Fernando Torres celebrates his goal. Source: ferrnandotorres

An exciting London derby was underway today as current Premier League leaders Chelsea put Wenger's side to the test at Emirates Stadium. With a match on home turf and a 61:44 record of wins against the Blues, Arsenal looked to be the favorites. Of course, the persisting question going in to this season continues to sound like a broken record - can Arsenal manage without Robin van Persie? Perhaps one player doesn't make the team, but today the Gunners looked like they could use a goal-scoring forward. A crowd of over 60,000 watched as the chances began to sway in Arsenal's favor, cut short by the inevitable set piece goal from Fernando Torres. Perhaps it was Diaby's early substitution that rocked the boat, or the fact that Wenger didn't include Mertesacker in today's lineup. Either way, poor marking by the defense, especially Koscielny, gave Chelsea the lead. Juan Mata's great delivery allowed Torres to volley the ball in with his right foot, his 5th goal in 10 appearances for Chelsea this year. It's safe to say that Torres is having a much more productive season, not only in scoring goals, but in setting up dangerous counters. He's the kind of player the Gunners are currently lacking. Referee Martin Atkinson denied Torres a penalty after his one-on-one counter ended with his going down in the box. Replays showed that there was indeed no connection with Koscielny; the Spaniard was already going down. Chelsea have never lost their 15 Premier League games refereed by Atkinson; his presence must have been a lucky charm. Torres scored an offside goal after a pass from Mata and continued to be active throughout the half. Chelsea were significantly ahead in possession, though Arsenal were getting most of the chances. Cazorla, Gervinho, and, at times, Podolski set up a series of potentially great attacks. None of them posed too much of a threat for Petr Cech. The Gunners were finally able to equalize a few minutes before halftime after a cross by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the right flank gave Gervinho his 4th goal of the season. Despite Arsenal pushing the game more in the last ten minutes, Oscar had a nice potential attempt for Chelsea, and Torres shot the ball into the side netting in a last-minute effort.  

Arsenal came back strong at the start of the second half, with Podolski setting up a nice attack in the box. Cazorla missed the near post, though he was only a few meters away from the net. Chelsea exploited their counters, and for good reason. Vermaelen brought down Torres, earning Di Matteo's side yet another free kick and another goal. Juan Mata's delivery went straight into the net, though it seemed questionable whether Koscielny's leg touched the ball before it went in. Podolski finally tested Petr Cech with a close-range header, but the keeper came through for the guests. As the game evened out again, Arsenal's attacks came in waves. Olivier Giroud, who came in for Podolski, tested the keeper and got a corner for the home team after his shot ricocheted off a defender and forced Cech to reach for the ball. A late attempt by Wenger's side was saved by the inside of the crossbar, though Gervinho was offside. Victor Moses found space but shot the ball over the bar. Arsenal's last hurrah soon followed. Cazorla's shot teased the upper left corner, while Giroud wasted his moment, dribbling away, shooting too late, and not following the ball's motion. Chelsea walked away with 16 points, and rightfully so. As ESPN commentators Ian Darke and Steve McManaman suggested, Di Matteo's side simply have more players to mix and match. John Terry played a great defensive game, especially late in the second half. Transfers like Hazard and Oscar are shaping the midfield, while Moses proved his abilities in the wing.

Arsenal came off of a 6-1 win over Coventry in the Capital One Cup to a loss that could have been prevented. While Di Matteo can certainly be credited for his tactics this season, the Blues were already pretty consistent before he came in. During Arsenal's 7 years without a trophy, Chelsea have won 8 trophys, including 4 FA Cups, 2 Premier League titles, and the coveted status of Champions of Europe. 

If there was any irony to be found, it came from both sides. It was the first time this season that Chelsea scored from set pieces. Arsenal played a more organized game than the guests and even created more set pieces, but there's too big a gap in productivity between players like Cazorla and RVP. Whether or not that explains the 7-point gap between Arsenal and the Premier League leaders or Arsenal's first loss of the season is debatable. So far, it looks like Lukas Podolski and Gervinho will have to step up their game to help Wenger's side compete with the front-runners. They've certainly got the potential, but can the duo help their team win their first trophy in 7 years? We've got the rest of the season to find out. 



Barclays Premier League - 6th Matchweek
Saturday, September 29, 7:45AM EST

Arsenal vs. Chelsea - 1:2 (1:1)
Arena: Emirates Stadium/Ashburton Grove (London)
Referee: Martin Atkinson (Leeds)
Goals: 
0:1 Fernando Torres (Asst. Juan Mata) (20')
1:1 Gervinho (Asst. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) (43')
1:2 Juan Mata (53')


Published on Get Real Premier.

On Friday, September 28, the Russia Football Union's disciplinary committee, in accordance with the rules of the RFU, has eliminated FC Torpedo Moscow from the Russia Cup and has given FC Dynamo Moscow a 3-0 technical victory. The team has not only been disqualified, but has also been fined 300,000 rubles (about $9,666) and forced to play their next three home games in an empty Eduard Streltsov Stadium.

