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.

Why two strikers' careers should end this year.

Deception. Disgrace. Two words that very aptly describe two players whose actions have earned them a permanent spot in football's hall of shame. I'm of course referring to Liverpool's Luis Suarez and Dynamo Moscow's Aleksandr Kokorin. Football has always had its share of troubled players, too many to name and some whose evils transcended the pitch into the realm of criminal code. With all the emotional baggage that surrounds every sport, it's easy to forget that at the end of the day, all individuals have a choice: to lower themselves to the level of animals and live by instinct, or to put their personal feelings, qualms and the like aside for the sake of society, their company or team. The always-controversial Luis Suarez cemented his path earlier this season by biting yet another player. Not content with his scandal involving racial abuse hurled at Patrice Evra early in the season, Suarez chose to prolong his already tarnished image. His latest victim was Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, who, luckily for Suarez, seems to have quickly forgotten about having his arm bitten and shrugged the issue aside. What strikes me as odd however is not the lack of response from Ivanovic and co., but the attitude that Liverpool supporters as well as the club's manager continue to display, to the point where they readily justify Suarez's actions as long as he continues to score goals for the team. The Uruguayan's verbal assault did not stop then-manager Kenny Dalglish from supporting him, and from firmly believing Suarez "doesn't have anything to prove to anyone at Liverpool FC". The Ivanovic incident spurred manager Brendan Rodgers to step up to his player's defense as well. In the most hypocritical statement possible, Rodgers assured the world that Suarez "had not let him down one bit", and although "he is a player who fell well below the standards of [LFC] at the weekend...that doesn't mean he should be thrown to the garbage".

It's a sad day in football when more than one generation of managers backs a player who put a club with a rich and treasured history to shame. Turning a blind eye to a problem only makes it worse. That has been proven time and time again, and yet the decision made regarding each incident continues to be an ellipsis rather than a definite period. Football has enough problems with match-fixing, refereeing, and goal-line technology to be bothered with such antics. As Suarez's first victim Otman Bakkal said back in April, "it doesn't belong on the pitch".


Perhaps a lesser known perpetrator, Aleksandr Kokorin, proved that he too has been wrongfully picked for the starting XI. Like Suarez, Kokorin has established a presence in the mass media for his potential, has long been revered by fans, and has been referred to as a world-class player by the club's manager on more than one occasion. In recent times, the striker came under fire for faking an injury with the intent to preserve his strength for upcoming games with the national team. Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu revealed in several interviews that the problem had nothing to do with Kokorin's fitness, but with "himself". The Russian international had barely returned to the starting XI when his reckless challenge against FC Alania's Danilo Neco in the Premier League's penultimate matchweek initiated a massive brawl. The fight involved Kokorin and Giogri Chanturia, with Dynamo's Balazs Dzsudzsak and captain Leandro Fernandez attempting to pull the two apart. Replays show more than just the tackle and ensuing reaction - Kokorin can be seen punching Chanturia, then intentionally continuing the motion through teammate Dzsudzsak's face. Never mind the first incident; injuring a teammate is reason enough to never again step foot on the pitch. I'd like to point out that both Dzsudzsak and Kokorin were sent off, despite the fact that the former was clearly the victim of the incident, and is shown in replays as trying to keep him and Chanturia apart during the scuffle.

It is one thing to be a sub-par, mediocre and overrated player who brings little to the club. It is another thing entirely to threaten your teammate's health and well-being while simultaneously jeopardizing the reputation of the club and its management. "There should be respectful, intelligent people on the pitch, but we saw unbridled bandits who lost everything, including their conscience," said Spartak Moscow veteran and Soviet champion Valery Reingold. "They say that Kokorin is a star. But he was and stays a zero". Earlier this season, Petrescu hinted at Kokorin's untapped potential, going so far as to say that "he can play for any club in the world", Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Chelsea among them.

Ultimately, talent and character cannot remain separate. Take a player with any amount of potential who has no promise as a person - his career will suffer the minute his true self is revealed to the world, putting a padlock on any possibilities of becoming a legend, or at the very least, at being remembered with fondness.

Suarez and Kokorin's actions initiate a question that continues to hover in 21st century sports and politics: how many times must someone break the rules, and to what extreme must someone break them, before something is finally done? There's another question that should surface in the minds of the intelligent few: why are the rich and famous allowed to get away with things that would immediately send anyone else behind bars?

