Thanks to the help of Vladimir Romanov we can offer to you a special report from the 11th round matches played by CSKA Moscow vs Norilsky Nickel. Enjoy it!

RUSSIAN SUPERLEAGUE

ROUND 11

WHEN FANS ARE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED…

On round 11, that was the last in the first half of the Championship, CSKA obtained 3 points (50% out of possible six). The first match vs Norilsk Nickel seemed to be a real disaster for the Red and Blue team and its supporters. The match was lost without any chances to turn things to the right side. On the following day CSKA won. The victory looked hard but so necessary under current circumstances. The mentioned circumstances are the logical reaction of the Red and Blue supporters who ignored the match. The players had never faced “funeral silence” before.

MATCH 1

The events on the ground disappointed CSKA fans. They were shocked by what they had to see and to feel. It was a feeling of total failure and nobody wanted to agree with this turn of dark events. Their team lost absolutely everything. There was no aspect of Futsal on which the Red and Blue guys were equal to their rivals from the North. The match looked like a friendly meeting of two clubs that represented two different Russian Futsal leagues. The Norilsk players did all they wanted on the ground. They attacked all the time, shot at goal at any distance and as much as it was necessary to them. Goal episodes became a result of no opposition from the other side. CSKA had no will and a little desire to change things to the better. The first part result – 3-1 in favor of so-called hosts (both matches were held in Moscow) doesn’t totally describe their advantage over the Red Army team. And what would CSKA have done if on Friday, 13 Vander Carioca had arrived at the Russian capital and played for Norilsk?
After the interval the Northern team paid more attention to its defensive line. CSKA got more space and more time to attack. In the second part the Red and Blue looked “fresher”. However it meant nothing because Norilsk kept the game under its control. It should have scored twice but Serguei Ivanov failed a double-penalty kick and Leonid Klimovsky, Nickel keeper, could not shoot right on the empty net – the ball flew to the left from the post…

Alexander Babkin, CSKA head coach:"In the first half of the game we played without any goal opportunities. Then the team revived a little, the guys began running a bit faster. We managed to act more aggressively and dangerously with some chances to score. No doubt, Norilsk Nickel is a big club with good players which skills are higher than ours. Both this fact and team speeds which characterize Norilsk as a group of fast players led to the great advantage of the hosts. Under such circumstances we were to lose. However, the match was held in Moscow. It had been replaced because of different troubles in Sports Hall Arctica where Nickel played its home matches. From such point of view it was much easier for us to prepare for Round 11. The playing ground is standard here, it is usual for us. At last Moscow spectators got a chance to see these matches. Unfortunately, all that didn´t help us."


MATCH 2

It is impossible to explain and understand but that´s true… CSKA plays better and wins more often without or with poor fans` support. Seeing and feeling empty stands around the Red Army team killed the memories of Friday, 13… Nobody had got a clear idea of what was happening on the ground. Real struggle of decent and strong rivals – CSKA fans wanted it but it turned out without them…
The main obstacle for Norilsk players was Oleg Tolstikhin`s playing. About 25 saves a match is a wonderful result. Twice the ball touched the post after Nickel strikers shots. His confidence and patience let the field players act without panic on any part of the pitch. The first half ended in a zero-zero draw. Than the show went on. Rare spectators were waiting for a goal. But it was impossible to say what side would score the first. At last CSKA captain Alexander Antipov reminded of himself. That was a strange kick… Alexander relied on Fortune while was shooting right from the left wing. The ball flew through the legs of a Norilsk defender and crossed the goal line. Then there was the hosts pressure in CSKA “home zone”, some dangerous episodes without any effect and a goal by Vladimir Kolesnikov when Norilsk net was empty…

Alexander Babkin, CSKA head coach: "I am absolutely satisfied with the guys, their playing and the final result. For two last years we have missed goals in any match. This is the first game without missed goals for the mentioned period. I appreciate Oleg Tolstikhin, our keeper, greatly. He played without mistakes and deserved to be announced as the best player, a real hero of this game. The guys played with more desire, more positive emotions, they needed this victory and they obtained it. I cannot explain even to myself why yesterday they showed something terrible on the pitch. Probably they were not able to make themselves play as they really could. I also should thank my colleagues from Norilsk for a good game. Today equal sides met each other. Norilsk Nickel was close to three more points. But we scored the first. Then there was a matter of tactics. Norilsk had to risk, it attacked with five field players. Thee left the net empty… After the second goal it became clear we would carry out this match task."



STATISTIC REVIEW

ROUND 11

January, 13

Hall: USZ Druzhba - Moscow

Attendance: 300

Norilsky Nickel – CSKA 3-1 (3-1)

Norilsky Nickel: Klimovsky – Sheremetiev, Ivanov, Kuznetsov, Simeunovic, B. Zoidze, Glavatskikh, Afranio, Nikolaev

CSKA: Tolstikhin – Arsh, Maltsev, Sergueev, Filippov, Kolesnikov, Kalinin, A. Antipov, S. Antipov, Azizov, Somkhishvili, Kovalev.

Scorers: 1:0 Kuznetsov (1), 1:1 Kalinin (6), 2:1 Simeunovic (14), 3:1 Ivanov (18)

Referees: A. Selikov and S. Nikitin (Moscow)

Yellow cards: Klimovsky and Kalinin

Fouls: 1st half –> 1:3; 2nd half –> 4:6



January, 14

Hall: USZ Druzhba - Moscow

Attendance: 150

Norilsky Nickel – CSKA 0-2 (0-0)

Norilsky Nickel: Klimovsky – Sheremetiev, Ivanov, Kuznetsov, Simeunovic, B. Zoidze, Glavatskikh, Afranio, Nikolaev, Alekberov

CSKA: Tolstikhin – Arsh, Maltsev, Sergueev, Filippov, Kolesnikov, Kalinin, A. Antipov, S. Antipov, Azizov, Somkhishvili

Scorers: 0:1 A. Antipov (25), 0:2 Kolesnikov (38)

Referees: S. Nikitin and A. Selikov (Moscow)

Yellow cards: Afranio and Kolesnikov

Fouls: 1st half –> 3:4; 2nd half –> 4:3









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