Location: Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow. Time: 1:30 PM. Attendance: 27,000.
Score: Spartak 3-0 CSKA (Ozbiliz 40′; Kombarov 53′; Parshivlyuk 59′). Bookings: Glushakov 45′; Ozbiliz 47′; Nababkin 65′; Movsisyan 65′.
Spartak XI: Pesyakov, Makeev, Parshivlyuk, D. Kombarov, Carlos (Suchy 75′), Costa (Yakovlev 63′), Ozbiliz (McGeady 85′), Carioca, Jurado, Glushakov, Movsisyan.
CSKA XI: Akinfeev, Wernbloom, Ignashevich, Honda, Zuber (Vitinho 61′), Nababkin, Musa, Cauna (Milanov 69′), Tosic (Bazelyuk 74′), V. Berezutski, Schennikov.
The measure of glee from Spartak fans at the end of the match just accented the extent to which CSKA have dominated this derby, and this city, in recent years. The Army Men have won 10 titles, the UEFA Cup and made it to the Champions League quarterfinals since Spartak last won something. The fact that the head-to-head matchup has been a bit closer matters little.
But by winning 3-0 and dominating from start to finish, Spartak can at least forget its troubles for a few days and Valery Karpin can go to bed tonight, absolutely confident his job is safe, after a month of rumors.
That’s what derby thrashings do for a team - erase a multitude of sins. Though, in Spartak’s case, 3rd in the league entering today’s showdown, the “sins” had been largely fabricated, rooted in overreaction to a Europa League dismissal from St. Gallen and loss in Perm.
Coaches harp on the need to always look ahead, not behind, win or lose. Spartak have done that, bouncing back from a 5th-place finish last season to move level with 1st-place CSKA on 20 points through nine weeks, while boasting a league-leading +10 goal differential.
CSKA, unlike their rivals, have a much deeper bank of trust built up with the fans, and despite being outscored 6-0 this week by Bayern and Spartak, the Red and Blue fans, 2,800-strong, supported their men until the final whistle.
Leonid Slutsky, however, has some issues in midfield to sort out, missing starters Alan Dzagoev and Rasmus Elm, as well as his only experienced pure forward, Seydou Doumbia.
Keisuke Honda clearly could have used his teammates, as Spartak deployed Denis Glushakov and Carioca to shut him down, forcing the bulk of the offense to run through Steven Zuber and Zoran Tosic on the wings, with an undersized Ahmed Musa all by himself up front.
Zuber and Musa were the most effective, breaking into Spartak’s box occasionally, but none of their attempts seriously threatened goalie Sergei Pesyakov.
At the other end, Spartak enjoyed the vast majority of possession. The first moment came in the 24th minute, as Tino Costa went unmarked on a corner from Jurado, but headed wide right. Ten minutes later, Akinfeev had to dive hard to his left to keep Movsisyan from scoring.
Soon after, the Armenian forward had an even better chance, as the ball bounced his way near the post, with only a goal-line deflection keeping it out.
Finally, in the 40th minute, Costa unfurled a ball to the far post, where Georgi Schennikov lost track of Armenian international Aras Ozbiliz, who made no mistake heading home.
Akinfeev was livid after the goal, screaming at Schennikov from the edge of the box, as the left back morosely walked away. But nothing Akinfeev could say would solve CSKA’s problems - a complete inability to hold possession or provide any threat on the counter.
Neither side made a halftime substitution - there was little either manager could do with each bench weakened by injuries. So Spartak, the better off for its depth at midfield, put the nail in the coffin early.
Captain Dmitri Kombarov made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute, heading into an empty net thanks to Joao Carlos’s beautiful flick-on after a Jurado corner.
Six minutes later, Kombarov broke through CSKA’s back line on the left flank, His cross found Sergei Parshivlyuk running free down the center of the box for another strike. 3-0 Spartak.
A few weeks ago, amidst heavy rain, Spartak eeked out a 2-1 win at home over cellar-dwelling Tom. That afternoon, half the stadium refused to support the team and Karpin may have been dismissed had Spartak not erased an early 1-0 deficit.
Today, Karpin earned loud applause both entering and leaving the press conference. For now, everyone’s happy. The team, for holding together in the midst of adversity, as well as the fans and media - their strategy of dumping on the team after misfortune appears to be working.
Man of the Match
Should be the entire Spartak team, but captain Dmitri Kombarov was one that stood out the most. He linked well with Jurado and Tino Costa and was very good during most of Spartak’s attacking moves. With a goal and an assist to his name, he enjoyed one of the best games in his career.
Best Play
The opening goal kicked off the derby today. After Movsisyan missed a golden chance to put Spartak in front, Tino Costa sent in a cheeky cross that found Ozbiliz. The Armenian, who sneaked behind Shchennikov, slotted in the ball coolly to beat a helpless Akinfeev. The timing was perfect, too, sending Spartak to the changing room with more confidence. It also changed the second half, with both teams trying to play at a higher tempo.
Quotes
Valery Karpin:
“We talked to the guys about last year’s 2-2 game (when Spartak conceded a 2-0 lead in the 2nd half). We didn’t watch the Bayern - CSKA game.”
On Joao Carlos needing to be subbed out: “I hope we don’t have another injury to a central defender.”
Leonid Slutsky:
“One team had a big advantage. It wasn’t us, so we lost completely deservedly. When a team loses by that margin, the head coach is most at fault. Everything here is completely understandable.”
Spartak defender Marek Suchy:
“It was good for us to score at the end of the first half, and after we got the second the game was ours. CSKA did not play well, too, and that helped us to win.”
“Fans can voice their own opinion. After the big win, the fans are happy and things are getting better. Hopefully we will get their faith back.”
Spartak center back Joao Carlos:
“When you win a great derby like this it gives you confidence. We will have two more games on Wednesday and Sunday, so I hope we can keep ourselves at this level.”
“It’s fantastic to have support like this from the fans. I was surprised, too. Before this I played at Anzhi and we only got the support when we played in Makhachkala. Now in Moscow they made me feel like home. With this kind of support you’ll get a win against anybody.”
Notes
Fans before the match weren’t happy about a security ban on umbrellas, but thankfully the rain held off, making for a chilly but dry afternoon.
CSKA did unfurl two small banner in the 2nd half - “You draw stars, while we win titles,” in reference to Spartak now boasting 4 stars, after counting its Soviet championships.
The second said, “Beat your own, so that outsiders will laugh.” Not sure what that means. Perhaps someone can help me out here.
Joao Carlos and Tino Costa both got a big round of applause when substituted. Costa had the assist on Ozbiliz’s goal, while Carlos flicked on Jurado’s corner before Kombarov headed in the second goal.
Young CSKA forward Konstantin Bazelyuk had little impact as a late sub, but stood out for his confidence. At one point, he was visibly frustrated with Vasili Berezutski for not feeding him in the center. Later, he charged Pesyakov to force the Spartak goalie to stop stalling time.
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