Whether or not you believe in science, it is a well-established fact of life that one action leads to another, which leads to a series of others, in an infinite progression. Unless an equal and opposite force gets in the way, enough forces can accumulate to escalate the series. There is no need in football for players like Luis Suarez and Aleksandr Kokorin. The management of Liverpool and FC Dynamo would do well to re-read their club mission statements and ban these players from ever stepping foot on the pitch again.

The worst part of the whole shenanigan is that it's more likely than not that nothing will be done. Sure, both players can get fined as many times as the disciplinary committee sees fit. What'll that do? The Lion King taught us at an early age that sometimes, "these outsider types" can't change their stripes. This day and age in sports and politics calls for drastic measures. It's time to administer rules the right way: by being completely unforgiving. An infringement on justice, let alone more than once, deserves no mercy. The FA, RFU, and others can do as they see fit, but that will never change an a priori truth: such behavior is inexcusable, both on and off the pitch.

After three scoreless ties in some of last week's hottest match-ups, the RPL's 24th matchweek started off as a blank slate between Dynamo and CSKA in this year's 3rd Moscow derby. Though a somewhat disappointing result for both sides, especially Dynamo, who are in a 4-way race to finish in the top 4, the match had its own unique flavor. A packed Arena Khimki watched on as leaders CSKA stormed the pitch at the start and end of the first half. With Vagner Love suspended and Doumbia out of the line-up, goal-scoring opportunities were on the shoulders of Ahmed Musa. The Nigerian forward played out a few combinations with Tosic and Cauna, but only one attempt posed any danger to the net. The absence of the Army Men's top strikers seemed like an opportunity for the Dynamo to grab a much-needed 3 points. Petrescu's side had another advantage as well - the return of Kevin Kuranyi and Aleksandr Kokorin from injury offered a different dynamic in the line of attack. Jakob Jantscher fed balls to the veteran forward, culminating in the Dynamo's best attempt. Though somewhat less active and not in his best form, Kokorin provided some vital passes, getting the ball to the subbed-in Davydov in the second half. Petrescu's side had some effective counters, and keeping that in mind, CSKA's Slutsky thought "it was important to preserve the balance between attacking and defending" in order to get past the opposition.

Luke Wilkshire stops Ahmed Musa's attack. Photo: championat.com

Yet neither team's strikers were sharp enough to score, and sloppy passes were a recurring pattern on the pitch, especially for the Dynamo. Petrescu's side didn't make as much use of set pieces either and neglected giving Christian Noboa the chance to deliver them. CSKA gave away possession much too easily for the Premier League's top team and may have ended the myth that a team can still be productive with few options up front. The absence of Love and Doumbia in the attack was akin to Manchester United playing without Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie - there was no finishing touch, no added aggression on the ball that could make the difference between a shot on goal and a wide attempt that earns a corner at best. The game can best be described as "passive-aggressive", with bursts of action at the edge of the 18-yard box and occasional challenges, some of which went unnoticed.

The draw is disappointing for a derby that leaves one wanting more. Nevertheless, the fact remains: CSKA have been unable to score against Dynamo since March of last year, and haven't won against the blue-and-whites since September 2009. Dan Petrescu was not at all upset. "Judging by the chances [we created] in the game, we were closer to a win and probably deserved it," said the Romanian expert. "We played against the best defense in the championship." Dynamo's Alan Gatagov, who scored the only goal in yesterday's game against the CSKA youth, reinforced the manager's timeless philosophy. "Every game is like a final," he said. "We should have no regrets, and everyone just needs to keep moving forward."

Both the Army Men and the blue-and-whites will have to gird their loins for the quarter-finals of the Russian Cup in five days' time. Although the Cup gives the Army Men a shot at winning the double, Slutsky has expressed a greater concern over the upcoming fixture in the championship. CSKA play Spartak in yet another Moscow derby on April 21st. The Dynamo have a trickier feat ahead, taking on a slipping but motivated Anzhi in both tournaments.

