In the final contest of Saturday in match-day twenty-eight of the Sogaz Championship of Russia, Kuban Krasnodar played Krylia Sovetov to a 1-1 draw, honours even.

In a tightly played contest Krylia took the 1-0 lead four minutes shy of the break when Sergey Kornilenko judged on the rebound of Ognjen Koroman’s drive that spilt out of the ‘keepers mitts and quickly nodded into the net.

Four minutes after the re-start Dan Petrescu’s levelled as Romanian international Dacian Varga dispossessed a Krylia defender of the ball deep into own end to the right before delivering a cross to that back post that Sergei Davydov headed into the net. After Krylia narrowly missed the winning margin and Nenad Đorđević was set off with his second yellow-card the match concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

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In a battle that could have significant implications upon relegation, host Krylia Sovetov played Volga Nizhny Novgorod to a nil draw in match-day twenty-seven of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

After seeing Volga squander two early chances, Krylia raced back with Pavel Yakovlev fashioning a brilliant chance when he stormed off the left flank and into the area before seeing his effort stopped by ‘keeper Ilya Abayev. Ruslan Adzhindzhal later had a brilliant chance to open the scoring when he latched onto a long ball and after navigating around the on-rushing ‘keeper struck his effort over the awaiting goal.

Following the scoreless opening half much of the attacking advances were in Volga’s favour, including Mersudin Ahmetović’s early goal that was chalked off due to offside. Late in the half Mersudin Ahmetović forced Krylia goalkeeper Sergey Veremko into a fine stop with his drive from the top of the box but following that effort both sides seemed resigned to the draw, to which the match concluded as a nil draw.

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Courtesy of Igor Smolnikov’s late strike, host Rostov defeated Krylia Sovetov 1-0 in match-day twenty-six of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

Coming off their stunning victory over Dynamo, Andrey Kobelev’s Krylia Sovetov was notably without the services of Belorusian international Sergey Kornilenko and saw chances sparse. From the opening whistle Rostov were the stronger of the two with Maksim Grigoryev and Héctor Bracamonte sending searing efforts the Krylia goalkeeper Sergey Veremko stretched out fully to deny.

After the break Rostov continued to dictate the play and resourceful defending, along with Răzvan Cociş rasping an effort off the woodwork maintained the deadlock. However with just under five minutes remaining in regulation time Igor Smolnikov latched onto the ball outside the area to the left and sent a wildly trailing effort to the top far corner to give Rostov the 1-0 victory.

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In a stunning rebuttal, Andrey Kobelev enjoyed his first match in-charge of Krylia Sovetov against his former side Dynamo Moscow with the Samaran’s claiming a 1-0 victory. The result, not only an affirmation of the superb young manager’s ability as Samaran’s continue to improve since he was handed the mangerial reigns and now five points clear of the basement but brings Dynamo’s three match unbeaten run to a dead stop.

In heavy rain condition, Krylia’s always voracious supporters stood in full song at that eleventh minute as Sergey Kornilenko, continuing to flourish since returning to Russia, logged the contests lone goal as he got on the end of a long ball from the left before sending it past Dynamo ‘keeper Anton Shunin. Krylia continued to dictate the proceedings with Nenad Đorđević sending a free-kick off the bar and Dynamo rarely having success going forward, further handicapped when Vladimir Granat was sent off with his second yellow-card nine minutes shy of the break. While the hosts did not capitalize on their scoring chances, they maintained the strictest of defending lines within a perfect tactical plan by Andrey Kobelev and with the final whistle Krylia Sovetov earned the 1-0 victory.

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The curtain set on the Andrei Tikhonov era at Spartak Moscow with a magical performance as the legendary captain led the Red-Whites to a 3-0 defeat of Krylia Sovetov at Luzhniki Stadion in match-day twenty-four of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

As Spartak approached the day, a celebration of Andrei Tikhonov’s great career, the out-pouring of emotion from faithful was loud and clear as the Red-Whites took the pitch. After speaking to Spartak’s loyal supporters prior to the kick-off, with captain’s arm-band appropriately affixed Andrei Tikhonov took his place in Valeriy Karpin’s line-up. Making three changes to his most recent starting eleven that defeated Amkar, along with Andrei Tikhonov, Aiden McGeady and Emmanuel Emenike entered for Aleksandr Sheshukov, Dmitri Kombarov and Ari.

