyage to Serbia. The St. Petersburgers were supposed to once again play with Crvena Zvezda. From the moment Gazprom became the general sponsor of the Belgrade team, the teams have had warm relations, and they meet almost every year, which is especially valuable in the context of exclusion from international competitions.
The blue-white-blues, unlike their competitors in the Premier League, did not abandon the control confrontation.
“For the fans, this is a match of memory and unity. Football unites and saves, so the game will take place and begin with a minute of silence. The teams will play in mourning armbands. “We mourn together with everyone who was affected by the terrible tragedy at Crocus City Hall,” the club explained.
And the players learned about what happened in Moscow after arriving in Serbia.
“The mood in this regard is difficult to describe in words. The whole team and I personally express our condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones. This is a terrible tragedy. I just can’t find any other words right now,” admitted goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov.
The very next day, Sergei Semak’s wards, at the invitation of the host party, went to the Church of St. Sava, where they honored the memory of those killed during the attack on the concert hall and lit candles. The rector gave the players a tour, and the church choir sang the Russian anthem.
The guests were given a truly warm welcome at the Rajko Mitic stadium itself. Even before the start of the match, home fans called on their supporters to fill the arena in order to “provide all the necessary support... to our brothers.”
“We are deeply shocked by yesterday's attack on innocent civilians in Moscow. There are no words to describe the monstrosity of those who kill ordinary people and even children,” said a statement from Red Star fans.
As a result, what was happening in the stands overshadowed even the game itself. Among the spectators was the country's President Aleksandar Vucic along with his son.
Even before the starting whistle, Serbian-Montenegrin singer Danica Crnogorcevic performed “Katyusha”. At the same time, the fans sang along with her. Then the banner “Moscow 22.03 We Mourn” appeared on the central stand. In turn, Zenit fans, who also arrived in Belgrade, unfurled a canvas with the inscription: “Moscow, we mourn.”
But perhaps the most striking part of the show took place immediately after the minute of silence, when the fans of the red and white showed a colorful performance. One part of them held multi-colored dies in the colors of the Russian flag, and the other – the Serbian one. In the center was a soldier in a balaclava. Below, in Serbian, was emblazoned: “Brothers forever.” There was also the already traditional chant of fans of both teams: “Russians and Serbs are brothers forever,” waving the tricolors of both states.
They also touched upon the topic of SVO. At the beginning of the second half, the hosts lit fireworks in the shape of the letter “Z” in the northern stand. And on the opposite side, the guests responded with pyrotechnics in the shape of the letter “V”. In addition, local fans also remembered a memorable date for themselves - 25 years since the start of the bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO forces, preparing a banner with the inscription: “We remember the military, children and all the innocents killed.”
The meeting itself turned out to be far from the brightest and, to put it mildly, was not replete with goals. At the same time, Semak mainly included reservists in the start. But there was also a place for some key players: Douglas Dos Santos, Vyacheslav Karavaev, who had recovered from injury, and Rodrigao.
However, the advantage was held by the hosts, who regularly carried out sharp attacks through the flanks. Former Rostov midfielder Guelor Kanga was especially noticeable. There was also a place on the field for other ex-RPL football players. Uros Spajic recently played for Krasnodar, and Milan Rodic spent several years in the Zenit system. It is not surprising that it was Red Star that missed the most dangerous chance before the break. Kerzhakov headed Nikola Knezevic's most dangerous shot.
After the break, the visiting staff threw a couple more leaders into battle, Mario Fernandez and Wendel and two Brazilian newcomers Pedro and Arthur. And it bore fruit. The St. Petersburgers moved the game to the other half and began to create approaches themselves. However, they lacked a little luck. After the hour, the blue-white-blues hit the posts twice. First, Alexander Erokhin hit the crossbar after Karavaev's cross from the left. Moreover, on replay there was a clear impression that the ball bounced over the line. But the referee did not count the goal, and the VAR system did not work. And just a couple of minutes later, Wilson Isidore’s shot from the penalty line was taken by the post.
It’s all the more offensive that the fate of the confrontation was decided by Knezevic’s precise strike at the end. Young Artur Cherny, trying to interrupt the serve from the edge, only corrected the projectile at the opponents' attacker. And he calmly walked away from Ilzat Akhmetov and shot into the top corner. To top it all off, Fernandez was injured a little earlier.
However, despite the defeat, Semak noted the warm welcome after the final whistle and called the atmosphere in the stands indescribable.
“The tragic events in Moscow came as a shock to any normal person. As for the support of Serbian fans, I want to say a huge thank you to them for their empathy with our people in such a difficult time. I think the people who came today showed their respect for the situation that happened yesterday. Of course, this is a big blow for all of us,” the club’s official website quotes the specialist as saying.