Russian Premier League - 24th Matchweek
Friday, April 12, 2013, 12:00PM ET

Dynamo Moscow vs CSKA Moscow - 0:0 (0:0)
Venue: Arena Khimki
Referee: Aleksei Nikolaev

Halftime stats:
Goals: 0:0
Shots (on target): 6 (0) : 7 (3)
Possession (%): 51:49
Corners: 3:3
Offsides: 4:1
Subs: 0:0
Fouls: 5:3
Yellow cards: 0:0
Red cards: 0:0

Fulltime stats:
Goals: 0:0
Shots (on target): 12 (1) : 10 (4)
Possession (%): 51:49
Offsides: 6:3
Subs: 3:2
Fouls: 12:12
Yellow cards: 2:1
Red cards: 0:0

"Strike while the iron is hot" was the advice the Russian channel Our Football gave to Dynamo coach Dan Petrescu ahead of the game against Kuban Krasnodar. Dynamo Moscow have been on a roll since the end of the 1st leg of the RPL and came off a successful pre-season friendly tour. Luck was not on the side of the Moscovites, however, as the team's line-up of opponents this spring is the toughest yet. Add Kuban's new head coach Leonid Kuchuk to the mix, and you've got a very challenging match-up. Kuchuk, whose managerial debut last week against Volga in Nizhny Novgorod resulted in a 2:0 win, was motivated as ever to succeed against Dynamo. Never mind that Petrescu managed Kuban last season; Kuchuk's interests lay elsewhere, namely in putting pressure on the Blue-and-Whites' defense and playing an attack-oriented game. It wasn't easy for the Moscovites without their captain, Olympic gold medalist Leandro Fernandez, who is one of three players out injured. Aleksandr Kokorin took the captain's armband for the first time in an official match this year, and while he is no doubt a talented striker, it would have been helpful to have a more experienced player in the lead.

Kuban dominated the pitch for the entirety of the game, but lacked in finishing their chances. Their multitude of set pieces was nothing but wasteful, as plenty of them could have easily ended up in goal, but instead volleyed in and around the box. A beautiful counter by the Moscovites finally got them a goal when Kokorin netted in Jakob Jantscher's cross. The visitors' lead lasted a mere 5 minutes, however. Nikita Chicherin lacked confidence in his game, letting the opposition through, and Aleksei Ionov's through ball got Ibrahima Balde a far post finish. Truthfully, many of Kuban's attempts could have ended in a similar fashion. The team's skillful tiki-taka passes were certainly a treat, already reflecting the style of their head coach, who is known, among other things, for reaching the Champions League Play-Off Round and Europa League Group Stage with Sheriff Tiraspol. The team from Krasnodar also showed that money and skill need not be related - their level and style of play were quite reminiscent of Hiddink's Anzhi.

Aside from some theatrics and disregarded fouling from the home team, the match really kicked off after the first goal. Dynamo's sloppy passes were a tad less noticeable as the game went on, and the Moscovites put more pressure on the home team. Kuban's solid midfield and back four proved to be a mighty fortress. Also of note is Dynamo's keeper Anton Shunin, who made a few important saves throughout the match.

Three points would have been better for either team, moving them that much closer to the league's front-runners. "Overall, I'm pleased that we took four points in the first spring games," said Dan Petrescu in a post-match interview, referencing Dynamo's lucky 1-0 win against Lokomotiv last week. "I didn't like that we conceded quickly. This affected the course of the game, which turned out to be difficult."

While a draw is not so much a blight on the Blue-and-Whites' 6-match winning streak, one point is hardly enough to move them up the league table. The result is a narrow move from seventh to sixth, instead of Spartak's fourth place spot, just three points shy of Zenit St Petersburg. For the Moscovites, a win would have made all the difference.


Russian Premier League - Matchweek 21
Saturday, March 16, 2013, 10:30AM EST

Kuban Krasnodar vs Dynamo Moscow - 1:1 (1:1)
Venue: Kuban Stadium (Krasnodar)
Referee: Aleksandr Egorov (Saransk)
Goals:
0:1 Aleksandr Kokorin (Asst. Jakob Jantscher)
1:1 Ibrahima Balde (Asst. Aleksei Ionov)