However, both teams were fined 200,000 rubles (about $6,444) for pyrotechnics used by supporters during the match. The RFU's decision concerned the match between FC Torpedo Moscow and Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday earlier this week, during which a brawl between supporters of both teams broke out outside the stadium and series of projectiles, including pyrotechnics, were thrown onto the pitch during the game.

A mere five minutes into the second half, a group of hooligans that consistently lit (and threw) pyrotechnics forced referee Timur Arslanbekov to make a difficult decision. He he had to stop the game not once, and not even twice during the match after numerous projectiles - as well as a thick fog - marred the pitch.

A fairly calm ten minutes marked the start of an eventful half - and the only full half - of First Division club Torpedo Moscow's match against current Premier League underdogs Dynamo Moscow in the 1/16th of the Russia Cup. The guests created more chances and looked to be the favorites of the match, despite Torpedo's dignified and at times tactful game. Former Salzburg striker Jakob Jantscher was active from the get-go, finding space on the right side of the box. Dynamo's Kevin Kuranyi made a run and had a nice shot that unfortunately went in behind the net. The guest team's captain, Igor Semshov, nearly opened the score himself, but Torpedo's keeper, 25-year-old Aleksandr Dovbynya, went in for a brilliant one-handed save. The guests got quite a few set pieces as well and made great use of them. In fact, Dynamo's two goals both came from Jantscher's corner kick deliveries. Defender Vladimir Rykov scored a double, getting in two headers from the corners. Right after his first goal and a save by Dovbynya, the referee called for a timeout as fans began to light the pyrotechnics. The match resumed shortly after, only to be cut short for another minute as buckets of water were used to put out the flares. The crowds appeared to have calmed down as the home team created some danger near the net. There was some hesitation with the final shot, and Dynamo keeper Roman Berezovsky was right on the ball. Though possession was swaying a bit in favor of the home team, their opportunities were slim. An offside call disallowed Jantscher's goal right before the referee paused the game for a third time after a petard flew right onto the pitch. The ref had lost some of his patience, and the teams took a longer break. Torpedo's captain Boyarintsev signaled for his teammates to head out of the pitch as he addressed the crowds together with Dynamo's skipper Igor Semshov. 

Hooligans light pyrotechnics during the game. Photo: © РИА Новости. Антон Денисов.

The game resumed five minutes later, continuing where it left off. Jantscher took another corner for Dynamo as Rykov netted in his second header right into the upper left corner. Torpedo's Ivan Rodin was booked for a foul on Adrian Ropotan, though the commentator thought that the supporters should have gotten the first yellow. Rykov gave away a set piece and got his yellow after cutting short a Torpedo player's one-on-one run. The home team cleared the ball and set up another attack that ended with Jantscher's right-footed shot, but the attempt was apprehended by Dovbynya, who positioned himself well for the save. The locals were suspiciously well-behaved as they applauded their team's last-minute attempt. 

The home team was motivated as ever at the start of what looked to be an exciting second half. Their skipper missed another goal-scoring moment, sending the ball wide of the left post. Berezovsky came through for Dynamo with a very difficult save, while a defender cleared the ball from the goal line just as it appeared to be going in. A Torpedo player thought that the ball went in, but the referee was convinced that it hadn't. Even the replay shown on TV channel Russia-2 was difficult to decipher - from one angle, most of the ball appeared to have crossed the line, while other vantage points showed otherwise. Torpedo's skipper finally scored for his team after a long pass into the box, though Berezovsky had almost reached the ball to make the save. This time it was Boyarintsev who took the ball and stopped the game after more and more petards filled the pitch with smoke. The skipper repeatedly addressed his supporters, but his requests to cease the throwing and igniting of projecticles were ultimately ignored.

Denis Boyarintsev addresses the supporters.

Igor Semshov addresses the supporters.

Though the fog over the pitch subsided fairly quickly, the throwing of pyrotechnics created potential danger to players of both teams as well as the referee.

The referee stopped the game once again, this time for good.

Commentators ruled out a false assumption that the actions of the hooligans were aimed at Dynamo skipper and midfielder Igor Semshov, who had a 7-year spell at Torpedo earlier in his career, scoring 54 goals in 216 games. Most likely, the hooligans were targetting their own club, as they have recently shown their growing displeasure at the management. Chanting "Руководство –- вон" ("Management - out"), the hooligans made obvious their real target audience.

After minutes of anxious waiting, a message on the intercom announced the end of the match, met by booing from the stands.

Earlier on, over 100 fans, about 50 each from both teams, started a massive brawl outside the stadium.

What's even more disgraceful is that even after both teams left the field, a group of journalists almost got hit by pyrotechnics that were thrown onto the pitch.

I neglect to call these persons "supporters" because no true fan of any team would ever do such a thing. Regardless of who they were targetting, the actions of these individuals had a negative impact on both sides. Furthermore, the instigators financially damaged the home team, which is barely scrambling enough money from its sponsers as it is.

The actions of the hooligans are a disgrace to both teams and perhaps even more so to the honored name of the stadium that hosted this game.

No matter what actions the local police will choose to take, it won't erase the fact that a beautiful game was over all too soon.

Whether either team will continue in the Cup remains undecided, though the likelihood of the Eduard Streltsov stadium being disqualified at this rate is pretty high.


