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Dynamo fan banner: "Greatness and honor cannot be bought."

Dan Petrescu has not always kept his cool.

Striker Andriy Voronin.

Dynamo players celebrate their win over Anzhi.

Published on Russian Football News.

The Season 4 Premiere of the GoalChatter Radio Show!
This week's show, hosted by Aleks V, with co-host Gustavo:

Dynamo Moscow Beats Hiddink's Anzhi

Sometimes, fairy tales come true on the football pitch. Two years without beating Anzhi Makhachkala and an entire season without earning a penalty in the Premier League came to an end in added time as Andriy Voronin scored from the spot to give Dynamo Moscow 3 points over Guus Hiddink's star-studded roster. Despite a home field advantage and better statistics, the game was anything but easy for the Moscovites. The first half was a sluggish back-and-forth between both sides, with Anzhi holding onto the ball and occasionally creeping up to the net. Hiddink's men showed their technical prowess when it came to controlling the midfield, but couldn't make it past Dynamo's defense of steel; the guests could barely get a shot on goal. While Dynamo certainly had their share of chances, many went flying wide or were intercepted early. Fedor Smolov only showed why Anzhi did not buy him after his loan - the striker lacked an accurate touch on the ball and wasted some easy goal-scoring options in front of the net. The Moscovites' second striker, 20-year-old Pavel Solomatin, opened the score with a finish from close range after Artur Yusupov found ample space to center the ball.

A 1-goal deficit certainly brought much frustration to the guests. Anzhi began to play a more attacking game in the second half. The abcense of striker Lacina Traore could not be overlooked, however - Willian and Eto'O did not cause as much trouble for the Moscovites as they normally do. Yet the team that keeps on pushing forward is usually the team that takes back the initiative, and Hiddink's side eventually found their late - albeit effective - equalizer. As Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu mentioned after the game, Anzhi are quite dangerous on set pieces. Christopher Samba headed the ball in past Anton Shunin after a corner kick. It was a late one, and when the clock is ticking, one could easily say the scoreboard will remain unaltered. It's important to remember that even at the 90th minute, the game is far from over. In the 3rd and last minute of added time, Marko Lomic attempted to cross the ball in the box, but his shot went straight into the arm of the subbed-in Carcela-Gonzalez. The referee did not hesitate to point to the spot. All hell broke loose: An emotional Samuel Eto'O earned himself a booking for dissent. Anzhi goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov argued over which ball he preferred the opposition take the penalty with. Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink probably did not anticipate such a dramatic ending to a rather tame match. Who could have? Certainly not Dan Petrescu, who looked like he had just won a Cup final with Chelsea in his playing days, or the hordes of supporters at Arena Khimki who had so anxiously waited to see their team succeed. Dynamo's new club President, Boris Rotenberg, watched from the stands as the Moscovites remained unbeaten for a second game in a row, while Anzhi made do without any points in the second matchweek of the Russian Premier League.

2013/14 Russian Premier League: Matchweek 2
Friday, July 19, 2013, 12:00PM ET

Dynamo Moscow vs Anzhi Makhachkala - 2:1 (1:0)
Venue: Arena Khimki (Moscow)
Referee: Sergei Karasev (Moscow)
Goals:
1:0 Pavel Solomatin (Asst. Artur Yusupov) (26')
1:1 Christopher Samba (84')
2:1 Andriy Voronin (90+3') (PK)

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be the trend at Dynamo Moscow. With forward Aleksandr Kokorin joining Anzhi, the oldest Russian club has confirmed the transfer of yet another player that has had a long spell with the team. Thirty-five-year-old midfielder Igor Semshov, best known for being part of the "magic triangle" in Dynamo's midfield with Danny and current reserves coach Dmitri Khokhlov in the late 2000's, has been released by the club by mutual agreement. Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu revealed Semshov will be leaving the club a week before it was official. "We really respect Igor as a big professional, who must play a lot more," he said. "Therefore, it's decided that he will go to another club." The midfielder lost his spark last season, his playing time becoming more and more of a concern. With a slew of fresh, younger talent coming in to the team, Semshov found himself playing for the reserves, making a brief appearance for the First Team at the end of the season.

Semshov, who also played for CSKA, Torpedo and Zenit, capped 56 times for the Russia National Team, scoring 3 goals. His best international performance was the 2008 UEFA Euro, where he made the semi-finals with Russia. That year marked another fantastic run in his club career. He missed only one match and had Dynamo Moscow's best "goal + assist" record.

Semshov at Torpedo Moscow.

As a CSKA youth product, the midfielder began his Premier League career at the senior team, but soon transferred to Torpedo, where his performance really took off. He was the team's ultimate playmaker, consistently voted the team's best player of the season by supporters. At Dynamo, he was no less adored; he scored his first goal in March 2006, an equalizer against the now-defunct Saturn Ramenskoye, a fiery start to the magic - and the Dynamo captain's armband - that was to come.