What's going on with Dynamo? The team that seemingly started to get out of a terrible season and an equally bad start to this season seems to be heading backwards. The narrow, difficult win against FC Khimki in the Russian Cup should have been a pretty good indication of what's in store for the 14th match week of the Premier League. Unfortunately Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu was too busy worrying about refereeing to take notice of the changes he needed to make to the starting XI for today's game. Like Dynamo, the opposition has had a rather rocky start, amassing just 16 points after 13 games. But unlike the Blue-and-Whites, Krasnodar made use of some of their chances today. Neither team was exactly what one would call stellar, yet the home team dominated the pitch for the entire first half and part of the second. The Bulls were good at keeping the ball but didn't create too many chances themselves, and the game seemed to settle down to a series of back-and-forth passes. But looks as always were deceiving. The referee gave a free kick to the home team for what looked like an accidental handball by Marko Lomic. Dynamo's Achilles' heel has for awhile been set piece defending, especially when Anton Shunin is the keeper. Naturally, Nikola Drinčić's delivery was an easy goal-scoring chance for Wánderson, whose scissor kick flew in after his teammates' shot ricocheted off a Dynamo player's head. If only that was the only free kick Dynamo gave away. The home team had it easy - they had plenty of space to do whatever they wished. The Blue-and-Whites attempted to salvage the score before halftime, but unlike the guests', Krasnodar's defense was pretty solid.

Krasnodar vice captain Yura Movsisyan watches the match.

As per tradition, Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu failed to make any halftime substitutions. That decision comes back to bite teams more often than not. Kokorin should have been benched - he had one of his worst games today, and as of late he hasn't been putting in enough effort in the club. Krasnodar made great use of Dynamo's inactivity, on the prowl as soon as the whistle blew. Balasz Dzsudzsak went on with his terrible crosses into the box, sub-par deliveries that could be taken by any keeper from any league. Perhaps a bigger disappointment for Dynamo was Jakob Jantscher, who still is very much the Lukas Podolski of the Blue-and-Whites - he played very well for other clubs, but isn't showing any of that at his new club, and only he knows why. Dynamo saw more of the ball, but still nothing of the net. Rather unexpected from both teams were two of the silliest mishaps in a Premier League match. First Marko Lomic had a throw-in from the wrong spot, then Krasnodar's keeper stepped out of the 18-yard box with the ball still in his hands. When Dan Petrescu finally decided it was time to bring on fresh players, he had Noboa come on for Sapeta and Semshov come on for Kuranyi. Regardless of what supporters and certain commentators say about Kuranyi's game as of late, Kokorin should have been replaced instead. Several consecutive corners did nothing to enhance Dynamo's chances, despite the fact that Dzsudzsak was not the only one delivering them. After 80 minutes of some of the worst football in the Premier League this season, Dynamo had one shot on goal, Kokorin's only shot during the match, skillfully saved by Krasnodar keeper Sinitsyn. There was tons of time-wasting by the home team, mostly with simulations. The Bulls were content with doing nothing but defending with all ten men in the box - after all, a 1-0 win is enough to get 3 points. After referee Kazmenko graciously added 5 whole minutes to the end of the second half, one would think that the Blue-and-Whites would all be going forward. How often have we seen games that are decided in stoppage time? Instead, the guests kept making crosses to the keeper. Krasnodar had one last opportunity and boy did they make use of it. Konate, who had come on for Wanderson, failed to score from his counter, but made up for it just two minutes later, picking up a long ball and easily outplaying Vladimir Granat. Konate chipped the ball in from just outside the box, right over Shunin's shoulder. A delivery deep into the box gave Márcio Abreu a chance to score himself, but his shot bounced off Shunin, who as usual was rocky on the save. The football gods denied Krasnodar a 3-0 win, but didn't deny them the 3 points. Despite the lack of vice captain Yura Movsisyan, whose injury limited him to watching the game from the stands, Krasnodar moved ahead to a more respectable 9th place in the table. Dynamo have already conceded 23 goals in 14 games and after today's match, the team remains in 11th place with just 15 points.

Wanderson celebrates his goal by tangoing with Vladimir Koman.

"Like dogs often resemble their owners, football teams often resemble their managers", said the commentator. But if that's the case, how come Kuban played far better under Dan Petrescu's management than Dynamo? Does it really take two to tango in football? Surely you can't get by with a talented team and a talent-less manager, nor vice-versa. It's a two-pronged problem. Dan Petrescu needs to forget about the refereeing - whether it's good one match or bad the next should be the RFU's (the Russian FA's) concern. His focus needs to be on the players, motivating them and taking out those who obviously don't want to put in the work. Jantscher and Bakkal are alright for the reserves, but the main team needs players of a different caliber. Kevin Kuranyi may have a goalless streak going, but is anyone really feeding him the ball? A team is a team - he can't score on his own if nobody else is working. If anyone should be sold during the winter transfers, it's Aleksandr Kokorin. Sure, he's talented and occasionally scores great goals, but he's not dedicated to giving his all. He constantly acts like he'd rather be elsewhere, so why should the club deny him that chance? It's time for the Blue-and-Whites to step it up, and in order to do that, they'll need the kind of players that'll be ready and willing to do whatever it takes the kind of players who will always put the club first.



