The next round of the championship of the Russian football Premier League ended on Wednesday evening. We started, we recall, back on Sunday, but the quirks of the domestic calendar art made it exactly the way it is, - it ended after a two-day break without football just on Wednesday.
It ended with three matches, among which the majority of fans and near-football specialists singled out a meeting at Petrovsky in St. Petersburg (even the newly-made head coach of the national team, Dutchman Guus Hiddink, flew straight from Moscow to this game, accompanied by a loyal squire Alexander Borodyuk). There, after the heads of the leading states of the world, the local “Zenith” and Moscow CSKA found out the relationship. The fate of the first place in the championship standings depended on the outcome of this game (and also on the one that took place in Petrovsky Park - Dynamo - Rubin). Until Wednesday, the Nalchik “Spartak” experienced the palm of the championship, which, after a Sunday victory over the Saturn (4: 1!) Moscow region, made everyone remember the “Vladikavkaz” times of “Alania” ten years ago. In addition to these two matches, one more was played - also quite significant. At the stadium named after Eduard Streltsov FC “Moscow” and “Torpedo” met. If you are a little interested in football, then immediately under this sign take a look at everything. If not, you are from another sport ...
Kazan “Rubin”, by the way, showed his claims for intermediate leadership in the match against Dynamo immediately. By the middle of the first half, he led in the long run, but his achievements ended there. Even before the break, Dynamo recouped (one of the two Kombarov brothers did it) and even went ahead in the long run (this time, Igor Semshov, one of the main newsmakers of the domestic winter offseason, scored).
Let's go back to Peter, tired of the beau monde. In the first half, both teams showed a desire to win, but they did it differently. CSKA tried to establish control of the ball, which he often succeeded, “Zenith” mainly counted on rapid counterattack. There were no goals scored, but the game cannot be called closed. Goal moments appeared in the possessions of both goalkeepers: Jo almost replenished his personal score, missed by a centimeter past the far corner, and Arshavin completed the signature slalom pass with a blow to the crossbar. There was also a “lost” hit of Alexander Kerzhakov in the net from the outside from the goalie corner, an aim hit by Dudu, dangerous dribbling on the front line of the Wagner goal, dangerous corners performed by the hosts. But there weren’t any goals ...
In the second half of the meeting, “Zenith” seemed to have taken the territorial advantage to its own hands. Arshavin was active, the most dangerous moment at the gate of Akinfeev arose after a free-kick, but again the army team missed the most real scoring chance. Their protracted attack on Malafeev’s possessions could have turned around three times: at first they banged their heads dangerously, then someone from St. Petersburg from the ribbon (or already because of it) made the ball after an acrobatic sketch performed by one of the guests, then there were finishing, finishing, more finishing times. But they didn’t finish it.
Not used to talking with Dutch coaches, Valery Gazzaev was in no hurry with replacements. Krasic left for the last ten minutes instead of Wagner, and Olic, with indescribable sadness in his gaze, remained on the bench absolutely spare. Nobody wanted to risk it, the guests left all their assists in hoping for standards (Gusev also appeared on the field instead of Šemberas), from one of which they almost received. But the Petersburger who jumped out for the pitch didn’t have a “hairstyle” - he didn’t reach the ball for a few millimeters.
In general, neither of the opponents was afraid of the other, both clubs equally sought to win, wanted it, but could not achieve it. “Zenith” Lawyer did not lose again, did not score again, again drew. Complies with neutrality. CSKA lost first place in the standings, despite the fact that he was an iota closer to victory than the hosts. The top of the standings has been compacted to the maximum.
“Ruby” its claim to leadership was only partially confirmed. Kurban Berdyev’s team managed to recoup that in former times it would have been akin to a feat, but not now and not against Dynamo. FC “Moscow” in its principal match also tied with Luzhniki players - 1: 1. And Nalchik remained at the head of the standings.
Kirill KAZAKOV
11 TOUR OF RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN "SPORTS TODAY"