CSKA Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg won their matches in the 20th round of the Russian football premier league defeating Terek Grozny (1-0 away) and Arsenal Tula (2-0 home), respectively. Both clubs have closed the distance from the leader of the capital's championship: before the break for the games of the national team, the backlog of the main pursuers is six points.

Terek - CSKA - 0: 1

According to the head coach of the army team Viktor Goncharenko, his team deservedly celebrated their success.

“We know that it’s hard for everyone to play in Grozny,” the official CSKA website quotes the Belarusian specialist. - Terek is a good team, the pressure of the stands and the aura of the stadium allow us to show very good football.

We have won a well-deserved victory. The first half was under our control and we were closer to scoring the second goal.

When "Terek" rebuilt, pressure began on our goal, moments began to arise. But we have an experienced enough team to handle this situation. "

“This is not an experiment, each of them should use the chance,” the specialist noted. - If I put them, then I was one hundred percent sure. The guys showed themselves on a good side. Satisfied with Lunev, he conveyed confidence to the defense. Tsallagov had a good second half. So did Ernani, who looked convincing. We played with confidence. I am pleased with the way we operate in the final stages of the attacks. "

As Lunev explained, Lucescu's decision did not surprise him.

“I was not surprised when I found out that I play today,” quotes the goalkeeper “Championship.com”. - I came here to play. I played to zero, but there are still some shortcomings. The main thing is that we won, we need to continue to act this way.

There is a bit of excitement before every game. We try to win in every meeting, I hope that we will further reduce the gap with Spartak.

Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic, who played for the first time in the "start" in the Premier League, also considered it necessary to speak in front of the journalists.

“There were several chances in the first half - they didn't score. But in the second it succeeded, - stated the star veteran. - Playing in the first line-up? I don't think it was a transfer to the reserve. Everything takes time, adaptation. I hope that the team will succeed in the championship. We have our own principles of the game. We won this match, we will look further. It will be hard after the break.

"Spartacus"? We must win ourselves, and not wait for gifts from our rivals. I think it is very important that we did not miss today, although they had a few moments. After the break for the games, the national team is waiting for us. I think this will be one of the most heavy games in the season ".

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"What's question?" Ivanovic furious after defeat at Arsenal (video)

Arsenal earned three points "

I do not communicate with the press, - this phrase from Artem Dziuba was the first that journalists heard from the players after the match. By the way, before that, Zenit's forward had never refused to communicate with such a wording. Apparently, Artyom was offended by something or someone.

Branislav Ivanovich was also offended, but after talking with journalists. The Serb did not like one of the questions from a reporter for a well-known TV channel.

- Why did the game turn out to be difficult for Zenit?
- Every match is tough. We tried to score an early goal, and we didn't succeed. The teams that come here put everything on defense, play on counterattacks. Arsenal played good match... Honestly, they deserve three points. We didn't play at the level we need to win.

The first dangerous moment came at the Arsenal goal at the end of the first half. Why did the ball go so hard to their goal?
- Every game at our stadium is hard. We are ready for this and are trying. Every opponent comes here to defend themselves. It's a normal thing for them to choose how to play. The ball didn’t have speed, it didn’t roll as fast as it should to give it an advantage. We didn't create moments. Getting ready for the next game.

- Are you satisfied with the game in defense?
- What a question, - at that moment the Serb flared up.

- Except for a conceded ball.
- I never say that one player is to blame. The whole team plays defense. And in the attack too. If they had scored a goal, it would have been a completely different game. As a defender, I cannot be happy with the game if we miss.

- The lawn was stitched with synthetics in some places. Didn't it stop you from playing?
- Of course not.

- Did the two missed goals affect the team?
- I have not seen the moments. I don’t know what to say about them, ”Ivanovich said sadly, and at the end he once again aggressively expressed his dissatisfaction with the journalists, who were interested in defense.

What's question? - Ivanovich repeated angrily, and all the time he bored the journalist's eyes to the door.

"Zenit has a lot of Argentines, they had a long flight."

The Tula were more peaceful, but they also refused to communicate with journalists. Kirill Kombarov twisted his face at the request for an interview, Igor Shevchenko completely ignored the journalist's question, and Sergei Tkachev sent Igor Gorbatenko to talk.

