The “Red-Whites” escaped defeat on their home field at the very end of the match of the 11th round of the WORLD RPL.

Abascal’s team did not approach the derby in the best condition after two sensitive defeats. The defeats in Samara (0:4) and the cup match with Dynamo (0:3) seriously damaged the reputation of the Spanish specialist. Even with colossal trust from the club management, another failure, moreover in a game with the most important opponent, threatened the coach with resignation.

Until the 96th minute of the game, this outcome of events was the most realistic, but the Spanish coach was saved by a former CSKA player.

“Spartak” without Sobolev

The main highlight of the previous derby was an indecent pantomime performed by Alexander Sobolev, then repeated by Willian Rocha. Both ended up receiving a red card. The duel between the Spartak striker and the army defender was supposed to add color to the Sunday game, but Sobolev withdrew, having received his fourth warning of the season in the previous round.

The absence of the main forward added problems to Abascal, who already cannot decide on the optimal combination. The coach had only one center forward, Meleshin, at his disposal, but the Spaniard did not dare to let him start. There was also a bold option with the 19-year-old giant Artem Bykovsky (196 cm), churning out goals for the Spartak youth team. Abaskal did not even include him in the application for the game, deciding to play without the classic forward.

Before the game, it was assumed that Quincy Promes, the author of the winning brace in the May derby, would be sent to the forefront, but he more often appeared on his favorite left flank. Medina was more often in front, starting in an RPL match for only the third time this season. The choice of the three central midfielders again raised questions: Moses and Martins, who failed the game with Wings, remained in their places, but Zobnin this time gave way to Prutsev.

Fedotov’s choice was more predictable. The absence of Zabolotny in the starting lineup meant that the attack would rely on quick combinations with the participation of the technical trinity Chalov-Oblyakov-Fayzullaev. Mukhin, again, as in the two previous matches of the championship, went to the position of right central defender to help the Brazilians Roche and Moises.

Frightened Abascal

After two defeats, it was expected that Spartak would rush forward from the first minutes, but Abascal initially decided to play as carefully as possible. Suffice it to say that the main playmaker for the hosts was Maksimenko, to whom his teammates gave the ball over and over again to start attacks.

Apparently, Abascal was so frightened by the fiasco in Samara, where his team was painfully punished on counterattacks, that the Spaniard decided to act on the principle “no matter what happens.” In reality, it looked more like cowardice. It was doubly strange to see this after the parting words to the team from Spartak fans, who visited the base on the eve of the game and had a heart-to-heart talk with the player and coach.

How Spartak was going to attack in the first half remained a mystery. Before the break, the hosts managed to create only one half-chances: Medina tested Akinfeev with a shot into the near corner after a pass and a subtle pass from Martins. Otherwise, the actions of the Spartacists left a sad impression. In every movement of the players, one could feel not the passion characteristic of derby, but some kind of doom.

CSKA looked like a much more relaxed team, which had a clear game plan and an understanding of how to implement it. The army team was not keen on high pressure, but was happy to cover the opponent in the center of the field. Thus, sharp moments arose twice at Maksimenko’s goal. First, Fayzulaev almost brought Chalov one on one with the goalkeeper with a subtle pass, then the Uzbek midfielder himself shot from an advantageous position.

A goal against Spartak in such a situation was only a matter of time. As a result, the “red-whites” were unable to protect themselves from a quick attack. Rocha beat two players in the center of the field, threw the ball to Oblyakov, and he brought out Gayich with a smart pass. Maksimenko’s jump only added to the effectiveness of the moment, but the goalkeeper had no chance to save his team.

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It is possible that after this the Spartak management had already begun to look for a coach starting with the letter “C” in the phone book when Promes said his word. The return goal did not follow from the logic of the game, but the factor of individual skill came into play here. Quincy, with a smart dribbling shot from an unobvious position, spun the ball into the top corner and went to hug Abascal. For the Spanish coach, the magic from Promes could be life-saving.

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Before this, the Dutchman had not scored in seven championship matches, which was a repeat of his worst streak in the RPL. In the previous 13 derbies, he scored in only two meetings, but both times with doubles. This sign gave Spartak hope for the second half.

That’s why Spartak bought Medina

After the break, the picture on the field did not change. CSKA combined much better: thanks to quick passes, Chalov, Faizullaev and others managed to squeeze Spartak into its penalty area. At the same time, Abascal’s team again did not demonstrate counterplay. The visitors’ pressure bore fruit at the end of the hour. As in the episode with the first goal, the Oblyakov-Gayich combination worked. The Serb scored the first double in his career with a very similar strike, but this time he was helped by a rebound from Denisov’s leg.

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This Sunday, Spartak looked even more hopeless for most of the match than a week earlier in Samara. The minimal difference in the score clearly did not reflect what was happening on the field. Such a weak-willed and unprincipled game looked like a death sentence for Abascal. The Spaniard’s original plan, if it existed at all, clearly did not work. The situation was not corrected by the replacements of Ignatov and Litvinov, who gave way to the inconspicuous Bongonda and Moses.

Spartak began to hold the ball only towards the end, when CSKA of its own free will decided to switch to playing number two. The army team acted in the most disciplined manner on defense, unlike their opponents, and allowed almost nothing to be created at Akinfeev’s goal. The Spartac team could only count on one more performance by Promes, but the Dutchman’s limit of miracles had been exhausted.

When it seemed that defeat for Spartak could no longer be avoided, Jesus Medina spoke. His transfer caused a lot of noise, but after the scandalous transfer, the Paraguayan was not too noticeable in the new team. The saving goal in the 96th minute cleared up many questions.

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The ex-army man not only helped avoid a natural defeat for his team, but also the resignation of the head coach. It was not for nothing that Abascal insisted on Medina’s transfer last summer.