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)

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.

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.

"Dan Petrescu has most certainly done it again", to coin a phrase. The Blue-and-Whites not only extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games, but also drew with the team that knocked them out of the Russian Cup after a faux last-minute penalty led Anzhi to the semi-finals. The former Chelsea star-turned-manager must have tuned in to the GoalChatter Radio Show - the king of bookings, Artur Yusupov, and forward Aleksandr Kokorin were out of the starting line-up, replaced by Aleksandr Sapeta and Pavel Ignatovich, the latter of which joined veteran striker Kevin Kuranyi in the attack. Hiddink's Anzhi had a vital change as well, with Samuel Eto'O back in the starting 11. Not surprisingly, the home team dominated possession in the first half, controlling the ball and showing off their technical prowess. Hiddink's team definitely got out of their slump, if today's game is anything to go by. Neither side tested the other's net in the first half hour, although Anzhi's Boussoufa nearly opened the score from a free kick that bounced off the crossbar. One of the few attacks by the Moscovites became the turning point of the match when Vladimir Granat fed the ball into the box for Ignatovich, whose shot was blocked in close range by former Dynamo keeper Vladimir Gabulov. The RPL's own David Beckham, Christian Noboa, was quick on the rebound, putting his team ahead and scoring his 5th goal of the season. Yet the celebration lasted a mere 4 minutes as Zhirkov's delivery and a back-heel pass by Eto'O gave Boussoufa a one-touch finish from close range .

The game had certainly picked up the pace before halftime, and both teams carried through the momentum to the second half. Hiddink's side were desperate for more goals, and a corner kick led to a goal by Jucilei. No pretending from the home team could hide a most evident handball assist, however. The goal was disallowed, and Boussoufa promptly sent off. Yet Anzhi is a formidable team even with a player down, so it wasn't long before Yuri Zhirkov got his team the 2-1 lead. Dan Petrescu produced multiple substitutions, but it would take time for any of them to have an impact - Eto'O picked up a nice pass from Ahmedov and sent the ball flying in to the far post. The Moscovites were two goals down and had a little over 20 minutes to conjure up a storm. The tide began to turn when the subbed-in Gatagov received a cross from Dzsudzsak. Gadzhibekov failed to mark the midfielder, giving the latter a far post finish. The Moscovites kept up the pressure, and, in true sporting fashion, saved the best for last. The enigmatic Kevin Kuranyi got the header he'd been waiting for and saved the day for the Blue-and-Whites. Anzhi lost to Dynamo for the first time since April of last year in a game that was aptly described as "exciting" and "dramatic" by both managers.

A draw is as good as a win at Anzhi-Arena, but a team like Dynamo should not have to resort to scrambling from rock-bottom to salvage a point. "I didn't like that we conceded goals in key moments," Petrescu said in a post-match interview. "[We conceded] after scoring the first goal, and then after the opposition had a player sent off." The manager pinpointed "lack of concentration" as the Moscovites' key issue, although it was evident that excluding the veteran keeper Roman Berezovsky from the starting 11 was a major factor as well. Though clearly not satisfied with a draw, Guus Hiddink rightly commended his players' efforts and joined a growing list of managers in acknowledging the level that Dynamo has reached in the current season.

The match proved to be only one of this week's most heated fixtures - the Moscow derby had its own share of drama as CSKA managed to eke out a draw against Spartak after being 2 goals down.

Russian Premier League - 25th Matchweek
Sunday, April 21, 2013, 10:30AM EST

Anzhi Makhachkala vs Dynamo Moscow - 3:3 (1:1)
Venue: Anzhi-Arena
Referee: Sergey Lapochkin
Goals:
0:1 (37') Christian Noboa
1:1 (41') Mbark Boussoufa (Asst. Samuel Eto'O)
2:1 (51') Yuri Zhirkov
3:1 (67') Samuel Eto'O (Asst. Ahmedov)
3:2 (73') Alan Gatagov (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsak)
3:3 (88') Kevin Kuranyi (Asst. Aleksandr Sapeta)

