The Bulls Lost to PFC Sochi Behind Closed Doors
PFC Sochi 2-0 (0-0) FC Krasnodar
Goals: Noboa, 47, Mostovoy, 90+3.
PFC Sochi: Dzhanayev, Zaika, Margasov, Novoseltsev (Kalugin, 90+1), Mevlja, Miladinović, Tsallagov, Mostovoy, Noboa, А. Zabolotny (Burmistrov, 73), Kokorin (Karapetian, 90+5).
FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Ramírez, Kaio, Martynovich, Petrov, Olsson (Sorokin, 85), Fernandes (Suleymanov, 65), Gazinsky (Utkin, 61), Berg, Wanderson, Ari.
Yellow cards: Noboa, 64, Tsallagov, 90+1– Suleymanov, 90.
Referees: Ivanov (Rostov-on-Don), Murashov (Moscow), Seyfetdinov (Kazan).
15 March 2020. Sochi. Fisht Olympic Stadium. Rain. 10 degrees. Behind closed doors.
By the Matchday 22 of the Tinkoff Russian Premier League the COVID-19 pandemic had also negatively impacted the Russian football. Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of the Krasnodar Krai, banned large-scaled events with an audience of more than 1000 persons by a special resolution. On the following day, the RPL management announced it would stage the match behind the closed doors.
PFC Sochi made a better start in the game under these outstanding circumstances. On the 6th minute Kokorin broke into the opposite box along the left half-flank and fired a shot that hit the second goalpost. Mid through the first half the ball hit another post of the goal guarded by Safonov after a direct serve from the corner kick.
And yet, by that moment FC Krasnodar had already made the game equal. The Bulls provided some arguments, too, including an inaccurate shot past a defender by Fernandes, and a mighty sprint across half a pitch by Wanderson that ended with a bad pass to Ari.
The home team began the second half better that the visitors again. On one occasion Safonov succeeded with a brilliant save after a killing shot by Kokorin, but a few minutes later a rebound helped Christian Noboa in his attempt, so the Krasnodar keeper had no way to save it.
FC Krasnodar had some chances for an equalizer. Ari took two shots from the centre of the penalty area, but both times the ball went too close to where Dzhanayev was standing. In addition, the Sochi keeper saved his team after a biting shot by Berg.
The Leopards scored another goal at the death when the black-greens rushed forward en masse. Safonov managed to prevent a raid by Kokorin, but then Andrei Mostovoy arrived in a second wave and sent the ball into the empty net. The unbeaten streak of the Bulls in the Tinkoff Russian Premier League was thus stopped at 11 games.