At Dynamo, he made 164 appearances in all competitions, scoring 38 goals and providing 24 assists. His 7-year spell with the Moscovites was not without its share of controversy, however. From joining his teammate Danny at rival club Zenit St Petersburg in 2009, to taking after his favorite player and headbutting Zenit's Danko Lazovic when he returned to Dynamo, to the tension with manager Miodrag Bozovic, the midfielder's career has been anything but smooth sailing. Despite his impressive run, he never won any silverware beyond the bronze medals he acquired with Torpedo, Dynamo and Zenit. Yet his versatile plays often earned him praise as one of the best players in the league, and his attitude at times has earned him respect from supporters of all teams. As Dynamo's then-captain, Semshov took to the pitch alongside Torpedo skipper Denis Boyarintsev to address the rowdy hooligans who had stopped the Torpedo-Dynamo match at Eduard Streltsov Stadium during the 1/16th of the Russian Cup last September. His leadership as well as his ability to change the rhythm of the game alongside his fellow veterans left many a memorable moment in the hearts of every supporter.

No matter where his career takes him, time cannot erase his monumental contributions to the clubs in which he has played.

Here's to a good transition, for both Igor Semshov and his former club.

Ex-Man Utd assistant Rene Muelensteen with Anzhi manager Guus Hiddink.

The second fixture of the 2013/14 Russian Premier League ended exactly like the first - a heat-filled 2:2 draw between merciless sides. Despite an exciting, well-refereed game, supporters of both teams may be disappointed with the score. Anzhi may have dominated in possession and set pieces, but it was the Railroaders who clearly made the best use of their chances. Dame N'Doye's header in the second half opened the score, and it looked like the guests were heading for victory. They managed to keep the lead for less than half an hour, however, before succumbing to Samuel Eto'O's equalizer. A shot from a tight angle near the goal line deflected off a Lokomotiv player and sailed into the near post. Many things can happen with ten minutes of play remaining, and so they did. A subbed-in Lacina Traore put Anzhi in the lead a few minutes later, slyly avoiding a slide tackle and maneuvering past three defenders before putting in a close range shot past Guilherme. His movements in the box were compared to that of a disco dancer. Guus Hiddink isn't the only manager capable of enhancing the game with smart substitutions; Lokomotiv's Leonid Kuchuk brought on former Spurs man Roman Pavlyuchenko to take back the initiative. Sergei Tkachyov, who was subbed in earlier, found Pavlyuchenko in the box, centering the ball and allowing the striker to level the score. Anzhi had one last shot at being the first team thus far to earn three points in the first Matchweek when a penalty was called in added time, but Eto'O's shot was saved by Guilherme.

Lokomotiv may have toiled endlessly for over 90 minutes, but it wasn't enough to oust Anzhi away at Anzhi Arena. Kuchuk's debut as manager was nonetheless impressive, as his team never stopped putting pressure on Hiddink's powerhouse, nor did the Railroaders ever fail to make use of opportunities on the attack. If there's one thing the new manager brought to the team early on, it's good defending. The Moscovites masterfully executed vital interceptions throughout the match. Loko showed a clear improvement from their game last season. It's difficult to eye the Moscovites as a dark horse just yet, but today's game showed that very well may be a possibility.

This week's show:

- CONCACAF Gold Cup: USMNT/Mexico NT
- Question of the Week
- Preview: Russian Super Cup, CSKA v Zenit
- Preview: 2013/14 Russian Premier League, first fixtures

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Although there haven't been too many huge signings so far this summer in the Russian Premier League, Dynamo Moscow striker Aleksandr Kokorin's departure to Anzhi Makhachkala is more than enough to make up for the lack of excitement. The forward agreed to join the big spenders just five days after he tweeted a video of him and his teammates trying on Dynamo's soon-to-be-released new kit. He scored 10 goals in 22 games for the blue-and-whites last season, a seemingly decent statistic. A player of his caliber, however, can easily be scoring twice that amount.

Kokorin became the center of controversy last season when he complained about an injury despite being deemed fit by the team's medical staff. Several newspapers speculated the possibility of his faking the injury to remain fit for Fabio Capello's Russia squad, but after awhile it became apparent that he had had a slight affliction, which he successfully prolonged when he played after being told to take a rest. Perhaps a lesser-noticed but much more controversial gesture on Kokorin's part came during a match against Alania, when his reckless challenge led to a brawl on the pitch. Every video available shows Kokorin hitting not only the opposition's player Giorgi Chanturia, but his own teammate Balasz Dzsudzsak. It was a moment that would live in football infamy, even if the rest of the mass media refuses to take note.


Kokorin's transfer can be compared to that of Robin van Persie's last fall, minus the talent and departure to a historical rival. According to the club, he very openly stated his two main reasons for leaving: 1) he wants to realize his sporting ambitions (in other words, guarantee himself a spot in either the Champions or Europa League, as well as complimentary RPL silverware) and 2) better financial conditions (that certainly rings a bell!).

While some supporters continue to blame the club's management for being unable to hold on to the "good" players while bringing in mediocre talent, there is much to be said on the benefits of this transfer. When asked about whether Andriy Voronin and Fedor Smolov's returns will make up for not having Kokorin on the team, or whether the club will be looking for potential replacements in the transfer window, Dynamo Moscow President Gennadiy Solovyev said that supporters will see for themselves if the club makes any new acquisitions.