While such send-offs are fitting and quite obviously deserved, none could have wrote the magical performance to complete Andrei Tikhonov’s playing career. Rife with the captain’s spirit, two minutes after the opening whistle he led Spartak on a surging counter on the left before carefully feeding Emmanuel Emenike into the area. With a quick cut-back, the Nigerian striker delivered a low cross that Demy de Zeeuw dutifully turned into the net for his first goal since joining Ajax and one that will be remembered for many a year. As the faithful erupted in full voice in awe of the youthful attacking spirit of Andrei Tikhonov his day was not complete as coming at the twenty-seventh minute he would add yet another masterstroke to the canvas. Via a simple throw in on the right, he made one juke to the left before receiving the ball back from Artem Dzyuba and surged to the by-line away from Ibragim Tsallagov to send a perfect cross that Aiden McGeady volleyed into the net from seven metres. The vintage work of Andrei Tikhonov was near done but the send off was to perfection and just shy of the break, after placing the arm-band on goalkeeper Andriy Dykan he trotted off the pitch a final time with Aleksandr Kozlov entering.

There was still a matter of three points at hand and without fail the Red-Whites maintained a disciplined style of play at the re-start. A minute past the hour, Mr. Karpin called upon Aleksandr Sheshukov for Demy de Zeeuw as Spartak went about killing off the hopes of Krylia. At the seventy-seventh minute Artem Dzyuba made way for Sergei Parshivlyuk and not long after the Red-Whites added a perfunctory goal for the day as Emmanuel Emenike outdistanced two defenders from the centre of the pitch before navigating around ‘keeper Sergey Veremko and tapping the ball into the net. Effectively fait accompli, Spartak went onto to claim a brilliant 3-0 victory in the crowning moment of Andrei Tikhonov’s legendary career.

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Led by Pavel Yakovlev, Krylia Sovetov dispatched Tom Tomsk 2-0 in match-day twenty-three of the Sogaz Championship of Russia. With the result, Krylia ends their two-match losing skid and climb from the bottom of the table a point off Tomsk and Volga.

Since handing Andrey Kobelev the managerial reigns, Krylia has made steady progress and in front of their voracious home supporters came out with intent. Just shy of the eighth minute the highly promising Pavel Yakovlev, on-loan from Spartak Moscow, surged down the right before sending a cross that Sergey Kornilenko nodded in from eight metres. Provider turned goal scorer as in added-time before the break, Pavel Yakovlev deftly volleyed a right wing cross into the net, his third goal since joining Krylia in week eighteen. With the lead, the hosts were resolute in defending and with the final whistle claimed the full three points with the 2-0 victory.

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Courtesy of Vladimir Dyadyun first half strike, Rubin Kazan squeezed past a stubborn Krylia Sovetov in match day twenty-two of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

Andrey Kobelev, though troubled without the services of young gun Pavel Yakovlev due to his red-card infraction last week, were pleased to welcome Belarusian international Sergey Kornilenko in his debut for the Samaran side. In a tightly played contest, Vladimir Dyadyun notched the decider at the thirty-six minute as he accepted Alan Kasaev’s provision from his right and from twelve metres rifled the ball to the back of the net to give Rubin Kazan the 1-0 result.

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Responding to recent lacklustre play, defending champions Zenit Saint Petersburg overwhelmed Krylia Sovetov 5-2 at Petrovski Stadion in match day twenty-one of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

Quick to the chase, Zenit went in front 1-0 at the twenty-second minute as Danny snuck between Krylia defenders to, from four metres, nod in a cross from the right by-line. Seven minutes later, Zenit exposed the visitors defending weakness on the right as Aleksandr Anyukov surged down the right before delivering a low cross back to Roman Shirokov who scored from seven metres. Krylia fought back amiably with the highly promising Pavel Yakovlev pulling his side within one at the thirty-first minute as drove past his mark at the back post then rose high to nod in Anton Bober’s corner from the right. Quick as a flash Zenit broke the match wide open as Nicolas Lombaerts restored the lead a minute later as the Belgian international, from ten metres, headed Danny’s corner from the right past the visiting ‘keeper. With Krylia clearly dejected Zenit struck two minutes later as Viktor Faitzulin latched onto ball on the right before pushing forward and sending a low effort from the edge of the area to opposite corner of the net for the 4-1 advantage.

