FC Krasnodar 0-1 (0-0) FC Khimki
Goal: Kukharchuk (Šabović), 63.
Missed penalty kick: Claesson, 14 (goalkeeper).
FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Vilhena, Sorokin, Kaio, Petrov (Stotsky, 86), Chernikov, Gazinsky (Córdoba, 58), Spertsyan, Cabella, Claesson (Suleymanov, 76), Ionov (Ilyin, 76).
FC Khimki: Lantratov, Nabiullin, Filin, Tikhiy, Stojinović (Kamyshev, 90+3), Idowu, Glushakov, Dagerstål, Šabović, Kukharchuk, Sebai.
Yellow cards: Petrov, 55, Córdoba, 82, Chernikov, 88, Vilhena, 90+2 – Stojinović, 14, Tikhiy, 60, Kukharchuk, 80, Kamyshev, 90+5, Dagerstål, 90+10.
Referees: Lyubimov, Bolshakov (both Saint Petersburg), Kobzev (Moscow).
VAR: Levnikov (Saint Petersburg), Yeremin (Moscow).
1 August 2021. Krasnodar. FC Krasnodar Stadium. Sunny. 31 degrees.
FC Krasnodar started decisively the match against FC Khimki. Soon after the kick-off a dangerous low cross from Ionov into the goal area was traded for a corner kick. Then on the 12th minute the first scoring chance of the game arrived. Stojinović brought Spertsyan down in the own box, and once connected to the VAR, Lyubimov the ref called for a penalty kick. The nil-nil on the scoreboard did not change though as Lantratov coped with a shot from Claesson. A few seconds later it was Claesson again who took another attempt on goal from a killing position after the corner kick had been served, and the Khimki goalie won this duel again.
On the other hand, the Red-Blacks totally could have scored an opener before half-time, too. In the first half, Safonov parried nasty shots by Glushakov and Kukharchuk only with an aid of the crossbar.
A goal scored by Spertsyan early in the second half was canceled because Ionov was offside. Meanwhile, the away team did use their chance without complaint on behalf of the referee team. Šabović turned an intercepted ball into a cross to Kukharchuk who did not miss with his shot from the goal area.
FC Krasnodar increased their pressure and created new chances. At first, Spertsyan rushed into the box and provided Córdoba with a super fine pass. The striker hesitated in an attempt to play it with his left foot and shot the ball directly into Lantratov’s gloves. Later the Colombian player tried to finish the ball after a shot by Ionov and barely missed sending it to the far corner of the goal. The Khimki team kept the win alive in a twitchy ending and brought three points home from Krasnodar.
FC Krasnodar 0-1 FC Khimki
88 (12) Attacks (quick attacks) 71 (12)
11 Total shots 13
2 Blocked shots 2
6 Shots on goal 9
0 Woodwork 2
7 Scoring chances 7
76 Won duels 81
62% Ball possession 38%
400 (81%) Completed passes (accuracy) 207 (70%)
6 Corner kicks 4
3 Offsides 3
19 Fouls 17
