“This episode turned on the players of both teams” – Kommersant FM

Spartak suffered another defeat. This time the red-whites lost to Krasnodar (2:3) at home in the Russian Football Cup. Despite this defeat, Spartak reached the final stage of the tournament, although there was still some scandal during the match. For details, see Kommersant FM sports commentator Vladimir Osipov.

Spartak was in a difficult situation before the match with Krasnodar. And this is not a matter of the tournament situation. Just in the Russian Cup, the red and white are doing well. Even before this meeting, Guillermo Abascal’s club secured access to the playoffs. But constant troubles in the championship and defeat in the RPL from Fakel brought down a barrage of criticism on the people’s team. And even former Spartak player Andrei Tikhonov demanded decisive action:

“Spartak, after this loss, unsuccessful game, obstruction from all sides – journalists, fans – needs to show a reaction to the defeat.”

The players and coach responded to the criticism, and although Spartak did not take to the field with the main squad, everything was in order with the players’ desires. The teams got off to a great start. By the 8th minute the score was 1:1. Alexander Sobolev responded to Alexander Koksharov’s goal from the penalty spot. Then things got more fun, the players of both teams did not score into the empty goal, the goalposts were knocked, the goalkeepers pulled out what was impossible to drag in.

But still, at the very end of the first half of the meeting, Spartak took the lead (2:1). Nail Umyarov distinguished himself. Although if all 100 percent of the chances had been realized, the score would definitely have been different, Andrei Tikhonov is sure: “If we take it by chances, by goals, I think that the score should have been probably 3:3.”

But after the break, the Spartak players apparently decided that they had done enough, and the game began to calm down. Of course, the punishment was not long in coming. Krasnodar scored twice and took the lead (3:2). And then Russian referees came to the fore again. It seems that not a single match can take place without their scandalous decisions.

At the very end, Alexander Sobolev earned another penalty and clearly converted it. Only the goal was canceled after VAR review. The referees noticed that the player slipped and touched the ball twice. Numerous repetitions neither confirmed nor refuted this decision, noted football expert Oleg Kornaukhov:

“In this episode, the judges found fault. It is very difficult to understand from the picture, even with replays, whether the ball was actually touched. But he certainly didn’t change direction after the impact.”

Naturally, this episode excited the players of both teams. Fortunately, there were no fights or red cards, although it was close. This cool, entertaining game ended with the victory of Krasnodar (3:2). “Spartak” lost again, but this time everything will go smoothly.

But, unfortunately, what will be discussed now is not the bright football and beautiful goals scored, but another strange decision of the judges. And the question of why the RFU pays serious money to the head of the refereeing department, Serbian Milorad Mazic, if there are only more scandals, is once again hanging in the air.

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