FC Krasnodar 0-1 (0-0) FC Spartak Moscow
Goal: Zé Luís, 88 (Gigot).
FC Krasnodar: Kritsyuk, Stotsky, Spajić, Martynovich, Markov, Kaboré, Gazinsky, Mamayev (Pereyra, 78), Wanderson (Ignatyev, 83), Claesson (Cueva, 71), Ari.
FC Spartak Moscow: Maksimenko, Yeshchenko, Dzhikiya, Gigot, Melgarejo, Fernando (Timofeyev, 61), Glushakov, Zobnin, Samedov (Tashayev, 65), Promes, Luiz Adriano (Zé Luís, 76).
Yellow cards: Stotsky, 45+1 (foul play), Ari, 85 (attack breakdown) – Fernando, 55 (attack breakdown), Tashayev, 72 (attack breakdown).
Red card: Ari, 90+1 (headbutt).
Referees: Lapochkin (Saint Petersburg), Bogach (Lyubertsy), Zhvakin (Leningrad Oblast).
18 August 2018. Krasnodar. FC Krasnodar Stadium. Clear. 30 degrees. 33 395 spectators.
The first home match of FC Krasnodar this season resulted in the first sold-out audience. 34 302 spectators watched the clash between the Bulls and the People's Team from the stadium stands, which had their capacity slightly increased in the off-season. The spectators never felt bored from kick-off to full-time.
The Krasnodar team began the game in a very active and confident way. By the 5th minute Gazinsky and Claesson had attempted two dangerous, if inaccurate shots on the Spartak goal. On one occasion Mamayev barely missed stealing the ball away from the Moscow goalie when the latter showed lack of coordination with his defender. The Spartak team was able to hold back the initial black-green tide and retaliated on the 17th minute with their trademark free kick by Fernando. This time, however, FC Krasnodar keeper Kritsyuk brilliantly coped with the mighty salvo of the Brazilian player, who had scored twice against the Bulls from set pieces in the previous games.
Mid through the first half the game became more or less equal. Both teams were playing at a high tempo notwithstanding the heat. They would cross the midfield quickly and trade rapid attacks, but those did not transform into real scoring chances for a while. It was only on the 39th minute when an abrupt lunge of the black-greens allowed Wanderson to take an unhindered shot from inside the box, but the ball slightly missed Maksimenko’s domain. A few minutes to the half-time Promes escaped Markov’s marking and made a breakthrough towards the home goal along the attacking midfielder’s channel, but the Krasnodar keeper dealt with his shot. The first half thus ended with a shutout.
This high speed and spectacular type of football continued after the interval, and it was the Bulls who obviously ruled on the field of play. The Krasnodar team could have totally scored an opener on the 51st minute. A splendid combination ended with a shot by Wanderson, but Maksimenko parried the ball and sent it in front of him. With the goal left empty, Ari attempted a spectacular finishing with a bicycle kick, but the ball went above target. Soon after that Stotsky shot the ball past the defensive wall when he executed a free kick that sent the ball literally a few inches away from the Spartak goalpost. With an hour of the game played the Moscow team was yet again saved by their young goalkeeper who reacted well to a killing shot by Mamayev. A few minutes later an aimed shot by Kaboré from afar hit the upper vee of the away goal. Also, half-way through this wasted series of chances Sergey Lapochkin, the referee of the tonight’s match, openly pardoned FC Spartak Fernando after he had obviously kicked Ari’s ankle with the studs. A booking was given instead of a red card.
The substitutions conducted by the Red-White boss Massimo Carrera and a water break somewhat quenched the attacking zeal of the home team. The visitors then arrived very short of scoring a goal from a set piece, but Kritsyuk parried a dangerous header by Melgarejo. In the end the outcome of the game was decided at the death. Freshly-fielded Ignatyev and his first touch of the ball tonight brought Ari to a rendezvous with the keeper, but the Krasnodar No. 9 was late with a shot. He finally tried to throw the ball over the keeper, but it was blocked by Melgarejo who had arrived in time to cover his teammate. A few minutes later a corner kick next to the opposite goal made FC Spartak successful and victorious. Gigot flicked the ball from the second corner of the goal area to the center of the box, where Zé Luís (he had been fielded twelve minutes earlier) left Martynovich behind and sent the ball into the net with a header.
FC Krasnodar could have totally escaped defeat. On the 90th minute Promes stepped on Ari’s foot as he was breaking away from him in the Spartak penalty area. Lapochkin the ref, on the other hand, chose not to call for a rather obvious penalty kick. A few moments later Ari got provoked by Gigot, headbutted the Spartak player and was immediately sent off. Even at numerical disadvantage, the players of Murad Musayev went on attacking stubbornly until the very full-time, but they were not able to change the score. As a result, the Bulls showed their best performance this season, but despite that no points were earned.