“A full stadium would have gathered if there hadn’t been Fan ID”

So the head coach of CSKA said before the match with Zenit and continued: “I can’t even ask this question. We say every time that this is some kind of brake on the development of football. Football is for the fans. And the fans are getting smaller and smaller. We need to sit down at a round table, reflect and remove this barrier that prevents stadiums from gathering. Here it is up to the competent people who do this.”

His words were also confirmed at the match between Spartak and Grozny, where few fans came to the stadium in Tushino until they were hurt.

RPL. 21st round. Moscow. Spartak – Akhmat – 0:0

Well, the hero of the meeting was, as well as a few hours earlier at another stadium in the capital, guest goalkeeper Georgi Shelia, who at least twice fantastically saved his goal.

“Spartak” has not been able to win three matches in a row, thereby deleting themselves from the championship race. Now only Zenit (who hardly defeated Ural at home) and the Rostov club of the coach of the Karpin national team remained there, if they are at home on Sunday evening (this report is written a day before the match) will be able to overcome the Torpedo flying into the abyss.

Spartacists Guillermo Abascal attacked the entire match, delivered 19 shots to Akhmat’s goal, had five real opportunities to send a football projectile into the away grid, but were left with dull zeros on the scoreboard, which “melted” the red and white from the fight for championship gold.

The hosts may complain about the absence of captain Georgy Jikia and striker Quincy Promes (who came out in the second half but was substituted back after 8 minutes), but these will be excuses for the poor. What Spartak really needs to talk about and think about is the realization of chances. Neither Alexander Sobolev, nor Shamar Nicholson, nor Mikhail Ignatov, nor Promes and Zinkovsky, who came out, were able to “break through” Georgi Shelia, who played the match brilliantly.

Guest coach Sergei Tashuev, who returned to Grozny after a long pause, turned on the “standby mode”, and his team adequately fought off countless Spartak attacks. Grozny residents could not hold their own, which would have ended with a goal. Vladimir Ilyin, who had meager opportunities, did not use them, Zaim Divanovich was completely replaced even before the break, and Agalov immediately after the tea party.

The red-and-whites, driven by a minimum number of fans – hello Fan ID – had much more possession of the ball, but they often made mistakes, the combination game did not go well, and numerous chances did not lead to at least a “one” on the scoreboard. Sobolev created an opportunity for Nicholson, but he, practically going out on his own, presented the leather sphere to Georgi Shelia. Akhmat tried to play pressure, which they did well. The most memorable episode in the penalty area of ​​Spartak goalkeeper Alexander Selikhov was the single combat between Andrei Semenov and Roman Zobnin, which the referees at the VAR considered, as always in the RPL, for a very long time.

The hosts’ full-backs Khlusevich and Tavares “barraged” along the edge, but both lacked the accuracy of the pitches. The referee of the meeting Alexei Sukhoi from Lyubertsy also “participated” in the game. Semyonov from Grozny, trying to block Nikita Chernov’s shot from the goalkeeper’s line, jumped at his feet. The penalty was more likely than not, but the chief referee and his video assistants did not “see” anything in the penalty area and TVs.

After the break, Abascal returned the team to a 4-3-3 arrangement, which immediately brought a hundred-pound scoring chance. Khlusevich played in the wall with Ignatov, moved a little along the penalty area and sent the spotted one into the “nine” of the guest gate with a crazy trajectory and force. This is where the rescue from Shelia happened – in a fantastic jump, the goalkeeper of the guests recorded himself in the annals of football history.

Promes, who received a muscle injury, was replaced by Keith Balde, who after six minutes of being on the field had a real chance to bring his team three points and leave in the championship race. The Spartakist in a magnificent jump struck his head into the very web, but even here the indefatigable Shelia was on top and reflected the ball.

Spartak until the end of the match could not realize their colossal advantage, and Grozny completely switched to a frank game of outs and takeout.

Abaskal and Spartak have a cup game ahead – Muscovites can still deliver this trophy to their chic museum.

Vladimir Sabadash.

Photo by Sergey Vinogradov