Whether or not the team needs a new forward is doubtful. There are many players who are more than capable of filling that position on the pitch, some of which have played on the team for awhile and others that are still sowing the seeds of potential growth in the First Team.

1) Kevin Kuranyi
One of Dynamo's most distinguished and respected players, the former German international has been with Dynamo for over three years and has on occasion captained the Moscovites. Kuranyi has been on the rise since Dan Petrescu's arrival as manager. He managed to get out of his Torres-like goalless streak and wow the fans once again with his trademark headers. His groin strain will keep him out of the game until the second or third fixture of the season, however.








2) Andriy Voronin
Another Dynamo veteran, forward/attacking midfielder Andriy Voronin recently proved that he was the missing link in Dynamo's formation. Having returned from his unsuccessful loan at the Bundesliga's Fortuna Dusseldorf, the former Ukraine international fit in perfectly in the team's pre-season friendlies, feeding vital passes as well as getting a goal and an assist. Conflicts with Fortuna's manager, a younger talent pool and a broken nose in training prevented him from playing for most of his loan. The upcoming season will see an opportunity for Voronin to prove himself after "the worst season" of his career and a long break from Premier League football.

                                                           




3) Pavel Solomatin
20-year-old Pavel Solomatin spent most of last season with Dynamo's youth squad, scoring 11 goals in 17 games. He recently renewed his contract with the club. As a new member of the senior team, Solomatin will have a great deal of responsibility and expectations thrust at him from the start of the new season. With Kokorin out of the picture, many will look to Solomatin to net balls in.









4) Andrei Panyukov
Another Dynamo youth product, 18-year-old Andrei Panyukov scored 11 goals in 15 games last season. Ten of his appearances, however, were in the youth tournament. The striker has been growing up fast and playing more often for the senior team. Should the club acquire no new forwards, it is likely that Panyukov will get his share of playing time this upcoming season as well.

Irina Shayk and Cristiano Ronaldo were just two of many famous attendees.

A rare, historic encounter drew Olympic champions and famous footballers alike to the Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia. Georgian League champions Dinamo Tbilisi took on Dynamo Moscow in the latter's last friendly before the start of the 2013/14 Russian Premier League. Both Dynamos are part of a small pool of clubs from the former Soviet Top League that have never been relegated. Before the start of the game, the two team's captains raised a flag with the Dynamo emblem, a tribute to their unity as members of the 90-year-old Dynamo Society. The final score was a true reflection of the game shown by both sides - energetic, dynamic, and always entertaining. Dinamo Tbilisi dominated possession and had plenty of options in the box. Like their namesakes from Moscow, however, they lacked an accurate finish. The home side's best chance came at the end of the first half when Giorgi Merebashvili's shot bounced off the far post. A series of poorly-timed crosses came to nothing; whatever opportunities the home side had came mostly from set pieces, and even those were almost always short of being on target.

Although they didn't test the net as often as they could have, Tbilisi only increased their dominance coming into the second half. The friendly was clearly more important to the home team. As Dynamo Moscow manager Dan Petrescu made countless substitutions, the opposition appeared confident with their starting lineup, continuing to prod at the box with most of their lineup intact. Tbilisi's Xisco, who struggled to make use of his deliveries, took advantage of a defender's bad pass back to Fernandez and chipped the ball in the net without as much as a wink. Petrescu brought on 18-year-old striker Andrei Panyukov for a lackluster Fedor Smolov, but it was too late to fix a poor performance.  

A draw is reason enough for the hooligans to celebrate.

Despite the tense, exciting atmosphere of the game, the second half, as well as a defensive play overall, was an ineffective conclusion to a rather wonderful derby. Both the refereeing and the game play degraded. Cards were shown at random, and Dinamo Tbilisi players resorted to simulation, a completely unnecessary tactic considering their dominance in both halves. The biggest disappointment, however, was Dynamo Moscow's disorganized team play, a direct result of Dan Petrescu's highly experimental lineup. The glue that held the players together in the previous friendlies was nowhere to be seen - it was every man for himself. The only standout player for the Moscovites was their captain, Leandro Fernandez, whose defensive work has never faltered.

Shortcomings aside, the Dynamo Derby was one of the most exciting friendlies to date. It was one of the few real tests for the Moscovites, along with the previous friendly against BSC Young Boys, and a brilliant showcase of the amount of work that's yet to be done before the start of the season.

International Club Friendly
Sunday, July 7, 2013, 12:00 PM EST

Dinamo Tbilisi vs Dynamo Moscow - 1:1 (0:1)
Venue: Dinamo Arena (the Boris Paichadze National Stadium)
Referee: Lasha Silagava (Georgia)
Goals:
0:1 (3') Vladimir Sobolev (Asst. Luke Wilkshire)
1:1 (75') Xisco

This week’s show, hosted by @aleksvee, @Gustavospeaks and @thecurseofchris: