October 5, Geolog Stadium
Tyumen: Sokolov; Pavlenko, Danilov, Guz’, Shlyapkin; Kanaev, Klenkin; Samsonov (Telenkov 45), Cleyton (Baryshnikov 90+3), Mamtov; Savin (Korobka 45)
Goals: Cleyton (28, 51), Mamtov (80), Korobka (90+3)
Sibir: Tsygan, Golovotenco, Edunov (Vikhodil 52), Rogochiy, Bukhryakov, Dudolev (Zhitnev 43), Adamov (Svezhov 57), Chebutarov, Gladushev (Ivanov 70), Astafev, Markosov
Goal: Markosov (43)
Man of the Match: Cleyton
Cleyton’s double broke FC Tyumen’s barren winless run as manager Konstantin Galkin’s makeshift backline held firm to see off struggling Sibir Novosibirsk, who had beaten the then league leaders Tosno last week, in the dreary drizzle.
Sergey Danilov’s solid display out of position partenering Dmitry Guz at centre back was marred only by his momentary indecision that gifted Armenian striker Mikhail Markosov an opening to rifle home a barely deserved equaliser on the stroke of half time.
Captain Khasan Mamtov capitalised on a contentious decision by the referee to overule his linesman’s flag and apply a precise finish from just inside the box to extend the hosts’ lead late on.
Evgeniy Savin’s lack of killer instinct saw him replaced by Ukranian wideman Vladimir Korobka at half time, and the substitute topped a fantastic cameo with a deserved tap-in during the final moments of added time.
The match began with a minute’s silence in memory of the recently deceased Spartak Moscow legend Fyodor Cherenkov, immaculately observed by the lowest crowd of the season.
The guile and creativity that the former USSR star was famous for were evident from the first whistle as Cleyton’s rapid stepover sold Eugeniu Cebotaru before his powerful low shot was turned round the post by Nikolai Tsygan.
Two minutes later, Oleg Samsonov’s pull back found the Brazilian near the edge of the area, where he skipped past his marker and fed Mamtov, whose shot was blocked.
Still inside the first ten minutes, the home skipper threaded a pass through to the star summer signing, but he was crowded out and couldn’t get a shot away.
The trademark early energy bubbled over into over enthusiasm when Samsonov broke free with a four on four situation, but Cleyton, Savin and Mamtov all raced into the box ahead of the ex-Krasnodar midfielder’s poorly placed cut-back.
After 18 minutes, a three-on-one counter attack out of the blue from Sibir presented a golden opportunity to steal the impetus from Tyumen, but Artem Dudolev was calmly shepherded out wide and blocked by Danilov with Markosov and Russian international Adamov left screaming in acres of space.
A minute later, Savin was inches away from converting his first goal from open play for his new club, but was under too much pressure to connect with Andrey Pavlenko’s skimming cross.
Adamov showed his strength as he bundled over Danilov, but the emergency defender stood up to the Euro 2008 squad player, as Dudolev looked more likely to cause Tyumen problems.
Cleyton showed he isn’t afraid of the physical side either, as he held off a robust challenge to carry Samsonov’s through ball into the area and smash an emphatic finish inside Tsygan’s near post from twelve yards before the half hour mark.
Ten minutes later, a second warning shot was only kept out by an instinctive Renat Sokolov save from Anton Ragochiy’s close range back post header. The hurried clearance found Adamov, who breezed past Pavlenko and delivered a teasing cross that found nobody.
A ‘goal from the dressing room’ wasted Tyumen’s dominance when a long ball bounced off Danilov and fell kindly to the expectant Markosov, who had no trouble slotting past Sokolov from 15 yards.
Galkin responded to the sucker punch by making two changes at half time, bringing on Nikita Telenkov and Korobka for Samosonov and the out of sorts Savin, but it was Sibir who nearly stole a march on their rivals seconds after the break.
Maxim Astafyev used his pace out wide to cross for Adamov, who held off Guz with his back to goal, before turning and shooting low for Sokolov to palm out. The ensuing scramble was eventually smothered to avoid a scarcely believable second for Sibir.
Not content to lose the limelight, Cleyton twisted and turned his markers before sending a low effort a foot wide from the edge of the box three minutes later.
With five minutes of the second half played, Pavlenko’s whipped cross was majestically helped on by Danil Klenkin’s delicate touch behind his standing leg to the ravenous Cleyton who couldn’t miss this time from a yard out.
Korobka then bamboozled the experienced Denis Bukhryakov three times at five minute intervals with wonderful dexterity, before the dazed full back was put out of his misery by a second yellow for a high boot on Mamtov with twenty minutes remaining.
His intelligent invention offered a real threat, but he showed a little rustiness as he overran the ball after ghosting past Bukhryakov and Cebotaru, before missing an open goal from a tight angle.
Just after the hour mark, Pavlenko intercepted a stray pass outside his own area, and sped past three flimsy challenges to find himself clear in the opposition box, but his shot was eventually blocked.
After Bukhryakov’s dismissal, Sibir’s fourth this season already, it was very comfortable for Tyumen, but they had to wait till only ten minutes remained for a third goal.
Klenkin split Tomas Vychodil and Viktor Golovatenco with Mamtov on the last defender’s shoulder, and despite the linesman’s flag raising for offside, Mamtov’s cool sidefooted finish was allowed to stand as Cleyton had not touched the ball on the way through.
A visibly frustrated Sergey Kirsanov had to be calmed down by the officials as the Sibir manager ventured out of his technical area to offer his opinion on the decision, before kicking an advertising board.
It was a just reward for the skipper’s hard work, as he had turned his marker five minutes earlier to feed Korobka down the right channel, but the winger was closed down.
The final ten minutes of normal time passed largely without incident as Tyumen’s impressive forward line attempted to exploit the extra spaces.
Mamtov was perhaps a little greedy as he took on three defenders himself with Korobka and Cleyton in support as the 90 minutes ticked over, but by then the match was over as a contest.
He turned provider deep into injury time as he unselfishly headed Cleyton’s deep cross back past Tsyugan for Korobka to seal a morale boosting win.
Youth team product Denis Baryshnikov was introduced for his debut in place of Cleyton after the goal, but by the time the stadium announcer had boomed out his name, the match was already over.
Galkin admitted it was a relief to break the back of the poor run of results, especially with the injury list including vice captain Sergey Golyatkin, with Anzhi Makhachkala the next visitors to the Geolog in two weeks.
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