Translated material
Flak
The championship leader scored three goals in Nalchik
Zenit took another step towards winning the championship by beating Spartak Nalchik (3:2) immediately after Rubin lost points in Novosibirsk. “Dynamo” closed the question that had arisen about the possible relegation of the “blue and white” from the Premier League, and the capital’s “Spartak” of Valery Karpin is trying to cling to the medals.The central match of the 23rd round, oddly enough, took place in Perm, where the local Amkar hosted Dynamo. The Permians, having returned Rashid Rakhimov to the coaching post, were not happy and are fighting for survival in the Premier League. The position of the Ural team would have been even worse if the club's competitors had lost fewer points. So far, this is how the “red-blacks” are saving themselves. Even if they don't win, their pursuers lose points. But now the situation has become very serious.
Dynamo arrived to Kama in not the best moral state, because in the last round they lost to Spartak from Nalchik (0:3), and Montenegrin helmsman Miodrag Bozovic is not very confident about whether he will be able to work at the club until the end of the season . In addition, the Muscovites are simply terrible in this championship on a foreign field, managing to win only once.
A rather boring match with a minimum number of dangerous situations ended with a goal by Kuranyi, scored in stoppage time. Moreover, the moment was very controversial - many thought that the German legionary scored from offside. The television replay did not give a 100 percent answer, but the Permians, just in case, filed a protest against the referee’s decision. But this will not change anything, because Rashid Rakhimov’s team has now been overtaken by Krylya Sovetov - they have 22 points each. Samara beat Alania with a score of 3:2 in Vladikavkaz in a half-empty stadium, although admission to the game was free.
Now Perm, Samara and Vladikavkaz residents will fight to avoid relegation to the first division. “Sibir” will probably not be saved, since although the debutant of the Premier League managed to draw with “Rubin” (2:2), it was clear that this week the Kazan team had a match with “Barcelona” in their heads, and there was no strength or nerve left for the rest of the opponents. “We simply failed to convert our chances,” Rubin head coach Kurban Berdyev said after the match, making it clear that this was just a misfire that would not prevent the club from fighting for second place, and therefore for a place in the next Champions League year.
Kazan is six points behind the St. Petersburg team, but Zenit, which defeated Spartak from Nalchik, has three more matches in hand. The St. Petersburg team can easily lose them - their position at the top of the standings will not change.
Spartak (Moscow) is trying with all its might to intervene in the fight for medals, where they have temporarily solved the problem with the main goalkeeper. Andrey Dikan is impeccable so far, which was noticeable both in the Champions League meeting with the French Marseille and in the games of the national championship. A small misfire in the match with Amkar does not count. The whole team there was lethargic. Spartak beat Anzhi away, and after the match Valery Karpin criticized the field. “It’s wrong to bring top-class footballers to play in such a field,” said the head coach of the “red and whites.” - This is some kind of shame for the Premier League. I would understand if such a lawn existed in late autumn in Siberia, and Makhachkala has a wonderful climate.”
The lawn, which was already forbidden to play on this season, was truly terrible. But the problem with the field is not that it is poorly maintained. It was built incorrectly, making the base clay, which prevents grass from growing and “moves” in the event of natural disasters. Moreover, the management of the Dagestan club says that no punishment will make the field better, and they need some time to put everything in order. The Makhachkala team has 23 points, they are at risk, and if the team is relegated to the first league, it will be a big relief for the entire elite division.
CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky gave goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov his debut in the Premier League, leaving Igor Akinfeev in reserve. The coach took a little risk, since Rostov is famous for its perseverance and discipline. True, Slutsky did not have much choice - the main goalkeeper had a minor injury, which should not prevent him from playing for the national team. In theory, the game should have been difficult for CSKA - the southerners are extremely motivated. They have a chance to get into European competition, and not to take advantage of this opportunity is criminal. But Chepchugov, consider it, was left without a job. The guests were not like themselves and conceded almost without a fight.
True, the Rostovites were unhappy with the refereeing. “You see what's happening! - the team's striker Roman Adamov was indignant. - A man falls in the penalty area for no apparent reason, perhaps he slipped - penalty! If we talk about the match, I would call it equal, but our task was to prevent the opponent from creating chances. Who knew that Vagner Love would hit with precision from 30 meters?”
Results. Russian Championship. Premier League. 23rd round. "Amkar" - "Dynamo" - 0:1 (Kuranyi 90) . "Alania" - "Wings of the Soviets" - 2:3 (Marenich 76, Bikmaev 78 - Samsonov 32, Tsallagov 40, Yakovlev 75) . "Terek" - "Tom" - 1:0 (Asildarov 22 pens) . “Siberia” - “Rubin” - 2:2 (Joseph-Renette 27, Belyaev 81 - Noboa 50 pen., Bocchetti 80) . CSKA - Rostov - 2:0 (Wagner Love 35, 44 pens) . "Anji" - "Spartak" M - 0:1 (Sheshukov 22) . "Spartak-Nalchik" - "Zenit" - 2:3 (Golich 45, Vasin 90 - Kerzhakov 2, 22, Shirokov 4) . The match between Saturn and Lokomotiv ended late yesterday evening.
Russian Championship. Premier League
| 1. Zenit | 21 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 40--10 | 53 |
| 2. "Ruby" | 23 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 28--10 | 47 |
| 3. CSKA | 21 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 36--15 | 45 |
| 4. Spartak M | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 34--27 | 36 |
| 5. “Spartak-Nalchik”23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 32--27 | 36 | |
| 6. "Rostov" | 23 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 21--27 | 33 |
| 7. "Terek" | 23 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 24--21 | 31 |
| 8. "Lokomotiv" | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 26--26 | 30 |
| 9. Dynamo | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 26--25 | 29 |
| 10. "Tom" | 23 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 26--36 | 26 |
| 11. "Saturn" | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 18--28 | 24 |
| 12. "Anji" | 23 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 18--27 | 23 |
| 13. "Alania" | 23 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 21--32 | 23 |
| 14. "Amkar" | 23 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 16--27 | 22 |
| 15. “Wings of the Soviets” | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 21--32 | 22 |
| 16. "Siberia" | 23 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 28--45 | 16 |