GoalChatter will be on the lookout and will report the final decision regarding the Torpedo vs. Dynamo match in the 1/16th of the Russia Cup.



Russia Cup - 1/16
Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 11:00AM EST

FC Torpedo Moscow vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 1:2* (0:2)
* MATCH SUSPENDED 
Arena: Eduard Streltsov Stadium (Moscow)
Referee: Timur Arslanbekov (Moscow)
Goals:
0:1 Vladimir Rykov (Asst. Jakob Jantscher) ('17) 
0:2 Vladimir Rykov (Asst. Jakob Jantscher) ('32)
1:2 Denis Boyarintsev ('50)

Dynamo's Second Win Marks the End of Kuranyi's Goalless Streak

Over a year ago, Dynamo defeated Amkar 3-0. Today was almost a repeat, though the Moscovites could have won without conceding two goals. Yusupov and Noboa were not in the lineup today due to injuries. Neither was goalkeeper Anton Shunin.

What did it take for Dynamo to defeat a team that's currently a strong contender for the middle of the RPL table? The match started with some early attempts by the home team. Despite the pressure from the guests, there were nice consecutive attempts created by Aleksandr Kokorin and Adrian Ropotan. The second ball forced Amkar's keeper Sergei Narubin to go down for the save. The first 45 minutes gave the eerie impression that Kuranyi was cursed - he had so many shots, but just couldn't get the ball in, even after a perfect cross from Marko Lomic. Dynamo was able to maintain possession much better than in previous games. Only one serious attempt was made by the guests, masterfully saved by Dynamo keeper Roman Berezovsky. Unfortunately, the first goal conceded by the home team was in part due to a blunder by the talented Armenian goalie. He tried to pass the ball to Aleksandr Sapeta instead of clearing it out. The midfielder barely attempted a run and was apprehended by Martin Jakubko, who had very little work to do to get that ball in; his shot even nutmegged Berezovsky. It was a senseless mistake by Dynamo. Yet the home team tried to make it up with a brilliant attempt at a potential equalizer when Jantscher's shot was saved by Narubin. A second attempt came from Kuranyi, but it was not yet his time to shine. It took the Moscovites only 5 minutes to create the equalizer. A free kick led to a fantastic combo featuring Kokorin and Balazs Dzsudzsak, Kuranyi headed a ball into the middle of the box, and Jakob Jantscher got his first goal for his new team. Dynamo continued to create magic on the left flank. The commentators complimented Kokorin, comparing his playing style to that of Andriy Voronin, who is out on loan to the Bundesliga's Fortuna Dusseldorf. Of course, another similarity is that Voronin scored one of the goals in Dynamo's match against Amkar just over a year ago. It was about time that bad luck befell the opposition, and it just so happened to decimate the guests' defense. Amkar was forced to make their first substitution when one of their main defenders got injured ten minutes before halftime. Berezovsky stopped a rare attempt by the guests, and Amkar couldn't make use of the rebound due to an offside call. The straw that broke the camel's back was a second yellow card to defender Ivan Cherenchikov for a challenge on Dzsudzsak. The guests were down to ten men long before halftime. In an attempt to strengthen possession in the center, Amkar manager Rustem Khuzin had Slovakian National Team newcomer Michal Breznanik come on for fellow midfielder Aleksandr Kolomeytsev, marking his debut for Amkar. There was some more action by Kokorin in both set pieces and on the attack. The home team had a lot of crosses to the keeper, but were eager to score and could have done so on many occasions. 

Jakob Jantscher looks dazed as his teammates celebrate captain Kevin Kuranyi's goal. Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Newcomer Jakob Jantscher continued to be active for Dynamo, delivering a free kick that led to Kuranyi's header, testing the keeper and earning the team a corner. Another corner came after Kokorin had a one-on-one run with the ball, leading to a save by Narubin. Kuranyi headed the ball towards the far post after a nice combo, but Semshov completely wasted the opportunity and shot the ball high over the bar. Argentinian defender Leandro Fernandez, who was not very visible during the first half, delivered a cross to Kuranyi, but the German stirker just couldn't head it in. Neither could Kokorin. Yet the home team was still leading in possession and had one more player on the pitch, forcing Amkar to play a more defensive game. If anyone could have stepped up the game for the guests, it was Dutch midfielder Gianluca Nijholt. The 22-year-old, whose one-on-one run was cut short by a lone defender, debuted for Amkar after playing for FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie as well as being on loan to a Dutch First Division team. His attempt led to a speedy Dynamo counter by Kokorin, whose shot through the middle of the box sent the ball flying wide of the upper corner. Then came one of the most remarkable and memorable moments of the match. Two consecutive shots, one by Kuranyi and one by Semshov, both hit crossbar. There's no telling how the ball didn't end up in the net. Amkar keeper Narubin found it amusing that his team was saved two times by what a certain Harry Potter character would call "sheer dumb luck". 

