Translated material
For two birds with one stone
Perm and Nalchik set the tone for the Russian Championship
The Russian Championship started with a slippage - none of the main contenders, not just for gold, but at least for medals, was able to take three points in the first round. And now the company of the Samara “Wings of the Soviets” and the Kazan “Rubin” at the head of the standings were formed by those who were predicted to have a difficult struggle in the fight for survival.“Amkar” and “Spartak-Nalchik” are not embarrassed by the fact that they acted as those “hares” that all the “predators” will soon rush in pursuit of. For them, three points scored at the very start can become decisive at the finish. But all those who did not achieve the expected result in the first round may be angry at local failures.
Although the goalless draw between Zenit and Spartak can be called peaceful anyway. The first injury in this match, which required the replacement of Radoslav Kovac, was received by the Czech already in the first minute. Referee Gvardis issued the first yellow card in the sixth minute, after which in the remaining hour and a half the players had the chance to fight hand-to-hand more than once. It didn't come to a fight. Up to the heads, however, too.
Both the champions and vice-champions had opportunities to score goals. Zenit, as expected, was more organized. “Spartak”, with a noticeably rejuvenated squad, is more excited. The hosts, as always, were active with Arshavin, who once again almost punished goalkeeper Peltikos for inattention. For the guests, the main threads of the game were entrusted to Pavlenko, who seated Titov on the bench. Their partners focused on fighting hard in all areas of the field. As a result, the Zenit leader hit the crossbar. The Spartak players collectively organized a situation at the opponent's goal in which the home team's defender Anyukov kicked the ball out of the empty goal with his hands - Gvardis chose not to award a penalty.
The peace treaty signed at Petrovsky was not the only one concluded in the first round. Last year's season seems to have taught CSKA nothing. Gazzaev's players are handing out points with the same favor as they did a year ago. Having an advantage over Shinnik, the army team hardly opened the scoring, after which they calmed down. And the scoring response of the team, which had just returned from the first division, was a complete surprise for them - 1:1. “I am, of course, a maximalist, but I admit, this score is worth a lot,” Shinnik head coach Sergei Yuran was able to exhale after the match, wishing the army team to “take their first place.”
A year ago, CSKA, correcting mistakes at the start with a finishing spurt, managed to win only bronze. But the competition for medals, even of the third sample, has now increased significantly. The same “Rubin”, it seems, really intends to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the club, and “Lokomotiv”, despite the disastrous first round, still must report to shareholders with the results.
At the same time, Saturn, which had significantly strengthened its roster over the past six months, managed to give “its” game in Nalchik, and Moscow was quite happy with the draw in Vladivostok. “Actually, a coach can never be satisfied,” noted Oleg Blokhin, the head coach of the “citizens” and, in fact, their only acquisition, regarding his debut in the Russian Championship. “I would be satisfied if we won today.” But this was the first and equal game of nerves. And I think it’s quite a worthy result.” At the same time, Blokhin hardly forgot that his predecessor was fired for even more worthy results.
Results of the 1st round matches. "Zenit" - "Spartak" - 0:0, "Tom" - "Dynamo" - 0:0, "Luch-Energia" - "Moscow" - 1:1 (Gvazava 47 - Kuzmin 63 ) , "Terek" - "Wings of the Soviets" - 0:3 (Savin 48, Kalachev 77, Tikhonov 90 - from pen.) , CSKA - "Shinnik" - 1:1 (Jo 62 - Laizans 66 ) , "Khimki" - "Amkar" - 0:3 (Zhilyaev 8, Kushev 19, Inyants 86) , "Spartak-Nalchik" - "Saturn" - 2:1 (Gogua 58, Mashukov 80 - Amisulashvili 3 - own goal) , Lokomotiv - Rubin - 0:1 (Sharonov 45) .