Much to their credit Krylia continued to fight with Pavel Yakovlev supplying the inspiration at the fifty-first minute via a stunning long-distance strike on the left that pulled his side to within two. However that was as close as it would get and with twelve minutes remaining Roman Shirokov converted from the spot after Pavel Yakovlev was adjudged a penalty for bringing down Aleksandr Anyukov in the area, albeit with the Zenit skipper displaying a dreadful death, additionally earning an early exit with his second yellow-card. If there was a further highlight, it definitely goes to Ivan Taranov who with his side heading to certain defeat he raced out of nowhere to clear Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s goal bound effort off the line. However that meant little in the outcome as Zenit Saint Petersburg laid claim to a solid 5-2 victory.

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In the final contest of match day twenty of the Sogaz Championship of Russia, Andrey Kobelev celebrated his first victory since taking command of Krylya Sovetov as the Samarans defeated host Krasnodar 2-1.

Following successive draws to Amkar and Lokomotiv, Krylya started quickly with veteran Ognjen Koroman fashioning a close range chance near the right by-line only to see host goalkeeper Igor Usminskiy make the stop. Shortly thereafter the former Crvena Zvezda man was played through on the right channel, outracing Nemanja Tubić before his drive was kicked out to safety. At the thirty-fourth minute there was no stopping Krylya as a free-kick from the right saw the ‘keeper challenge for the ball but failing to clear Nenad Đorđević was in perfect position five metres out to nod into the net. The hosts responded quickly with Vladimir Tatarchuk narrowly miss finding the leveller as his booming drive from the edge area rasped off the woodwork.

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After the break Yura Movsisyan saw his effort to square the contest from fifteen metres denied by Krylya ‘keeper Sergey Veremko. In need of the insurance marker, Krylya found some breathing room at the eighty-fourth minute as Ognjen Koroman sumptuously back heeled the ball to Anton Bober on the left side of the area with twenty-eight year-old veteran scoring from a tight angle as he neared the by-line. In added-time, Krasnodar pulled a goal back as Otar Martsvaladze turned in a close range effort of Yura Movssiyan’s effort but that would be as close as it would get as Andrey Kobelev’s Krylya Sovetov claimed the 2-1 victory.

In a contest that did not resemble its final outcome, Andrey Kobelev’s Krylya Sovetov held Lokomotiv Moscow to a nil draw in match day nineteen of the Sogaz Championship of Russia.

From the opening whistle new Lokomotiv manager José Couceiro pushed his forces forward, yet each turn of the screw was met with Krylya goalkeeper Sergey Veremko forming a human wall. In rapid-fire succession, efforts from Dmitri Sychev and Maicon were turned aside as the Railwayman search for the magical elixir to break the deadlock.

At the break, Mr. Kobelev showed a fearless tenacity as he ushered in Volodymyr Priyomov and Sergei Petrov for Anton Bober and Anton Sosnin, to team up with Pavel Yakovlev as Krylya pushed ahead with three strikers. Two minutes shy of the hour, Lokomotiv missed a golden chance to take the lead as Dmitri Sychev could not handle Maicon’s cross from the left by-line and turned the effort aside with the goal beckoning. On the hour Victor Obinna debuted for Lokomotiv as the attacking wave continued, yet with nothing to show for their efforts. At the sixty-fifth minute the newcomer sent a laser cross from the right by-line that Dmitri Sychev sent into the net but was immediately chalked off by a controversial offside ruling. Lokomotiv continued to press through the balance of time but were not up to snuff as the match concluded as a nil draw.
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