Meet the new Russian Champion!

By Alexander Klimanov - Russian Futsal Association press officer

VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg is the new Russian champion

Russian club VIZ-Sinara got their first ever league title, having beaten MFK Lipetsk in their fist game on Friday.

Getting only three points in the last four games of the current season would have been enough for VIZ-Sinara to guarantee the first place. And Sergey Skorovich’s team didn’t shelve their project, even if the first away game against MFK Lipetsk, which is now 11th in the Russian Superleague standings, was tough for the best European club of 2008.

“It’s always difficult for us to play against Lipetsk on their home ground” – Skorovich told. "Those guys always fight till the end in front of their own fans and also, the conditions of the local sports arena are rather specific. We created enough chances, but didn’t realize all of them. That’s why this game turned out to be such a difficult for us”.

The opponents started the game at the same level, VIZ-Sinara got the control of the pitch, but the hosts were good at counter-attacks. One of them bring Lipetsk the first goal, when the 18 years old Maxim Istomin overcame the best goalkeeper of 2008 Sergey Zuev. The guests manage to equalize in the end of the first half – Lipetsk goalkeeper Pavel Homutinnikov made a huge number of saves from close range, but was powerless against Konstantin Agapov shot, 1-1.

In the second half VIZ-Sinara increased the pressure. But Lipetsk wasn’t going to quit. It was very difficult to predict which of the contenders is going to celebrate the match victory, but the skills of VIZ-Sinara players got share of the cake. Andrey Shabanov gave his team the 2-1 advantage and later made his double from the penalty spot.

But it wasn’t over yet. Lipetsk managed one goal back when Alexey Bogatyh hit the net over the bar – 2:3. The host substituted their goalkeeper trying to complete the comeback in powerplay. And 30 seconds before the end they got a great opportunity to postpone VIZ-Sinara celebration – but Sergey Zuev proved to be one of best specialist in double-penalty saving.

“We have been waiting for this moment for 17 years – since the club was founded – Sergey Skorovich added. "Now we are happy. We completed a long distance travel which started last June with the first training sessions, and now we have reached the main goal”.

MFK VIZ-Sinara broke off MFK Dinamo-Yamal hegemony, which lasted for six years – since 2002/03 season - and got the Russian glory for the time in their history.




























Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com