We are very glad that we were able to take three points in the match with a difficult opponent. We knew that Zenit always had more possession of the ball and controlled the game. We sank back and tried to use our chances to counterattack. In one of them, they managed to escape and score a goal.

- Did the break for the national teams negatively affect Zenit?
- I think yes. They still have a lot of Argentines who have made a big flight. Plus, other players from the national teams flew to their teams. And we systematically prepared, held a friendly match (against the Belarusian "Torpedo-BelAZ" - editor's note).

Articles | "They didn't cut the lamb!" The secret of the first victory over Zenit in the Premier League

- Was luck on your side?
- Yes, it was lucky that the referee canceled two goals against our goal.

- Are these your offside traps?
- No, just a coincidence, the Zenit players just ran ahead of time.

- How do you like the field and the stadium?
- The field is peculiar. But it's nice to play football: there are many fans, the stadium is huge.

Let with a slight delay, but we will sum up the results of the match “Arsenal” against “Zenith” and draw some conclusions.

The defeat of “Zenith” from Tula “Arsenal” was perceived by the majority of football observers as a sensation, as a surprise. Leitmotif: underestimation of the opponent, departure of a number of players to the national teams, etc. Everything is analyzed starting from Zenit. And “Arsenal” are presented as a team that was just lucky that day. Is it so?

Tula "Arsenal" in recent years has changed three head coaches and completely renewed the club management. After the hasty departure of Dmitry Alenichev, the club and the team were "stormy". Then Bulatov with a dull and monotonous game. True, she gave her result, but pushed the fans out of the stadium.

That super-open, straight guy-shirt Sergei Pavlov. He was frankly lucky, on Bulatov's luggage, adding a little emotionality, he brought the team to the FNL, but further. Both he and the club management did not know what to do? Hence the massive invitation of "pensioners", observation of the attacker from "Napoli" (not from the Tula boutique?), Then ... Enough. If it were not for the bold decision to replace the club's management and change the head coach, then we would have played in the FNL this season and would have continued to watch the "team's approaches to the stands after the match." There was simply no other.

The arrival of Adzhoyev was received with hostility: "barbecue", "sawing budgets" and so on, so on. And Kiryakov's appointment looked very strange. But ... Winners are not judged! The main task for the season was completed - a place in the Premier League was saved! And how this was achieved, we will leave it at the mercy of the losers. In the interzone, Arsenal were not seen to be hyperactive in the transfer market, the team had minimal renewal. And if you believe the management, then almost all the players came in the status of free agents, i.e. is free. Ajoev and his team focused on inviting a cool coach to Tula, who, in a short period of time, would be able to establish a team game and provide the team with a comfortable advancement in the tournament. The choice fell on Miodrag Bozovic.

The Montenegrin specialist has vast experience of working in Russia. Practice shows that he is more comfortable working in the provinces. Apparently, the fans there are simpler and the tasks for the season are so ambitious. And most importantly, Bozho knows how to stage a team game. In Tula, this has been proven once again. Arsenal's Fall 2017 look is a manageable team that plays according to the clear tactical drawing of the artist Bozovic. Shades are different from bright to frankly black, but the latter are few. As a result, the Tula club for the first time during its participation in the Premier League is now not in the relegation zone or transitional matches in terms of points scored, but closer to the Europa League. And if not two home defeats from “Tosno” and “Amkar”? It's scary to imagine what would happen in Tula now! Although this result is more than worthy today.

Several takeaways:

1. “Arsenal” today represents a team that can be safely attributed not to outsiders of the tournament, but to strong aprons that can beat any team, both at home and away.
2. If Bozovic finds a boost in the winter off-season, Arsenal may well be in the top eight
3. The construction of a club at the level of the Premier League is proceeding slowly, but with a confident forward movement forward.

The main sensation of the game weekend in the Premier League took place in St. Petersburg, where Zenit lost to Tula Arsenal - 0: 1.

First time

This match, like all others in the 13th round, began with a minute of silence in memory of Zenit's sports director Konstantin Sarsania. The "blue-white-blue" themselves played today in mourning bandages.

The very same game in the first half turned out to be extremely dull and expressionless. Roberto Mancini's squad started the meeting at high speeds, but this is a distinctive feature of the Italian team, which is enabled by default. It was not possible to extract anything intelligible from the speed of action. Moreover, Zenit had no territorial advantage as such. It’s not in the style of Bozovic’s teams to park the bus. Therefore, Arsenal also attacked.