Full Time Stats:
Goals: 3:3
Shots (on target): 11 (6) : 16 (6)
Possession (%): 49:51
Corners: 5:2
Offsides: 1:3
Substitutions: 1:3
Fouls: 10:15
Yellow cards: 2:4
Red cards: 1:0

In a style not at all reminiscent of the Dynamo vs. Terek match, Anzhi tied with last season's champions Zenit in Makhachkala, Russia. Both veteran and rookie players played a great game for Zenit. 18-year-old Luka Đorđević made his debut for the RPL champions, playing a full 90 minutes and partaking in some of the most important attacks of the game. Both teams played an open game from start to finish, but Zenit took over the midfield roughly 15 minutes in. Đorđević set up the attack on the 20th minute outside the box and passed to Bystrov. The latter moved towards the center and got the ball to Zyryanov, who fooled the defenders by delaying his shot, scoring from a meter away. Anzhi fired back with a counter. Shatov had a free kick for Anzhi on the 26th minute and delivered the ball into the box, getting Traore the header, which ricocheted off the pitch and was somehow saved by Russia National Team goalkeeper Malafeev. Fayzulin's right-footed shot on the 28th minute was easily apprehended by the keeper as well. Both teams were getting set pieces, but Anzhi were unable to equalize in the first half. Bystrov's shot from outside the box went flying close to the far post. Zenit had another attempt during added time when Fayzulin and Zyryanov completed a corner and got the ball to the rookie Đorđević, whose shot hit the post for the second time in the match and ricocheted out onto the pitch. At halftime, Zenit led in possession 56:44%, had 4 times more shots on goal than the home team, and were equal in corners.

Anzhi keeper Gabulov makes the save. Photo: FC Zenit Official Website.

Guus Hiddink must have given his team the right advice during the break; Anzhi was determined as ever to score and got ahead in the initiative, though Zenit were still attacking. Anzhi still had problems finishing, while Zyryanov lost the chance to score a double. The home team was temporarily down to 10 men while Zhirkov got treated for a broken nose. Oleg Shatov scored the equalizer for Anzhi on the 66th minute. Manager Guus Hiddink looked formidably calm, as though that's exactly the way things should be. Tagirbekov's throw-in into the box flew to Chris Samba, who assisted Shatov's goal. Smolov attempted to make a one-on-one run with the Zenit keeper, but Malafeev was there first. Fans kept chanting "till the end", reminding the players that the game isn't over until the final whistle blows. Although Zenit had a few more attempts, the team wasn't very technical when it came to set pieces. The best free kick Spaletti's team had came on the 90th minute when Fayzulin's free kick went just a bit over the net. Anzhi took the final corner - Samba's shot ricocheted off a defender, and Smolov's ball skidded on top of the net. Manager Spalletti ran up to the stand of Zenit fans and applauded them for their support, a nice tradition that the Italian manager keeps up. Both Zenit and Anzhi played a great game; the tie was a fair result. 

Zenit currently occupies the leader board with 12 points, having won all 4 of their games. Spartak Moscow have 12 points after 5 games as well, winning 4 and losing 1. Anzhi are temporarily in 7th place, as the two teams above have only one more point. The two teams below Anzhi, Krylya Sovetov and Krasnodar, are only one point away from catching up as well. 


Russian Premier League
Sunday, August 19, 2012, 1PM EST

Anzhi Makhachkala vs. Zenit St. Petersburg - 1:1 (0:1)
Arena: Dynamo Stadium (Makhachkala, Russia)
Referee: Vladimir Kazmenko (Rostov-on-Don, Russia)
Goals: 
0:1 Konstantin Zyryanov (Asst. Vladimir Bystrov) ('20)
1:1 Oleg Shatov (Asst. Christopher Samba) ('66)

Photo: Official site of FC "Anji"

