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 |
Christian Noboa celebrates his goal for Dynamo. Photo: Dmitry Korotayev/Getty Images Europe |
Kevin Kuranyi was subbed in; the striker's goalless streak continues. Photo: fcdynamo.ru |
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')
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