Rustem Khuzin used his last substitution wisely. Slovakian forward and goalscorer Martin Jakubko made room for yet another new player, 20-year-old Greek striker Nikolaos Karelis. The young player immediately created a rare moment for the guests, but Ignatovich couldn't get on the end of the cross, and the ball was immediately sent into a counter by Dynamo. Amkar have Sergei Narubin to thank for the save. The guests countered, and Ignatovich's potential one-on-one moment was cut short when Berezovsky tactfully outran the forward to grab the ball. Misimovic came on for Sapeta, Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu's second substitution in 70 minutes of play. The Bosnian midfielder immediately took to set piece duty. He soon gave away a set piece himself, earning a yellow for a challenge on Georgi Peev. The free kick ricocheted off the home team's wall, setting up a perfect counter. Kokorin's beautiful pass to Dzsudzsak led to a rendezvous and a final pass to Kevin Kuranyi, and what do you know? He finally scored! The German striker's last goal was back in May when Dynamo tied 2:2 with Lokomotiv in the Moscow Derby. Four months and millions of minutes later, the Dynamo captain ended his goalless streak. Dzsudzsak outplayed Sirakov and delivered a cross from the left flank to Kevin Kuranyi on the far post, and the striker headed the ball in the best possible way. An attempt by Misimovic was saved by the keeper, and Kuranyi's pass from the right flank earned the home team a 6th corner. The set piece resulted in a cross by Misimovic from the right flank. This time, Kokorin was at the far post to send the ball right into the far corner of the net. Of course, the game wouldn't be complete without a yellow for the Sergio Ramos of Dynamo, Australian Luke Wilkshire. Amkar's set pieces went resultless as the home team prodded them with one attack after the other, almost leading to a double for Kuranyi. Kokorin left the pitch to a standing ovation by Dynamo fans. It took one more mistake, however, for Dynamo to concede yet another goal in today's game. Breznanik scored in the last seconds of added time from a free kick right inside the box, completely unmarked by the home team's defenders.

Though a crowd of only 4,134 fans witnessed the spectacle, the impact of the match remains. Whether there's a Bundesliga crowd of 80,000, an MLS record of 60k or not enough fans to fill one fourth of a stadium, both teams must perform to their maximum. Dynamo certainly did. Amkar's two goals aside, there's absolutely nothing the Moscovites could have done better in today's game. When you're a team that's in last place, the important thing is to get the three points you need to keep moving up, regardless of the final score. Dynamo did what they had to do, earning their second win of the season and leading FC Amkar to their third loss. Another Moscow team, CSKA, won 3:2 against Volga. Most RPL games so far have had at least 5 goals in total. This season is turning out to be the most interesting yet!


Dynamo played a very attack-oriented game, not unlike EPL giants Arsenal, which makes sense given Dan Petrescu's playing career at Chelsea and admiration of EPL managers like Sir Alex Ferguson. The team played brilliantly on counters as well. In a post-match interview, Petrescu expressed his delight with the result, though not with the conceded goals. He justified the supporters' negativity with the team. He thinks they are entitled to their opinion and have every right to be dissatisfied with the club, given Dynamo's results and current position in the league. There's also the fact that the club cannot exist without the support of its fans. Petrescu said he's far from the reality of what he wants to achieve with Dynamo, but that the team is definitely getting there. 

Dynamo fans celebrate a well-earned victory. Photo: fcdynamo.ru

- The second win of the season, defeating a team that's currently a strong contender for the middle of the RPL table.
- The end of captain Kuranyi's goalless streak. He scored and got an assist on the equalizer.
- Dynamo playing an attack-oriented game for a full 90+ minutes despite the lack of strikers on the roster.
- Sponsor VTB Bank's President Andrei Kostin's birthday.
- The ability to create almost immediate counters.
- Newcomer Jakob Jantscher's first-ever goal for Dynamo in only his second match.
- The fact that another player might be joining the Blue-and-Whites - there's talk of 32-year-old Honduran forward David Suazo of Calcio Catania joining the team as a free agent.


The road to victory in the 21st century for a club that once tied with Chelsea and defeated Arsenal in the 1940's is turning out to be quite the exciting one.



Russian Premier League - 9th matchday
Saturday, September 22, 2012, 7:45AM EST

FC Dynamo Moscow vs. FC Amkar Perm - 3:2 (1:1)
Referee: Alexei Nikolaev (Moscow)
Arena: Arena Khimki (Khimki)
Goals: 
0:1 Martin Jakubko (25')
1:1 Jakob Jantscher (Asst. Kevin Kuranyi) (30')
2:1 Kevin Kuranyi (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsak) (78') 
3:1 Aleksandr Kokorin (Asst. Zvjezdan Misimovic) (83')
3:2 Michal Breznanik (Asst. Pavel Ignatovich) (90+2')


HT Stats:
10(5):4(3) - shots (on goal)
53%:47% possession
1:0 corners
1:1 offsides
0:2 subs made
6:8 fouls
0:3 yellow cards
0:1 red cards

FT Stats:

28(13):7(4) - shots (on goal)
61%:39% possession
6:0 corners
3:2 offsides
-- all subs made --
11:13 fouls
3:4 yellows
0:1 red cards

It's always easy to underestimate matches between the teams that make up the lower half of the Premier League table. However it's important to remember that these teams usually have much more at stake than the "favorites", even if it is just the start of the season. Rostov had 6 points after 7 games, and Dynamo trailed behind with 3. Both teams faced changes to their starting line-ups. Dynamo's Yusupov was disqualified, and Kokorin's injury during the Russia vs. Israel game prevented him from playing alongside fellow forward Kuranyi, already limiting the team's ability to create chances. Goalkeeper Berezovsky started instead of the injured Shunin, a welcome change to the Dynamo line-up that'll hopefully remain. Newly acquired Austrian star Jakob Jantscher started the game on the bench.