Russian Premier League - 14th Match Week
Sunday, November 4, 2012, 9AM EST* (DST in effect)

Krasnodar vs. Dynamo Moscow - 2:0 (1:0)
Arena: Kuban Stadium (Krasnodar)
Referee: Vladimir Kazmenko (Rostov-on-Don)
Goals:
1:0 Wánderson (37')
2:0 Moussa Konaté (90+2')

Half Time Stats:
Shots (on goal): 3(1) : 4(2)
Corners: 2:2
Fouls: 10:8
Yellow Cards: 1:1
Red Cards: 0:0

Full Time Stats:
Possession: 50:50
Shots (on goal): 9(3) : 11(3)
Corners: 2:6
Fouls: 17:19
Yellow Cards: 3:1
Red Cards: 0:0

Despite a few defensive mishaps and the usual problematic RPL refereeing, Dynamo Moscow got an important win away at Start Stadium in Saransk. Aleksandr Kokorin got an early goal in with a run on the left flank and a perfect shot smack dab in the far corner of the net. Luke Wilkshire lost his marking on the opposition, and the guests were lucky to escape an equalizer. Mordovia took their home field advantage seriously, despite the sounds of passionate Dynamo supporters. Dynamo were great on defending Mordovia's set pieces, never letting the shots get past the wall. Mordovia kept up their attacks on the right flank, earning consecutive corners. There were a few nice plays featuring Kokorin, Kuranyi, and Dzsudzsak, but none that resulted in a sharp finish. Dynamo keeper Anton Shunin made a great save on a Mordovia free kick, colliding with Aleksei Ivanov, who kept going for the ball even after the keeper had collected it. Needless to say, Ivanov earned the first yellow of the match, one of the few good decisions made by the official.

Dynamo supporters: "We talk in the eyes, and don't shoot in the back."

Dynamo really took the game into their hands in the second half, with Kuranyi, Kokorin, and Jantscher creating early chances. Mordovia's Tomislav Dujmović, on loan from Dynamo, was eager to score for his new team, getting a free kick after the referee whistled for a non-existent foul by Leandro Fernandez. Dynamo's wall kept holding up the fort, time and time again. Perhaps the worst refereeing blunder of the match, and arguably the worst decision made this season, was the call on Aleksei Ivanov's simulation, which should have earned him a yellow. Nobody brought the player down, but after apparently consulting with the linesman, the referee signaled for a penalty kick. Who should attempt the penalty but Tomislav Dujmović? Again, Shunin was great on the save, and he would have gotten a clean sheet today if it wasn't for that meddling official. Vasily Kazartsev booked Jakob Jantscher for having run out into the box during the penalty, but replays clearly showed that several Mordovia players had done the same much earlier than the Dynamo striker. The official called for the penalty to be retaken, and this time Ruslan Mukhametshin netted the ball in past Shunin for the equalizer. Thankfully, justice was served, and Balasz Dzsudzsak provided a cross from the left flank to Kokorin, who jumped high enough to land a brilliant header. His goal elicited a few passionate responses. Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu gestured triumphantly at the linesman, while Marko Lomic got booked for a rude gesture that was not shown on camera.

What looked to be a great combination for a third goal resulted in an unfortunate injury to one of Dynamo's top strikers. Kuranyi's combination with Kokorin and Dzsudzsak resulted in a bad fall for the forward, who injured his ankle in the fall following his shot. Igor Semshov came on for Kuranyi, but wasn't very present on the pitch in the last half. The match proceeded with more efforts by Kokorin and Dzsudzsak, with the occasional long shot from Mordovia. The home team didn't provide any challenging shots for Anton Shunin as almost every cross into Dynamo's 18-yard box was cleared in every possible direction. Aside from the unaccounted-for penalty save, Anton Shunin did get his heroic moment in the last seconds of stoppage time, taking up a ball from Dujmović right as the forward and a few other players were running on to him.

Though it was a great game and a much-needed win, Dynamo can't get by on random goals. They need to get a consistent build-up and get more combinations in until they become second-nature. The team also needs some defensive work, especially from the likes of Luke Wilkshire. The blue-and-whites still tend to give the ball away on their side of the pitch. A lot of the game was full of volleys and such, so more long-range efforts from the Moscovites would be much appreciated.

