| The duo of Super League losers is almost decided After a short respite, the caravan of Super League clubs hit the road again. On the last journey before the culmination of the season - the playoffs. Before the final segment, the teams had the opportunity to “recharge their batteries” during the pre-entry campaign. However, the expected boom in the transfer market did not happen. The third stage of additional applications turned out to be surprisingly quiet and calm. Perhaps even too calm...
In a fairly extensive list of recruits, there are only three names that can arouse interest among all fans, and not just among fans of a particular team. Kazan Ak Bars signed experienced goalkeeper Zdenek Orzt from the Czech Republic, who once played for the national team. True, he, of course, does not qualify for the status of a real star. Two other high-profile transfers are associated with Khabarovsk Amur. Good news for the Far Easterners - the team has been joined by the eminent Canadian defenseman David Karpa, who played more than five hundred matches in the NHL. But this character has a reputation as a good defender, a “silovik”, who does not miss the opportunity to use his fists, but nothing more. Karp has never been a star and is unlikely to become one in Khabarovsk.
The unpleasant news for the Khabarovsk torsida sounded much louder, almost deafening. Amur leader Sergei Krivokrasov, who in a season and a half managed to become not only an idol of the public, but also a real symbol of the club, moved to Omsk Avangard. This is not just the loss of a leading player, it is a distress signal from Amur. The Khabarovsk team performed extremely poorly in the new year and firmly settled in 15th place, which promises a cheerful life in the second division next season. And instead of throwing all resources at saving the team and buying a couple of rescue players on the market, the club’s management calmly releases the leader. Which, by the way, recently extended his contract with Amur for the next season. It is difficult to perceive this gesture as anything other than throwing out a white flag. It seems that the Khabarovsk team have resigned themselves to their sad fate and killed the intrigue at the bottom of the standings.
For Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo, the national championship has long turned into a series of meaningless test matches. Volzhans can win, they can lose, but they will not be able to maintain their registration in the super league in any way. The gap from the “rescue zone” is too great. Now, it seems, there are two hopeless patients. Although the top officials of “Amur” are trying to keep a good face in the face of a bad game. “We are not going to lay down our arms early. I promise that we will fight to the end! Believe me, these are not empty words!” - says executive director of the Khabarovsk club Rashid Khabibullin. But the real deeds of Amur are somewhat at odds with the words of the management.
In the last round, the Khabarovsk team lost at home to their direct competitor in the fight for survival - Novosibirsk "Sibir", aggravating an already not very pleasant situation. The gap from 14th place is still the same eight points, with only seven rounds left before the finish of the championship.
Among other events of the last round, CSKA’s victory over Novokuznetsk “Metallurg” should be noted. A victory that can rightfully be called heroic. The Siberians outplayed their opponents throughout the match, but converted this advantage into a single goal. When it seemed that the meeting would end with the score 1:0, and the fans began to leave the stands, army forward Sergei Zolotov scored an unexpected goal and sent the game into overtime 14 seconds before the siren. And in extra time, he brought the desired victory to the “red-blues”. Thanks to this success, CSKA maintains its chances of a place in the playoffs. True, they are still minimal.
Super League I V V N PO P S H O | 1. “Metallurg” Mg | 48 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 133--103 | 87 | | 2. "Lada" | 47 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 99--80 | 85 | | 3. Dynamo | 48 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 109--91 | 80 | | 4. "Vanguard" | 47 | 22 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 139--110 | 80 | | 5. Ak Bars | 48 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 123--100 | 79 | | 6. “Metallurg” Nk | 48 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 105--91 | 78 | | 7. "Neftekhimik" | 48 | 23 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 108--96 | 77 | | 8. "Lokomotiv" | 48 | 22 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 119--98 | 74 | | 9. “Salavat Yulaev” | 47 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 106--101 | 69 | | 10. CSKA | 48 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 98--112 | 67 | | 11. "Siberia" | 48 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 82--98 | 60 | | 12. SKA | 48 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 102--118 | 58 | | 13. Severstal | 48 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 108--119 | 57 | | 14. "Chemist" | 47 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 21 | 91--118 | 56 | | 15. "Cupid" | 48 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 25 | 86--114 | 48 | | 16. "Torpedo" | 48 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 75--134 | 40 |
Victor SHUMOV
|