The first of the two dangerous moments in the half was created in the 12th minute. Shatov cut a pass to the far corner of the goalkeeper's corner to Kokorin, who threw the sphere on Driussi, and Sebastian struck with his head - just above the gate! In Zenit's game, a lot came together in long passes with Kokorin and Driussi opening up. But everything that the Petersburgers created was too readable.

The Tula also did not succeed in attacking: they worked out the defense of the hosts in good faith, and the gunners lacked the accuracy of small movements in order to create problems at the gate of Lunev. The result of all this - 0 shots on target of the opponent. But the leader of the championship was still accurate once. In the 40th minute, Erokhin decided on a long-range strike, and Gabulov had a lot of effort to pull the "round" from under his left rack! With a relatively calm game, the teams went on a break, and, to be honest, nothing foreshadowed a radical change in the game.

Second half

And to some extent it happened. Mancini changed Shatov to Dziuba, the scheme changed, and the attitude of Zenit too. Almost immediately, the “blue-white-blue” organized a scoring attack: Krishito hung from the standard to the left offside line, from where Ivanovich shot Gabulov's goal. 1: 0? No! Offside, moreover, two meters. The referee team worked well, and the Serb himself seemed to understand that he was closer to the goal than the last defender.

Five minutes later, Sebastian Driussi got another chance. After Smolnikov's pass, the Argentine striker from close range struck his head - again by. "Zenith" in those minutes took possession of an impressive territorial advantage, which was then reinforced by Miodrag Bozovic. Yes, yes, there is no mistake - at the beginning of the final third of the match, the Arsenal coach changed striker Igor Shevchenko for Anri Khagush, who often plays on the defensive.

A little later, Mancini replied: Leandro Paredes instead of Daler Kuzyaev. Yes, fresh forces were needed in the center of the field. In the 68th minute, Zenit scored the second goal - and again after filing from the set, and again offside! This time Dziuba scored, and he was in the wrong position. Here the Zenit coaches surrounded the reserve referee, but the replay showed us all that this goal was also canceled rightfully.

But after 6-7 minutes something unexpected and almost unbelievable happened. A quick counterattack by Arsenal, Kirill Kombarov cut a chic diagonal from the right flank to the left corner of the goalkeeper's room, where Lunev tried to get to the ball, but in vain - Kangwa was closer to the projectile, and it was he who struck past the goalkeeper and exactly into the goal - 0: 1! At the beginning of the review, it was written that Bozovic does not really like "buses" - but after the goal was scored, it seems that Graf had no choice but to change the scheme of his game to 10-0-0.

Zenit had only one chance for the next ten minutes, when Kokorin entered the penalty area from the right and shot wide. Then, at Arsenal, Grigalava replaced Alvarez, and at Zenit, Poloz replaced Erokhin. Moreover, the St. Petersburg replacement turned out to be quite ridiculous. Erokhin did everything in order to quickly leave the field, but Mancini had not yet had time to explain to Poloz what he should do.

By the way, Dmitry could have scored with the first touch after Smolnikov's throw - the ball went off his feet and flew past the left rack. About four minutes before the end of regular time, Ilya Maksimov came out instead of Goran Chaushic.

Results of the match

That’s what they didn’t expect, they didn’t really expect it. One shot on target - one goal. Tula "Arsenal" becomes a specialist in championship leaders. First Krasnodar, now Zenit. So you can get to the European Cup zone. Of course, not without a great deal of luck, Bozovic's charges took their three points. But the Petersburgers themselves are to blame. Until Arsenal put the bus at their own penalty area, there were chances. In the second half, with the transition to total defense, it was already less, but the canopies in the Dziuba area should have played. Did not work out. And now the intrigue flares up with new strength, because CSKA got close to Lokomotiv and Zenit. The hotter the derby of the two capitals will be next week!

Silenced Zenit players. Some of them refused post-match comments, some pretended not to hear the request for an interview. Some didn’t make it to the mixed zone at all, leaving the stadium in a roundabout way. Still, such a powerful blow to pride! Zenit has not won a single trophy in the last two seasons, so even leaving the Russian Cup is extremely unpleasant. "What is there to talk about?" - spread his hands upset Vyacheslav Malafeev, which teammates gave up to be torn apart by the attackers of the opponent. ventured to base Hulk, Ezequiel Garay, Axel Witsel despite the fact that Zenit will face CSKA and Bayer over the next six days. Did not help.

