Today, when all Russian clubs are suspended from European competitions, the attention of fans is riveted to our legionnaires abroad. It was known in advance about the participation of only one Russian in the main tournament of the Champions League: Andrei Lunev, who plays for Bayer, received a prestigious chance. The teams of other players, including Alexander Golovin, still had to break into the group stage through qualification.

But Monaco did not reach the decisive round. But lasted “Boude-Glimt” Nikita Khaikin, who created a sensation in the last season of the Conference League. For a ticket to the Champions League, the Norwegian team fought Dinamo Zagreb – and was really close to success … But in the decisive match, the Russian goalkeeper let the team down.

One mistake ruined everything!

Bude vs Dynamo

Boude-Glimt claimed the title of the main opening of the upcoming Champions League. The Norwegian club, which reached the quarter-finals of the Conference League last season and beat the future champions of the tournament – Roma Jose Mourinho three times, confidently qualified for the main European Cup this summer. True, the northerners also came across simple rivals: first, the Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands, then the Northern Irish Linfield and the Lithuanian Zalgiris …

The main test awaited Bude in the playoff round, where Dynamo Zagreb got into rivals. Having a lot of experience in playing in European competitions and a better squad, the Croats approached the duel with the Norwegians in the status of favorites. However, the Dynamo unexpectedly failed the first game, losing to the northern club away with a minimum score (0:1). One of the highest ratings at the end of that match was deserved by Khaikin, who repelled a couple of dangerous shots from Zagreb and kept the gate “dry”.

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However, the advantage of one goal is a very modest backlog before the game in the Croatian capital. This was also understood in Buda, so the club was preparing for a serious fight. The return match took place on August 24 – and on this day Dynamo finally appeared before the Norwegians in all its glory. In the first half, Zagreb literally crushed his opponents, opening the scoring already in the 4th minute. Already in this episode, Khaikin showed himself not from the best side, unsuccessfully reacting to Orsic’s blow into the near corner.

Dynamo went to the break, leading with a score of 2: 0 – this result ensured the team got into the Champions League. But in the second half, the Norwegians managed to rehabilitate themselves – they called off one goal and transferred the game to extra time.

The outcome of the confrontation was decided in the 116th minute. The teams, it seemed, should have mentally prepared for the series of 11-meter shots, however, the Dynamo players did not give up hope of taking their own directly in the game – and still put pressure on Bude.

After Emreli ran off to counterattack, Khaikin had to come out of the gate to prevent his opponent from hitting. However, Nikita hit the ball right at the feet of Josip Drmic, who brilliantly figured out the episode. The Swiss took advantage of the turmoil in someone else’s penalty area and, most importantly, the panic of the Russian goalkeeper.

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After an unsuccessful selection, Khaikin did not have time to return to the goal and froze in the penalty area. It was not difficult for Drmic to find a free corridor and send the ball into the net. In fairness, the team and the defenders let down: the goalkeeper who was delayed at the exit was not insured.

The mistake of the goalkeeper and defense eventually cost Bude a ticket to the Champions League. The Norwegians tried to arrange a final assault on the Dynamo goal in order to catch on to a draw, but instead they received another counterattack and conceded the fourth goal (4:1). Alas, now only one player will represent Russia in the main European Cup – Andrey Lunev. And Nikita Khaikin, together with Alexander Golovin, will go to conquer the Europa League.