FC Krasnodar 2-1 (1-1) FC Spartak Moscow
Goals: Córdoba (Spertsyan), 16 (1-0), Sobolev, 45+4, penalty kick (1-1), Krychowiak, 61, penalty kick (2-1).
FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Vilhena, Kaio, Sorokin, Petrov (Spajić, 62), Chernikov, Krychowiak, Spertsyan (Chernov, 90), Ionov (Claesson, 62), Cabella, Córdoba.
FC Spartak Moscow: Selikhov, Ayrton (Lomovitsky, 83), Dzhikiya, Gigot, Caufriez (Rasskazov, 71), Moses, Umyarov, Ignatov, Larsson, Promes, Sobolev.
Yellow cards: Chernikov, 33, Spertsyan, 66, Vilhena, 74 – Umyarov, 10, Caufriez, 56, Ayrton, 60.
Referees: Sukhoy (Lyubertsy), Minevich (Smolensk), Petrosyan (Rostov-on-Don).
VAR: Turbin (Dmitrov), Bogdanov (Vereya).
20 November 2021. Krasnodar. FC Krasnodar Stadium. Overcast. 10 degrees. 10 554 spectators.
The clashes between FC Krasnodar and FC Spartak are almost always a powerful show. This statement proved true again tonight. The closing fixture of the first RPL round began with both teams trading chances right off the bat. Dzhikiya barely missed cutting the pigskin into the own goal after a low cross by Spertsyan. Sobolev failed to shoot the ball from a super position he had found himself in during a counterattack. The first minutes of the game were spent in such an emotional upheaval.
Then the Bulls scored an opener. Spertsyan, Cabella, and Córdoba cut the Spartak defensive line apart with a splendid combination, and the black-green striker never passed up an opportunity for a comfortable shot into an empty corner of the net.
The Red-and-Whites scored an equalizer in the time added to the first half. The referee team considered a duel of Ignatov and Petrov a worthy enough reason for ordering a penalty kick. Safonov coped with the first attempt taken by Sobolev, but the ref made them take the PK anew, so the visitors equalized, after all.
Soon after the interval FC Krasnodar could have scored the second goal. Spertsyan, however, missed the far corner after a fine pass from Chernikov, and a shot taken by Ionov from the 6-yard line was blocked. And yet, exactly these guys awarded the Bulls with a decisive portion of tonight’s win. Spertsyan sent Ionov into a gap inside the opposite box where Ayrton grabbed his arm and held him down. Krychowiak was the one to execute the penalty kick.
The pressure unleashed by the away team at the death did not change the digits on the scoreboard. The Bulls have effectively broken a streak of bad luck with a win over FC Spartak Moscow and improved their ranking in the Russian Premier League standings.
FC Krasnodar 2-1 FC Spartak Moscow
89 (25) Attacks (quick attacks) 90 (18)
15 Total shots 15
6 Blocked shots 5
3 Shots on goal 5
0 Woodwork 0
7 Scoring chances 8
68 Won duels 76
46% Ball possession 54%
297 (80%) Completed passes (accuracy) 353 (81%)
5 Corner kicks 8
6 Offsides 1
18 Fouls 14