Rostov had a couple of significant changes, as well. The team, managed by former Dynamo coach Miodrag Bozovic, recently signed English winger David Bentley on loan from Spurs. Bentley started his career at Arsenal, where he played only one game and spent the rest of his time on loan to Norwich and Blackburn. Another recent acquisition is French winger Florent Sinama Pongolle, who transferred from Portugal's Sporting. Like Bentley, Sinama began his career in the EPL, playing for Liverpool. Both players were on loan to Blackburn in 2006.

The first half saw little action from both teams, though Rostov did make use of their home field advantage. Dynamo had a few early attempts, but spent most of the time defending. Rostov put on the pressure for quite awhile, forcing the guest team to sit back on their side of the pitch. Jan Holenda was active early on, running toward the goal before Berezovsky picked up the ball from under his feet. Noboa wasted an opportunity for his team by lingering with the ball instead of taking a shot - in the end, Kuranyi couldn't get it in, and Benoit Angbwa cleared it out. Rostov's newbie Bentley was consistently active on the right flank, cut short only by Vladimir Granat. The guest team was unable to find any space to create a meaningful chance. Dynamo didn't test Croatia NT goalkeeper Pletikosa until much later in the game. To be fair, the home team wasn't doing much either. There were moments when Dynamo swayed possession in their favor. Yet the home team did test Berezovsky twice, while Dynamo had some sloppy shots and sometimes passes to Pletikosa. Berezovsky blocked Kalachev's shot after Dynamo defenders let the ball go in a dangerous area. Luckily for Dynamo, Rostov had trouble finishing their attacks, despite David Bentley's prowess. Balazs Dzsudzsak, who had a very early effort on the first minute, attempted to get the ball in from afar, but to no avail. All the while, Dynamo's fans kept up singing for their team. 

The half-time interview with Vladimir Rykov.

Dan Petrescu subbing in Otman Bakkal.

Rostov's free kick master David Bentley clearly stood out among his teammates when he went up to deliver the ball. His shot looked like it was going in, but somehow ricochetted out onto the pitch. There was a ray of hope at the start of the second half for the guests when they managed to gain possession and even create some chances, lingering on the opposition's side for awhile. Dzsudzsak's attempt was cleared out for a corner, leading to a Rostov counter and ultimately another free kick by Bentley. The Spurs winger failed to score again - Berezovsky positioned himself at the perfect spot to clear the ball out. Dynamo players kept looking for Kuranyi, all while clearing the ball from any Kalachev or Bentley action. The first mistake by the guests came when they gave away their initiative. Dynamo's inability to finish what they started is highly reminsicent of an MLS team that I have often compared with the Russian side, though neither team was finishing in this game. Bentley's free kick delivery led to Kornel Salata's header going over the bar; then a rather unexpected attack occurred. The guests had just finished a pretty good counter when midfielder Christian Noboa failed to keep the opposition from getting the ball to Jan Holenda. The latter is the kind of player who's difficult to mark; it's much easier to prevent someone else from making the crucial pass. None of the defense was present when an absolutely brilliant delivery by Kalachev flew right to Holenda. All that Rostov's forward had to do was head the ball in from close range, a shot that is nearly impossible to save even by the best of keepers. Jantscher debuted for Dynamo as a sub shortly after, coming in for defender Gordon Schildenfeld and shifting defensive responsibilities to Marko Lomic. Another tactical change came when Zvjezdan Misimovic came on for fellow midfielder Igor Semshov, whose attempts hadn't created any problems for Pletikosa. Dynamo kept up the resultless set pieces; Misimovic isn't exactly a David Bentley. The former got booked for taking a free kick before the referee's whistle. Holenda was ready for a rendevouz with the keeper, but a Dynamo defender was a step ahead and cleared the ball before the forward could score a double. Fortunately for the guests, Rostov's exhaustion began to show with a series of result-less set pieces. Dynamo manager Petrescu definitely amped up his team's fitness routine - they were playing well into the last minutes of the match. The guests tried a hand at a few corners. Kuranyi was still blocked by the defense, and newcomer Jantscher couldn't get ahold of the ball, giving it away to Pletikosa. Noboa missed a wide open net and shot the ball at the side netting before being subbed out for Otman Bakkal. In the four minutes of added time, it was a pity that Dynamo was unable to tie the game. Pletikosa blocked Misimovic's bicycle kick, while Bakkal's shot was cleared by Rostov's defenders. 

Rostov's Bozovic led his team to a 1-0 win on the day of the City Festival at Rostov-on-Don, giving the fans another reason to celebrate. Bozovic said in a post match interview that the new players' advancement in the team will depend on their individual qualities, and that the newcomers'  competition will play a positive role in his team.