Kuranyi's ankle injury will have him out for awhile, so Dynamo will have to rely on Kokorin, Dszudszak and Semshov for the time being. As for Jakob Jantscher, he has yet to really prove himself at Dynamo. It's time for his previous success to translate onto the pitch in the present.

Mordovia manager Fyodor Shcherbachenko had plenty to say about his players as well as the refereeing in his post-match interview. "I think matches have to be heated up," said Shcherbachenko. "My players played and controlled the ball very well, and as a result there weren't many moments created around our net. You know, the refereeing reflects the result. There were a few moments that went unnoticed. The linesman tells the referee that there was a foul, but the official doesn't whistle. The refereeing was prejudiced and ugly." Sometimes the referee would whistle when there was no foul, or fail to whistle when there clearly was one. The penalty situation was simply absurd. But as Dynamo's third keeper Yevgeni Frolov said in his half-time interview, "the important thing is to get the result". Dynamo earned another three points, moving up from 14th to 12th place in the Premier League table. With only 12 points and 12 goals after 12 games, they'll need to keep working hard to make it back to the top 4 by the end of the season and not let the quality of the refereeing get in the way of their success. We've seen some terrible officiating in bigger leagues like La Liga and the EPL, and the best of teams have been unfazed by it. As for the refereeing itself, let's take Scherbachenko's advice and "let the competent people deal with it."

GoalChatter has the exclusive English play-by-play as it happened.


Russian Premier League - 12th Matchday
Sunday, October 21, 2012, 9:45AM EST

FC Mordovia Saransk vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 1:2 (0:1)
Arena: Start Stadium (Saransk, Russia)
Referee: Vasily Kazartsev (Saint-Petersburg)
Goals:
0:1 Aleksandr Kokorin (6')
1:1 Ruslan Mukhametshin (penalty kick) (60')
1:2 Aleksandr Kokorin (Asst. Balasz Dzsudzsak) (63')

HT Stats:

Goals - 0:1
Shots (on goal) - 6(1) : 3(3)
Corners - 6:1
Offsides - 1:0
Substitutions - 0:0
Fouls - 6:11
Yellow cards - 1:0
Red cards - 0:0

FT Stats:
Goals - 1:2
Shots (on goal) - 15(4) : 14(5)
Possession - 51% : 49%
Corners - 7:2
Offsides - 3:1
Substitutions - 3:3
Fouls - 17:18
Yellow cards - 1:2
Red cards - 0:0

Highlights:

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

The Other Moscow Derby

Two recent transfers, Shifo and Bakkal, high-five each other on a game well-played. Photo: RIA Novosti

With Petrescu's last day being disqualified, assistant coach Emil Caras took over the sidelines. Dynamo started off with a bang - Dzsudzsák picked up the ball after Lokomotiv goalkeeper Kreshic failed to clear it. His one-touch shot was apprehended by Vedran Corluka. Maicon missed out on an early chance for Lokomotiv on the 9th minute. Dynamo keeper Shunin bounced the ball out in front of him, then took it in a fall. A quick counter soon followed by the guest team. Nikita Chicherin dribbled past a defender to shoot from inside the box, yet Corluka was able to clear the ball out. The magic began 12 minutes into the game when Aleksandr Kokorin got a perfect cross from Dzsudzsák, flew past Corluka and Taras Burlak, and easily won the rendezvous with the keeper, netting in his team's second goal of the season. Igor Semshov was so close to making it double. His shot bounced off a defender and came back, but his rendezvous with the keeper ended in a wide attempt. Dzsudzsáks cross to Lomic resulted in another attempt for the blue-and-whites, but the ball went flying past the post. 

Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu celebrates his team's goal. Photo: RIA Novosti

All the while, Maicon kept losing the ball whenever he picked it up. Yet he finally pulled through for the Railroaders, heading in the equalizer after Dynamo's defenders left him alone with the keeper in a failed attempt to create an offside trap. Andrey Yeshchenko entered the penalty box from the left flank, getting the ball to Samedov, whose shot was saved by Shunin. Dynamo were putting on the pressure, forcing the home team to sink back in their side of the field. Once again, Samedov tried to break through the Dynamo defense, delivering a free kick into the box where Corluka ran past a defender. It was an easy save for Shunin, unlike the home team's set pieces. Noboa took a free kick for Dynamo after Lomic was brought down, sending the ball over the net. A nice potential combination by Dynamo ended in a shot straight into the opposition's keeper. 