“Today's result is a big shock for us,” -. We released the game 10 minutes before the end of regular time. This is my responsibility. This defeat annoys me, my headquarters, the club - all of us. 10 minutes before the final whistle, we had everything to go further, but a couple of mistakes - and we lost control, while the guests worked very well. Both teams had their chances during the meeting. We could score 3: 1, but in the end we lost. Naturally, this should not have happened. I'm very disappointed. This is my mistake".

Still Portuguese Main coach Zenit is confident that the defeat at Arsenal and 120 minutes of tough play will not affect the state of the St. Petersburg team in the match against CSKA on Saturday:

“Of course, we are all waiting for CSKA, but that's a different story, because it will be a championship match where Zenit is now leading. We need to get together and discuss mistakes. It is clear that now we have not an ideal situation. Everything would be perfect if we made it to the quarterfinals. However, another story awaits us in Moscow. Now it is important to recover psychologically, to regain concentration, at the same time, you must not throw the past match out of your head so as not to repeat your mistakes. "

The mentor of the Tula "Gunners", whose team has never won in 11 rounds of the Russian championship and scored only three goals,.

“To be honest, I lost my voice,” Alenichev admitted. - When we came across Zenit, I was delighted, because it is from this level that the rivals acquire invaluable experience. Games like today, especially for our players, remain in the memory for life. This is a very memorable moment for the guys. I am glad that the team played freely, was not afraid of Zenit stars, played a very entertaining match and showed quality football. I had a lot of chances to score, as did the opponent. Maybe to some extent we were lucky, because we were losing 2: 0, and Zenit had to bring the match to victory. The guys showed fighting qualities. And extra time is a lottery, because opponents play on fatigue. We were lucky that we were able to catch Zenit on a counterattack. I thank the guys for the wonderful evening that we presented to the Tula and, I hope, St. Petersburg fans. Now I am 99 percent sure that after this match Arsenal will gain points in the championship. I think the victory in St. Petersburg will give us confidence. "

The Arsenal players, of course, were in a completely different mood than their Zenit counterparts. A pupil of the Zenit Academy, defender Andrei Vasiliev, said in an interview with reporters that he felt special pleasure, a storm of emotions from victory in his hometown. Indeed, it seemed.

“This is beyond words! It is very pleasant to defeat your home club at your home stadium, in your city. With this score, and even in a match with the best team in the country, it is difficult to escape, but we found the strength to play our game from the bottom. We used Zenit's mistakes in defense, showed character, which allowed us to win. It didn't seem to me that the owners were relaxed. Zenit is very strong, it's hard to play against him. Of course, we have a desire to compete for the Russian Cup. We play to win in every match. Regardless of who is against us - Zenit or Gazovik. Weren't you promised the players increased bonuses for the victory over Zenit? No comments!".

According to the Arsenal defender Sergey Sukharev, the leader of the Premier League relaxed with the score 2: 0.

“Awesome gaming experience! We won against the currently strongest team in the Russian championship. I think our victory is deserved. We won at the expense of character, dedication and, of course, goals scored. Probably, the Zenit players have acquired imposingness. Still, 2: 0 is a comfortable score. Didn't expect to miss. Why do many players at Arsenal grow beards like they do in hockey? This is how the playoffs are starting now. Are Arsenal capable of winning the Russian Cup? Anything can be! "

Tula Gunners midfielder Vladislav Ryzhkov just like his coach, he hopes to improve in the championship after a strong-willed victory over Zenit in the Russian Cup:

“It is impossible not to tune in to Zenit. On the contrary, they probably had problems with the mood today. It's clear. Our position in the Russian championship speaks for itself. We had good chances to score in the first half, and the outcome was fantastic, of course. While I have only emotions, it is difficult to comment on something. Everyone wants to show good game Petersburg, and we succeeded. If you watch the matches with Arsenal, you have seen that we create a lot of chances to score, we simply cannot use them. Perhaps the class is not enough, but we are growing, I think, we will break through in the championship. "