In addition to the debacles, there have been comebacks!

Doorman

Matvey Safonov (Krasnodar) is a familiar hero

It is good that Safonov is there, it is difficult to identify the goalkeepers in the first round, especially when only two have not conceded a goal. Odoevsky and Pesyakov hardly ever saw the ball, Lokomotiv and Khimki failed in attack. Yes, and the players on the pitch have ensured the goalkeepers. Safonov was less fortunate. Missed by Kashtanov – Borodin gave the opponent an incredible volley, the ball hit the net from the crossbar, this is not caught. But Safonov guessed one-on-one at the start of the meeting, and then seven more hits.

Defenders

Daniil Khlusevich (Spartak)

An example of how Abascal explains his role in Spartak to a footballer. The coach often changed tactics, given the opponents. Khlusevich played temporarily as a left center back, a clean left back, and against Orenburg he played on two flanks at the same time, why bother with nonsense? Daniil provided an assist, allowed Martins to live on offense when he played on the right and actively fought for every ball. Once rude, but rewarded with a yellow card. The removal was not there, he played the ball and squeezed the other leg.

Maxim Osipenko (Rostov)

Right now inside RPL there are so few strong central defenders that Rodrigao or Osipenko, even though no one knew them in big football a couple of years ago, gets a lot of compliments. Karpin beat Yuran with a goal, but it is more important that Khimki has a shot on goal per game. Prokhin retired after the second yellow card, Glebov presented a hybrid of defensive midfielder and central defender, Osipenko was himself: he removed the top floor and did not allow anyone to wander under.

Ilnur Alshin (“Torch”) – opening of the tour

We praise Douglas Santos, but in the second half Zenit amassed such an advantage over Lokomotiv that even if the hard-working defender had left the pitch, the result of the match would not have changed. But without Alshin, Voronezh cannot see a holiday. Ilnur with the “ten” on his back actively worked on his left side. Dynamo allowed him to attack, helped Akbashev create a goal and then led to a draw in the 86th minute.

Midfielders

Christian Noboa (Sochi)

Spartak’s Martins was good until he got tired: he competently opened the doors of others. Wendel played great, he even saved Zenit once on his own goal. But Christian Noboa made a winning double against Akhmat, he proved to the head coach that he had left him on the bench by mistake. The Ecuadorian turned the penalty perfectly and then beautifully threw the ball into the top end.

Roman Akbashev (“Fakel”) – organizer of the return

Roman brought the Voronezh club back into play after failing before half-time as they were burning 0: 2 against Dynamo. Muscovites thought they could stop playing further, they planned to score more by playing slowly at their doors. But even after the own goal, Fakel’s mood does not change. Vasilenko’s team, vehemently supported by the fans, found the opportunity to equalize the score. Akbashev was good in a brilliant duel, he has 5 hits and 2 key passes. It was Roman who equalized the score in the 47th minute and did not stop the game further.

Eduard Spertsyan (Krasnodar)

The real leader of the “citizens” attacks. Spertsyan conveniently gave the ball to Borodin. Also, Eduard had two approaches to the “point” and Ionov earned his penalty after a “ten” pass. Krasnodar executes penalty kicks terribly, but in a match in which Ural could count more, the Armenian midfielder did not disappoint. Prize for efficiency – he became the author or co-author of all shots on goal of Pomazun’s Krasnodar.

Claudinho (Zenit) – tour director

Now Zenit have an impressive streak in matches against Muscovites. He helped Claudinho, created 12 chances at Khudyakov’s doorstep. The Brazilian chooses a position in the class, scores the second goal, which ultimately buries the intrigue. Claudinho looked fresh across the field. Lokomotiv did not lose unequivocally and devastatingly at the start, and the Brazilian worked hard in their own half. Impressive activity, 95 touches per game.

come on

Timur Suleymanov (Pari NN) is the wild card of the week

He admitted the stupidity of the removal in the first round, scored Akinfeev twice, the first goals for CSKA in season. Suleimanov was only out for the second half, when Galaktionov tried to find moments on the doorstep of others. CSKA he could have scored the third goal, then Timur’s brace wouldn’t have changed anything. And so he scored two goals, scored magnificently, he could score three times and become the protagonist of the whole round, but a brace is enough for the happiness of the team and his striker.

Fedor Smolov (Dinamo) – veteran of the start

The best player of early season age. On the advantages of class and experience. In the spring, Dinamo fans welcomed his return without enthusiasm, but if there were now two Smolov counterparts in the center of defense, they could score 9 out of 9. Fedor scored the second consecutive brace. In cold blood, he turned a penalty, which Fomin earned, and then deftly threw the ball into the corner furthest from himself. Speaking of which, Smolov’s shots are the only accurate shots for Dynamo in the game.

Quincy Promes (“Spartacus”) – the restlessness of the tour

Rarely is a footballer involved in four goals for his team at the same time. Promes has two assists. Even a basket: the midfielder skillfully opened at the far post, where the ball passed all his teammates. A small spot of the Dutchman is connected to the fact that he lost the duel with the goalkeeper of “Orenburg” from the “point”. But then the Spartak striker was lucky, he was the first to finish the ball in the net. Promes, like Claudinho, was everywhere, but it seems he played with a margin.

Head coaches

Mikhail Galaktionov (Paris NN) and Oleg Vasilenko (Fakel)

Semak won a duty win. Abaskal did everything wisely, but Spartak should be stronger than Orenburg. But Galaktionov and Vasilenko were unequivocally losing at first, both by two goals, and then their corrections and suggestions worked, they evened the score. Fakel went further because he suffered and scored in a new round. Strangers weren’t afraid of Muscovites, they responded blow by blow. Galaktionov and Vasilenko deserve compliments.

groundhog day

Utkin’s canopies on Komlichenko

Khimki players are sure that Komlichenko violated the rules in the fight against the defender before the goal. He touched someone else’s back with his hand, but the referees have had repetitions, they not only have rules that footballers don’t usually read, but also clear instructions FIFA. The referees decided that the fight was within limits. Komlichenko now has three goals after Utkin’s passes. The objectives are different, but the link works in every game.

tourist show

Go to Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod

15 shots on Shunin’s door, 22 shots on Akinfeev’s door. The two former national team goalkeepers have conceded five goals in total. I could have done more, but it’s still a lot of fun. The audience saw two perfect examples of the favorite’s wrong reaction to an easy start to the match. And then there was the exchange of blows, emotions, cards, penalties, Suleymanov’s double, the epilogue in the noisy Voronezh, even at the end of the match. Spectators need this kind of football, it was fun for everyone except Jokanovic and Fedotov.