Marko Lomic's halftime replacement, Pavel Nyakhaychyk, took up Kokorin's beautiful pass in the box and sent it well wide of the net. The home team had a corner that, fortunately for the guests, ended in a shot that hit the side netting. Dynamo's counter failed as the players lost the ball in the center for the umpteenth time. Nyakhaychyk made up for the error by making a run on the left flank and getting a corner. A few minutes later, Shishkin did his part in preventing the guests from getting further with their combination. A beautiful counter by the guests continued the magic. Kokorin's through ball to Dzsudzsák gave Balazs a left-footed shot into the near post. Loko equalized soon enough; the newly acquired forward Dame N'Doye, who transfered from Danish Superliga's FC Copenhagen, scored his first goal for the Railroaders and the second equalizer by the home team. A free kick delivery gave him the header from close range. Evidently, Shunin was going for the 'most missed headers' record; to say he didn't try to stop the ball would be an understatement. Luckily for him, his teammates were quick to take back the score. Dzsudzsák provided the cross to Noboa from the right, and the latter had the perfect one-touch finish to send the ball into the left corner of the net. This was the Dynamo that fans wanted to see. The home team didn't stop putting on the pressure, and managed to successfully take the ball away from the Blue-and-Whites. Kresic saved Bilic's team from Semshov's attempt to get a third goal in. 

Bilic taught his club well - the set piece masters infiltrated the net twice in the last minutes of play, saved only by the top of the net and by Granat, who cleared the ball out from the goal line after Felipe Caicedo's shot ricocheted off Shunin. A Lokomotiv fan stood out among the crowd with a Nike shirt that read "Haters = motivators". Perhaps that's true for today's team; Dynamo came back from two equalizers from the home team, quite the contrary to the New England Revolution of the MLS. But there was much more at work for the club. The new management restored the team's faith, and that's the greatest motivation of all.

Regardless, Dynamo still have quite a lot to work on. They're losing the ball quite a lot in the center of the pitch, something I've seen all too often in Liga Mexicana games. The positive things to point out from this match would be better possession and the team's initiative to move forward, both features that were missing prior to today. Balazs Dzsudzsák was definitely the Man of the Match, getting two assists and a goal. Kokorin got a goal and an assist as well. Granat's defending was superb. The only player who shouldn't have started was goalkeeper Shunin. Overall, though, the team is definitely shaping up both physically and technically. 

Half-back Artur Yusupov was right to point in an interview out that the team's mindest was what made the difference. Dutch Midfielder Otman Bakkal, who debuted for Dynamo in the last minutes of the match, told Sovsport that he was glad his debut coincided with the team's first win. Assistant coach Dmitri Khokhlov summed it up best in his interview for the official site of FC Dynamo - "...the victory will give the team both moral and physical strength. It was definitely a very important win for us in this situation".

Petrescu's last match disqualification couldn't have had a better ending.
At the moment, Dynamo no longer occupy the last place in the Premier League table (Rostov have taken over, with two draws and a loss). Tied with Volga (1-0-4), Dynamo have every opportunity to make it to the middle of the table and continue their race for the top. It'll take a few more wins from FCD and a few more losses from the likes of other teams, but the restoration of a legendary club will be well worth the effort. 

Two of the RPL leaders, Zenit and Spartak, lost three points in today's games. Zenit, Terek, Spartak, and Rubin currently occupy the top four. Hiddink's Anzhi is in 7th place, but only one win away from 5th. Tomorrow's RPL matches will be Amkar vs. Krasnodar, CSKA vs. Krylia Sovetov, and Anzhi vs. Mordovia. 

Dynamo's Next Games

Dynamo will face off against Stuttgart in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Europa League qualifying playoffs on Tuesday, August 28th at 12PM EST. On September 2nd, Dynamo plays at home against Petrescu's former club, Kuban Krasnodar. 

Dynamo fans with a banner that reads "More Than a Club". Photo: fcdynamo.ru

Russian Premier League - 6th matchday
Saturday, August 25, 2012, 5:30AM EST

FC Lokomotiv Moscow vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 2:3 (1:1)
Arena: Lokomotiv Arena (Moscow, Russia)
Referee: Sergey Lapochkin (St. Petersburg)
Goals:
0:1 Aleksandr Kokorin (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsák) ('12)
1:1 Maicon ('21)
1:2 Balazs Dzsudzsák (Asst. Aleksandr Kokorin) ('59)
2:2 Dame N'Doye ('65)
2:3 Christian Noboa (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsák) ('68) 

Halftime Stats:
Shots (on goal): 4(3):6(3)
Corners: 2:1
Fouls: 7:9
No offsides.