Rostov won their second match this season, moving to 10th place in the Premier Leauge table, while Dynamo remains at the bottom with 3 points after 8 games. Dynamo's recent tie in a friendly against Lokomotiv didn't translate into a tie or a win in today's game. The irony, of course, was that Rostov's only goal was not scored from a Bentley free kick, or from a set piece at all. The game was heavy on counters from either side, and should really have ended in a tie. The match was an even one; in such cases, it's enough for the slightest defensive mishap to shift the score to either side. One can't really point the finger of shame at a single player for a team's loss, but if one player had to be removed from the starting line-up for the next game against Amkar, it would have to be Christian Noboa. He's probably the least emotionally-stable of the Dynamo squad at the moment, and it was his flop that aided Rostov in scoring their only goal. 

Dynamo fans didn't enjoy today's game.

To take a detour from comparing Petrescu's team to that of Jay Heaps, it seems like Dynamo is having an LA Galaxy moment, starting the season in pre-season mode. The positive side of that fact is that if Dynamo starts to play like LA, their chances of getting into the top 4 are much higher than anyone thinks. There's more, though: Dynamo's fitness has improved tremenduously. Petrescu pointed out in a post-match interview that his players were more disciplined overall, but that the break for National Team duty took its toll on the team. When asked about the opposition playing with two forwards up front, Petrescu only smiled and said he'd like to play that way, if he was able to (Dynamo's financial abilities aren't on par with some of the other teams). Yet that last question got a smile out of him. Hopefully his positive attitude will transfer to the players.


Russian Premier League - 8th matchday
Sunday, September 16, 2012, 12:00PM EST

FC Rostov vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 1:0 (0:0) 
Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (St. Petersburg)
Arena: Olimp-2 (Rostov-on-Don)
Goals: 
1:0 Jan Holenda (Asst. Timofei Kalachev) ('62) 

HT stats:
7(3):5(0) shots (on goal)
1:2 corners
1 yellow card (Rostov)

FT stats: 
14(6):13(1) shots (on goal)
2:6 corners
18:18 fouls 
2:2 yellow cards 

Some teams concede from set pieces; others create them.

Mexico players celebrate Zavala's goal. Photo: AFP PHOTO/Ezequiel Becerra

A speedy though somewhat result-less first half would have left any fan begging for goals, if not for Carlos Salcido's brilliant move a few minutes before the halftime whistle. Mexico's substitution earlier on did not slow down El Tri. Andres Guardado's corner kick resulted in a header that Salcido picked up and buried in the net. Joel Campbell's last-minute counter for Costa Rica went wide, leaving El Chepo's team in the lead. Mexico kept up the pace and scored again from a Guardado set piece. This time, Jesus Zavala took it to the next level by netting the ball in. Guardado himself had a shot that hit the crossbar after a one-handed save by Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, providing for a very stunning moment. A free kick by Guardado followed soon after, and was masterfully saved by Navas as well. The Costa Ricans had a few attempts that either went wide of the net or were prevented by the Mexican defense from ever being fulfilled. The home team was eager to get the ball in, but desire alone doesn't score goals. Chicharito wasn't as present for Mexico in today's game as he could have been, sending the ball over the bar and not really doing much on the field at all. He was subbed off late into the second half for Marco Fabian. Costa Rica seemed to have scored, but the referee disallowed the goal for a very apparent offside. Javier Aquino lost the ball near the end line; a scuffle occurred between players of both teams after an incident in which Oribe Peralta, who picked the ball up after Aquino, tried to shoot it with the Costa Rican keeper at his feet. The home team failed to net any more balls in, and El Chepo's squad ended the game with an important victory.

Andres Guardado is Man of the Match with 2 assists. There's a reason Andres is always featured in that commercial with the cheetah.

With a win, Mexico will have 9 points, going unbeaten for 3 consecutive games. Costa Rica will retain the second place spot in the group.

The Mexican National Team's win raises questions as to the U.S.A.'s historic win at Azteca. Was the Yanks' triumph a sign of things to come, or simply a fluke? Perhaps if these two teams face off sometime in the quest for the World Cup, we'll finally know the answer.


2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil - Qualifiers
Friday, September 7, 2012, 10:00PM ET
Group B - Round 3
Costa Rica vs. Mexico - 0:2 (0:1)
Referee: Roberto Moreno (Panama)
Arena: Estadio Nacional (San Jose, Costa Rica)
Goals:
0:1 Carlos Salcido (Asst. Andres Guardado) ('43)
0:2 Jesus Zavala (Asst. Andres Guardado) ('52)

Group B standings:
Mexico: 3-0-0, 9 pts
Costa Rica: 1-1-0, 4 pts
El Salvador: 0-2-1, 2 pts
Guyana: 0-1-2, 1 pt