Set Pieces Give Hiddink's 10-Man Team the Edge

Rostov vs. Anzhi: 2-2

A group of a capella singers performed Russia's national anthem at Olimp - 2 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia to open the match between FC Rostov and FC Anzhi Makhachkala. Despite the steaming hot weather, neither team disappointed their fans. Hiddink's Anzhi was more dominant at the start of the first half, but the game evened out pretty quickly as both teams lacked the sharpness necessary to get shots on goal. On the 18th minute, referee Alexey Eskov gave an unfair yellow to Rostov's Kornel Salata. A minute later, Anzhi's Traore made a run, but his shot went wide of the upper left corner of the net thanks to Croatian goalkeeper Pletikosa. The latter was very attentive on Anzhi's set pieces and cannot be blamed for the two goals he conceded, one of which was a penalty kick. Traore bombarded the net twice on the 30th minute. The first time his shot was blocked by Sheshukov. Pletikosa was quick to react on the second. Rostov countered immediately, and Anzhi's Jucilei got his second yellow for apprehending the attack. Surprisingly, it was easy to forget that Anzhi was down to 10 men. Their game certainly did not reflect that, as their initiative stayed the same and even increased in the second half. Anzhi had a few more corners before half-time. Goalkeeper Gabulov did not get tested often. The refereeing was at times subpar - there was a false offside call against Rostov, as well as a corner that wasn't given. Anzhi had their share of bad luck as well, as Traore's injury forced Hiddink to sub in Yuriy Zhirkov right before half-time. Anzhi's best moments had come from Traore, so this was a great loss to the 10-man team.


Rostov began the second half and must have impressed Guus Hiddink, who got up to move a camera blocking his view. Anzhi opened the score on the 49th minute. A free kick delivered by Tagirbekov made it right into the net, and Pletikosa simply couldn't reach it. Captain Samuel Eto'o must have taken over for Traore - he had an amazing moment for his team that led to 2 corners. Hiddink was definitely more animated after his team got ahead. Another Anzhi corner was cleared away and became a throw-in for Rostov. Adamov's attempt was saved by Gabulov. Miodrag Bozovic made a vital substitution for Rostov on the 61st minute, having playmaker Kirichenko come on for Gatcan. It appears that Bozovic had taken on some of the psychic abilities Hiddink is so well-known for. The former Dynamo coach anticipated Zhirkov's booking for a handball in the box. A penalty was awarded, and Rostov's number 10, Kirichenko, scored the equalizer. Gabulov guessed where the shot would go, but couldn't reach the ball. The veteran player who had had a previous spell at Rostov when he was just 21 years old, Kirichenko is also known for having had a record of 22 consecutive penalty goals as well as for having scored the fastest goal at a European Championship when Russia played Greece in Euro 2004. Another veteran player who shone on the pitch today was none other than former Anzhi player Benoit Angbwa, who marked Eto'o. A controversial booking soon put yet another dampener on things - Sheshukov got a yellow for a supposed foul on Eto'o. An injury acquired last week forced Kirichenko to leave the pitch to Jan Holenda. Once again, the powers normally reserved for Hiddink were being toyed with. A former Anzhi player, Holenda scored a header for Rostov after a cross from Kalachev by positioning himself between Samba and another defender. Despite Rostov's lead, Anzhi kept up the attack and created a dramatic finish. Tagirbekov, who scored the first goal for Anzhi, got his double today in the last seconds of the match. Samba's free kick delivery and a head pass gave Tagirbekov the opportunity for a header. The match was undoubtedly one of the most interesting games of the start of the RPL season and set the stage for two powerful managers and teams to continue to go head-to-head and battle for the top spots in the league.


"It was a good, interesting match that must have been enjoyable to watch for fans of both teams," said Hiddink in a post-match interview. "We started off good and should have scored twice in the first twenty minutes. Then Jucilei got two yellow cards in moments that I would like to see again on video. Nevertheless, we were able to rebuild. But in the end the pressure by Rostov took its toll, although I think that the officials should differentiate when a hand finds a ball and and when the ball finds a hand. I'm proud that my team did not give up when they were conceding and was able to save the game. As for Traore, he had a hamstring injury. It's a huge loss - especially in light of the dense calendar that is ahead of us."