Exhibition game. FC Krasnodar – FC Aktobe (Kazakhstan) – 3:1
FC Krasnodar – FC Aktobe (Kazakhstan) – 3:1 (2:1)
Goals: Gazinskiy, 26 (1:0), Logvinenko, 33 (Neco, 1:1), Martynovich, 36 (2:1, free kick), Ari, 49 (2:1).
FC Krasnodar (Russia): Dykan, Kaleshin, Granqvist, Martynovich (Sigurðsson, 46), Joãozinho (Petrov, 46), Gazinskiy (Lanin, 74), Akhmedov (Adzhindzhal, 46), Shirokov (Pereyra, 46), Mamayev (Bystrov 46), Wánderson, Ari (Batyutin, 68).
FC Aktobe (Kazakhstan): Pavlov, Miroshnichenko, Dmitrenko, Adeleye, Korobkin, Logvinenko, Žulpa, Khairullin (Tagybergen, 54), Pizzelli, Neco (Aimbetov, 68), Khizhnichenko (Santana, 46).
Yellow cards: Gazinskiy, 44 (attack breakdown) – Adeleye, 35 (foul play), Tagybergen, 73 (foul play).
Referees: Caune, Morozovs, Botoss (all Latvia).
1 March. Turkey. Belek. Kempinski hotel sports centre. Cloudy. 17 degrees. 350 spectators.
Exactly one week before the fixture vs. FC Spartak Moscow, on the final day of Turkish training camp the Bulls met FC Aktobe, a silver medalist of Kazakhstan national championship boasting a rather serious selection of players even if one judges by Russian standards. For this “dress rehearsal” FC Krasnodar boss Oleg Kononov fielded the attacking lineup that had places available for two nominal forwards, Ari and Wánderson, at the same time.
The kick-off whistle hardly sounded when the Bulls launched a real attacking barrage against the opposite goal. As early as on the 1st minute Ari failed with his right-foot shot within the penalty area, and a few moments later Wánderson missed a goal with a header. Kazakhstan team replied with an attacking action of their own that resulted in FC Krasnodar defenders just barely managing to cover Neco in the very last moment. But it was only a singular episode. The black-green waves kept rolling against the defensive lines of FC Aktobe, and on the 8th minute it was a miracle that saved the team in white from a conceded goal. Not a miracle, of course, but either reaction or intuition of Pavlov the goalie, who threw his leg up in time parrying the ball sent by Shirokov’s header making it bounce from the ground in the direction opposite of keeper’s stance. Wánderson should also be noted in this particular episode, since he was the author of a splendid cross from the right flank.
With the 19th minute gone Shirokov assumed the habitual assistant functions and sent Ari Shirokov-style to a rendezvous with the keeper. FC Krasnodar forward tried to throw the ball over the goalkeeper sending it over the goal, too. Immediately after that the attack intensity of the Bulls started to cool down step by step, so by the middle of the first half it seemed that the devil of it was left behind for FC Aktobe with Kazakhstan squad making the game even. Then suddenly there was a clap of thunder in the clear Turkish sky made by a “cannon” named Yuri Gazinskiy. FC Krasnodar defensive midfielder was recklessly allowed to receive the ball 25 meters away from the net and make an aimed shot. As a result, the ball went into the top corner bouncing from the crossbar with no chance to save it for Pavlov.
The game came up with a bang. Immediately after that Mamayev tried to replicate the deed of his clubmate, so the shot of his was even more unpredicted and missed the target just a fraction, unfortunately. Then players from Aktobe launched two dangerous attacks one after another. And while Khairullin literally forced his way through the opponents into the Bulls’ box and missed the target, Yuri Logvinenko on the 33rd minute managed a magnificent finishing shot. Neco executed a strong low cross from the flank, and FC Aktobe captain, 23 meters away from the goal, kicked the ball on the volley precisely next to the goalpost catching Dykan off guard with a feint movement.
Nevertheless, it was not a turn for the Kazakhstan team to feel too pleased for long, since they did it no more than two minutes. Adeleye, a Nigerian centre back of the “white” team, made a rough sliding tackle from behind into Ari receiving the ball, so he was effectively booked while his team conceded a goal from a free kick. Aleksandr Martynovich made a super powerful shot sending the ball directly into the low corner of Pavlov’s domain. The defensive wall the keeper had erected turned out to be a completely unnecessary décor in this football theatre scene.
Just a few minutes later FC Krasnodar reasonably laid claims for another set piece, this one even more dangerous. Dmitrenko missed the dash by Kaleshin and openly pushed him in the back with an elbow within his penalty area; however the Latvian ref favored FC Akotbe in this episode and did not point to the penalty mark.
Anyways, the third goal by the Bulls still was in no way to be missed, and it was scored soon after the half-time interval in which Oleg Kononov produced 5 substitutions at once. The merit of scoring a third goal is completely owned by Ari, who stole the ball from Dmitrenko fiddling about next to his team’s box and advanced forward, finally leaving behind another defender with a pause and driving the ball into the net.
This goal calmed the game down once and for all. The black-greens with two pupils of the Club Academy, Lanin and Batyutin, who took to the field during the middle of the second half, were confident in controlling the course of events not forcing them too far. It seemed as if they were anticipating some activity on behalf of the losing opposition in order to catch them with a counterattack. However, Aktobe players were in no rush to open up probably realizing that “All hands on deck!” approach to football might lead to even a greater disaster. As a result, until the final whistle there were no really dangerous episodes of note next to the goals of both teams, and the one closest to success was Petrov of FC Krasnodar, who sent the ball next to the first goalpost from a most advantageous position on the last minute of the match.
Winning 3:1 the team led by Oleg Kononov made a confident finish for the program of winter training camps, so now they are all returning to Krasnodar in a good mood. The conclusive part of the preparation for the spring run of the national championship will take place at Chetuk training ground, and the championship itself starts for the Bulls on 8 March with an away fixture in Moscow vs. FC Spartak.