An early goal, an infamous official, those pesky vuvuzelas - it's like the 2010 World Cup in miniature form. Tottenham Hotspur's newest midfielder Clint Dempsey put the U.S. in the lead just 38 seconds into the match after two attempts from Herculez Gomez that were saved by Jamaica keeper Dwayne Miller. The latter failed to take the ball after Gomez's second shot, and Dempsey picked it up on the ricochet. The U.S. defense did a great job at restricting the home team's activities, forcing them to test the net from a distance. Jamaica's Rodolph Austin displayed his goal-scoring thirst early on with a free kick that went over the bar. His efforts payed off, as he netted the equalizer and his fourth goal for Jamaica. The U.S. wall jumped, and the ball went underneath, deflecting off of Kyle Beckerman's leg past a helpless Tim Howard. Austin is not the most accurate player when it comes to shots on goal, but he had a whole lot of fuel in him and was great at finding space to test Howard's net. Though the U.S. had an early momentum while Jamaica was far from being the most technically brilliant team, the guests cooled off a bit after conceding from the set piece. Nevertheless, only a great defensive combination and Miller's saves prevented Klinsmann's team from getting ahead.  

Clint Dempsey's goal.

To say that the game lost its initial flair in the second half would be an understatement. Austin had a shot at scoring from another set piece, but this time, the guest team's wall was solid, and the rebound was saved by Tim Howard. The Jamaicans eventually got their last hurrah, although it came much earlier than the end of regulation time. Jamaica captain Luton Shelton shared the spotlight with his teammate after his free kick delivery put his team in the lead over the U.S. By now the guest team's Achilles' heel was hard to miss. The oddly humble Rodriguez gave out the second yellow of the match to Costa Rica's Jevaughn Watson (club: Houston Dynamo) for a reckless challenge on Jermaine Jones. The third yellow was given to Jermaine Jones. The frustrated U.S. player got into a verbal dispute with several Jamaica players, including captain Shelton, and we all know what settles an argument best. It's fair to say that Jamaica spent most of the second half wasting time and rolling the ball around. The guest team did not spend their time wisely, either, giving away counters in the last ten minutes of the match. Klinsmann's substitutions were invisible on the pitch. No one was there to distribute the ball for the guests since Jamaica retained the better end of possession. 

The match was a crucial win for Jamaica, as the team now leads Group A with 7 points after 3 games. The historic win had fans pouring out onto the pitch after the final whistle, a celebration of a growing chance to make it to the biggest stage, football's greatest tournament. 

The U.S. will have the chance to get back at the team on home soil next Tuesday. 

As an added pièce de résistance, Marco Antonio "Count Dracula" Rodriguez's refereeing was pretty good. He was easy on the cautions today; perhaps he finally decided to step out of his comfort zone.

Why the U.S. Lost - An Afterthought

A problem that usually surfaces in clubs seems to have infected Klinsmann's team as well. It's "score now, concede later", and if what we've seen of its symptoms in clubs holds true for National Teams as well, it's not going away any time soon. Although it's difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem here, as the U.S. defense and keeper are a solid crew, one can speculate that the team would benefit from more EPL and La Liga-based players. While the MLS has its slew of talented goalscorers (Beckham, Keane and Wondolowski, to name a few), how many of them play for the NT? Landon Donovan's absence from the squad certainly took its toll, but so did the lack of players from abroad. Aside from Tim Howard, only 3 EPL players were on the pitch today - Maurice Edu, Geoff Cameron, and Clint Dempsey. Since Edu only recently transferred from Scottish Third Division's Rangers to Stoke, that leaves two EPL players. Only one player, Carlos Bocanegra, plays in Spain, and not for La Liga either. There's no question that the USMNT's best players come from the EPL and the Bundesliga. MLS players, if anything, have had a negative impact on today's game (see Kyle Beckerman incident, Brek Shea's idleness). Perhaps the irony of it all is that several of Jamaica's players are from the MLS. 

Players can have an outstanding level of physical fitness in two ways - by playing in an island nation, or by playing abroad for either one of the best leagues in the world. The latter is more advantageous in that the players would also have a significantly higher skill level. The bottom line is that teams that play every four days will always be above teams that play once a week, regardless of their skill and individual abilities. The U.S. can only hope to rely on homegrown talent with the improvement of its academy programs and league system.


2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil - Qualifiers
Friday, September 7, 2012, 8:00PM ET
Group A - Round 3
Jamaica vs. USA - 2:1 (1:1)
Referee: Marco Antonio Rodriguez (Mexico)
Arena: National Stadium (Kingston, Jamaica)
Goals: 
0:1 Clint Dempsey ('1) 
1:1 Rodolph Austin ('24) 
2:1 Luton Shelton ('62) 

Group A standings:
Jamaica: 2-1-0, 7 pts
USA: 1-1-1, 4 pts
Guatemala: 0-1-1, 1 pt
Antigua and Barbuda: 0-1-1, 1 pt

Blast From the Past

Anatoliy Konkov and Franz Beckenbauer, 1972 UEFA Euro.

Konkov accepting the FFU presidency. Photo: ffu.org

Guinness World Record holder Vladimir Tumayev. Photo: Aleksei Ivanov, Sport-Express

Nikolai Tolstykh (center right) with the FC Dynamo Moscow squad, winners of the 1995 Russia Cup. Photo: Personal archive of Nikolai Tolstykh

Robin's Adventures: Hat-Trick Hero Saves United on Fergie's 1000th Match

What do RPL's Dynamo Moscow have in common with the New England Revolution?

