There were actually two main questions before the match. First, curiosity parsed: does CSKA start successfully at least in the third long-playing tournament of the year? Secondly, the results of interseasonal studies of the Turkmen alchemist Kurban Berdyev were of no less interest. For four consecutive seasons, he managed to get from a nondescript pebbles from all over the world, if not a bronze ingot, then a granite monolith, about which the teeth of many favorites broke more than once or twice.
The game teams began according to statuses. CSKA without much difficulty seized the initiative and took up imposing positional attacks with a flank accent. In the updated version, Kazan did not dare to claim more than strictness in defense and tactics of a small foul. However, a couple of their attacks on the alien half surprised with the yellow cards of the main red and blue destroyers: the central defender of Šemberas and opornik Aldonin.
And when unpleasant thoughts began to creep into my head about maintaining zeros at least until the break, the first goal arrived. The Brazilian shaven-headed giant, who had worked well for the first half hour in the defense center, was ahead of Alexei Berezutsky’s colleague when cornering. The scoreboard flashed the name of Chris's double from distant Lyon: Gabriel.
CSKA clearly understood that to postpone the second goal in the second half meant giving Berdyev a double head start, which, it seemed, had already achieved the desired maximum. For the final hardening of defensive cement, a quarter-hour break was all that was needed. The Muscovites' splendor vanished. And Krasich and Zhirkov, having exchanged flanks according to the pre-season harvest, somewhat embarrassed Fedorov and Salukvadze. A goal attack arose in the area of responsibility of the latter and ended with the shooting of Aldonin empty gates. Gabriel missed the goal pass, ironically. He is still far from Lyon: both literally and figuratively.
The disposition of the second half was seen clearer than you can imagine: Rubin had practically no chance. And so it happened. CSKA scored twice more, in a favorite way - from the “standards”. Lurking at the far post while giving the corner Jo, it seemed that he was only waiting for the ball to bounce off the head of one of Kazan. And Ignashevich with a cannon strike from a “point” closed the goal protocol of the match. The fall of Wagner Love, which led to the punishment, will be left in brackets in order to save the nerves of the red-blue fans tormented by the end of last season: the penalty was indisputable, but by no means far-fetched ...
As for the guests, then the best in the team Budylin could grab at the straw. Hit the ex-torpedo man in the 59th minute of Akinfeev’s goal, everything could have turned out differently. But this is a subjunctive mood, which has nothing to do with football. Like a blow to heaven after a series of feints by diligent Paunovich three minutes after an assist from Jo ...
The match ended with an affirmative answer to the first of the questions asked a few paragraphs above. The second remains open: Kurban Berdyev released the main acquisitions only in the end - and then for the warm-up, inviting the starting line-up to show character without the help of Fabiu Feliciu and Zhailson. The composition did not survive. However, with the conclusions of both Kazan and we can wait a bit - everything is just beginning.
CSKA - RUBY - 3: 1 (1: 1)
Goals: 0: 1 - Gabriel (30), 1: 1 - Aldonin (45 + 1), 2: 1 - Ignashevich (52, penalty), 3: 1 - Jo (64).
CSKA: Akinfeev, Shemberas, Ignashevich, A. Berezutsky, Rakhimich, Aldonin (Ramon, 46), Dudu, Zhirkov (Grigoryev, 90 + 2), Krasic, Jo, Wagner Love (Taranov, 90).
RUBIN: Kolinko, Fedorov, Gabriel, Salukvadze, Gilmullin, Budylin, Sibaya, Ben Ashur (Zhailson, 76), Ryazantsev, Noboa, Paunovich (Fabiu Feliciu, 85).
Warnings: Šemberas (17), Ryazantsev (25), Aldonin (28), Noboa (34), Fedorov (51).
11th of March. BSA "Luzhniki". 2 p.m.
Judge: E.Maly (Volgograd).