Full-time Stats:
Shots (on goal): 9(5):10(6)
Corners: 4:3
Fouls: 14:19
No offsides.

The most exciting moment of the Dynamo vs. Dundee match. Photo: Action Images.

In the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round 3 qualifiers, FC Dynamo Moscow somehow managed to tie their game against Dundee United at Tannadice Park in Dundee, Scotland. A nearly-packed stadium cheered on the locals. Things got a little too passionate when a handful of Dynamo fans took part in a scuffle, but two of the fans were soon apprehended by stadium security. Hungarian winger Balazs Dzsudzsak led Dynamo's first move toward Cierzniak's net, but had no one to make the cross to, as no other players were running on the ball. Igor Semshov had a shot from afar that went high. Defender Gordon Schildenfeld, who played his second match for Dynamo and his first in the starting lineup, tactfully cleared a Dundee cross from making it to the 18-yard box. Dzsudzsak went one-on-one on the attack, but lost the ball to Dundee's keeper Cierzniak, who ran out to block the shot. Dynamo made no use of their early corners, and gave the ball away to Dundee for the first time in 17 minutes. The Scots soon lost the ball, but Dynamo's counter failed. Dundee's Johnny Russell almost got a shot on goal for his team, and had an attempt at a header two minutes later, but he was offside. Dynamo's duo, Misimovic and German captain Kevin Kuranyi, missed out on a fantastic opportunity to score, but were nowhere near the ball when it entered the 18-yard box. Kuranyi had another flop on the 26th minute when he slipped and missed the ball. His best attempt was also one of Dynamo's most dangerous moments during the first half - on the 27th minute, Kuranyi's header went just wide of the right post. Schildenfeld couldn't reach a cross from his teammate for a header, and Cierzniak caught the ball. So far, Dynamo had only had two shots, neither which were on goal. Nevertheless, the team was putting pressure on the Scots, and it was working. Dundee were unable to retain possession. Kokorin's shot ricocheted off a defender and was saved by the keeper, and Dynamo appeared to be inching closer to a goal. Yet it was the Scottish team that opened the score with their only shot on goal on the 37th minute. Shunin didn't leave his net to block the shot, and Willo Flood netted the ball in against all logic.

Dundee players Keith Watson and Johnny Russell celebrate Watson's goal. Photo: SNS pics.

Leading 1-0 after halftime, the Scots were determined to make the most of the second half. Flood's shot went wide of the far post. It's tough to say the Russians took back the initiative; they never truly gave it away. Semshov scored the equalizer five minutes in to the second half, setting up his first goal of the season with help from a cross by Kokorin from the right flank. Kokorin himself had a great moment on the 66th minute, testing Cierzniak, who was there to protect the near post. Dynamo gave away corners left and right due to Shunin's sloppy saves. They were in no danger from conceding, however, as set pieces were not one of Dundee's strengths in this game. Dynamo's mistakes soon took a toll, and the vertical post saved the Russians from the Scots. A corner for Dundee on the 76th minute led to three consecutive shots from the Scots. The third time was the charm - a goal by Keith Watson. Dundee had a few set pieces and tested Shunin's net more and more. The Scots seemed quite close to leading Dynamo to their third consecutive loss this season. Dzsudzsak sent the ball high, reminding Dundee that Dynamo were still very much in charge of this game. A controversial moment arose on the last minute of play, but neither the referee nor the players noted that a penalty should have been given to Dundee. The tide of luck swung toward the Russian side when Aleksandr Kokorin's shot ricocheted into the net. The forward got booked for taking his shirt off during the goal celebration.

The second leg will be played on August 9, and Dundee supporters will head to Dynamo.

Dynamo's next game of the RPL season will take place on August 4th against Spartak Moscow.

Dundee's next game of the SPL season will take place on August 5th against Hibernian.  


Dundee United vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 2:2 (1:0)
Goals:
1:0 Willo Flood ('37),  1:1 Igor Semshov ('50)
2:1 Keith Watson ('76), 2:2 Aleksandr Kokorin ('90+3)