If you have been following the MLS lately and just happened to catch Dynamo's latest games, there's no doubt you've noticed a familiar pattern. For starters, the MLS and RPL teams have new managers this season. Both teams have been improving in the attack, creating more and more chances in the opponent's box, leading to quite a few early goals. Yet both the Revs and Dynamo Moscow have also been consistently conceding after those early goals. The situations are almost parallel, with one major exception - the goalkeeper. The Revs would have conceded far more than they already have if not for Matt Reis' skills. With a .729 save percentage and some of the best records in the league, it's no wonder he's been made captain of the team. Reis has been great at stopping difficult shots, including penalties (remember him scoring and then saving a penalty in the 2010 SuperLiga?). The complete opposite of the brilliant keeper is Anton Shunin. Dynamo Moscow's main keeper can't save an average shot on goal, let alone a penalty, and don't get me started on set pieces! If I had a dollar for every time Dynamo has conceded from free kicks last season and in this season's first games, there'd be enough money to finish VTB Arena in under 2 days. 

Dan Petrescu gestures to his team. Photo: Dmitry Korotayev/Getty Images Europe

Dan Petrescu's first league game in the technical area this season just happened to be against his former club, where he faced disqualification for a scuffle with a referee. Since taking up the post as head coach of Dynamo, he has vowed to reform the team into a winning side. Not much of that winning mentality was visible on the pitch during the first half. Neither team made much of an effort beyond holding on to the ball and the occassoinal foul. The game finally started to heat up towards the end when Igor Semshov was in action. His best attempt was more like a pass to the keeper, however, and was easily apprehended by Belenov. The referee booked Semshov a minute later, apparently having mistaken him for his teammate Vladimir Granat, whose challenge should have earned him the yellow. News sources cite dissent as the reason, however. The guests had a free kick that went wide of the net, leaving the last minute of play in Dynamo's hands. Christian Noboa found space in front of the opposition's net and curved the ball in with a right-footed shot that gave Dynamo a 1-0 lead seconds before halftime. As with almost any first half played by the team's MLS counterpart, the New England Revs, Dynamo's first goal seemed to set a precedent for the rest of the match to go in their favor.

Christian Noboa celebrates his goal for Dynamo. Photo: Dmitry Korotayev/Getty Images Europe

No halftime substitutions were made. The guests got ahold of the ball and infiltrated Dynamo's box. A free kick gave the home team a series of moments to set them off into the attack. Kokorin picked up the ball from Noboa, and, running towards the keeper for a rendezvous, flailed his arms about, earning him a handball and the guests a free kick. Spanish defender Angel Dealbert cleared the ball away after a Dynamo attempt. After an unsuccessful counter by Kuban, Dynamo's Semshov had his one-on-one run with the keeper, but his attempt to shoot the ball over Belenov resulted in the keeper's successful catch up in the air. A dangerous free kick got Kuban the late equalizer. Artyom Fidler's set piece delivery had a slight ricochet off the wall that only helped his shot fly into the net. Aleksei Ionov went one-on-one with Shunin, but his goal was disallowed for an offside. Dynamo had an array of subpar attempts which mostly ended in weak shots aimed straight at the keeper. The team had the ball in the box so many times, that at some point, it was harder to miss than to score. Ozbiliz, who was subbed in earlier in the second half, had a right-footed shot that nearly got Kuban their second goal, if it wasn't for the crossbar. Misimovic, who was subbed in for Semshov, took a free kick for the home team on the last minute of regular time. The ball ended up going out of play, but neither the referee nor the linesman took notice. Kuban picked up the ball for a successful counter in stoppage time, with Ozbiliz scoring the winning goal for Kuban, a left-footed shot during the last minute. Dan Petrescu left the pitch before the referee blew the final whistle. The manager didn't show up for the post-match interview and the press conference. Considering the way the game was going as well as Dynamo's current position at the very bottom of the table, you can't really blame him. But if there's one thing the coach failed to do, it's preventing his team from panicking after the equalizer. 

Kevin Kuranyi was subbed in; the striker's goalless streak continues. Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Consistency is not only associated with good technique, but with emotional stability, a factor that the blue-and-whites are still lacking. Perhaps observing the reserve squad's games would give them a fresh perspective - the youngsters defeated Kuban's reserves 5-0, and have been on a winning streak for quite some time. The main team also failed to take advantage of the transfer window, or to at least consider the prospect of introducing a goalkeeper from the reserves. By now it's clear as day that Anton Shunin should not be playing for Dynamo or for any club in the Premier League, and it'll be a big mistake if he remains in the starting lineup for the away game against Rostov on the 16th. 


Russian Premier League - 7th matchday
Sunday, September 2, 2012, 8:00AM ET

FC Dynamo Moscow vs. FC Kuban Krasnodar - 1:2 (1:0)
Referee: Sergey Karasev (Moscow)
Stadium: Arena Khimki (Khimki)
Goals:
1:0 Christian Noboa ('45 + 2')
1:1 Artem Fidler ('65)
1:2 Araz Ozbiliz ('90 + 3')