The first semifinal match of the Cup has created a fun intrigue. A team experiencing obvious game problems and having lost the captain a few hours before the match against the leader of the championship could go for a break with the score far more impressive than the 3-0 score. The ramming attacks of Lokomotiv were not prevented by the inconsistent defense of the red and white, and the Spartak youth dominating in the second half did not recover.
In response, Fedotov had to invent the most effective tactics that could give a counter-result. Vladimir Grigoryevich turned to 3-5-2, which a year ago brought him victory in the first match as head coach. Having strengthened the rear with two oporniks - Mozart and Kovacs, Fedotov sent Bystrov and Boyarintsev to the flanks, and Prudnikov and Quincy were sent to attack. Of greatest interest was the location of Torbinsky - he either replaced Yegor Titov, or played, like Hiddink against Estonia. However, the functions of the midfielder remained unchanged - Torbinsky rushed forward, gave in, beat, complied with most standards, and already at the 5th minute Bilyaletdinov was rudely demolished.
Unlike forced to fantasize Spartak, the Byshovets team had to conduct a strictly non-inventive match. Pass to the left, pass to the right - execution; the railwaymen operated exclusively with counterattacks through the center. And in the first 20 minutes they created two goals, but Khomich eliminated the identical exits of Bilyaletdinov and O'Connor one on one, also playing a carbon copy.
The methodical killing of the attacking impulse of Spartak was successful for Loko almost until the end of the first half. But after 40 minutes, the red and white realized that the density they created in the center of the field was better overcome with one pass - and the transfer of defender Shoave found Prudnikov, who scored a goal. The ball was not scored due to an offside position, but it was then that Spartak confirmed the weight of the claims to equalize the overall score.
After the break, as if on schedule, Boyartsev woke up, whose courage more than once saved the team closer to the end of the game. The midfielder transferred to the right flank had three moments in a row, the middle of which was realized by a low kick from the box. Having soaked the score, the red-white ones did not allow themselves to pause. The ball, after an amazing blow from Torbinsky, flew over the congestion of players due to a free kick, hit the crossbar, bounced off the goal line, again pulled himself to the crossbar and landed in the hands of Yakupovich. The third phase of the move was completely productive, but the conversation with the lineman led to a change in a completely different column of the protocol - Pavlyuchenko, Mozart and Kalinichenko, who jumped from the bench, received a yellow card.
Three minutes later, the resentment of the Spartacists turned into doom. If with a score of 1: 0 the final 20 minutes were ready for the two goals of Spartak, then after a change in the score in the other direction, revenge became impossible. Kochish, having received a long-passing pass from Rodolfo, overtook Shoave and caught Khomich on the counter. 1: 1 - and the time before the whistle flew the same way as the starting 40 minutes. Toward the close of the match there was a slalom of Ivanovich, on the way of which there were, however, only two racks - Kovach and Shoave. Beating them and running half the field, the Serb gave an assist to Sychev.
It seems that an extremely cautious finale awaits us - of the possible combinations, the confrontation between Lokomotiv and Moscow looks the most dependent on the circumstances. The vigorous tread of the "townspeople" lame after injuries and disqualifications of the team leaders, and the "railroad" has not yet held at least two meetings in a row, similar in tactics and game content. On the other hand, for both coaches, winning the Cup is extremely important. The first trophy of Slutsky, perhaps, will give the team strength for a second breakthrough in the championship. For Byshovets, the Cup will be at least a guarantee of employment - for the time being, Anatoly Fedorovich is not doing perfectly well.
Spartak Moscow - Lokomotiv Moscow - 1: 2 (0: 0)
Goals: 1: 0 - Boyarintsev (53), 1: 1 - Kochish (70), 1: 2 - Sychev (88).
SPARTAK : Khomich, Jiranek (Shishkin, 46), Geder (Rebko, 72), Shoave, Kovacs, Mozart, Boyarintsev, Bystrov (Pavlyuchenko, 46), Torbinsky, Quincy, Prudnikov.
LOCOMOTIVE : Yakupovich, Rodolfo (Sennikov, 81), Spakhich, Ivanovich, Efimov, Samedov (Fininho, 74), Gurenko, Bilyaletdinov, Kochish (Sychev, 72), Loskov, O'Connor.
Warnings : Shawave (16), Pavlyuchenko (67), Mozart (67), Kalinichenko (67, spare), Fininho (79).
May 9th . Moscow. Luzhniki
Judge : V. Ivanov (Moscow).
The first match - 0: 3.