by Aleks V | @aleksvee


In summer 2010, Schalke 04 forward Kevin Kuranyi signed a contract with Dynamo Moscow. He had already made a name for himself in Germany playing for Stuttgart and Schalke, and was looking for a new challenge. As a free agent, he could have gone anywhere. Ultimately, he chose the Russian Premier League. Though there was interest from Zenit St Petersburg, who, unlike Dynamo, had already won the league title in the post-Soviet championship, the Moscow club had piqued his interest. Ironically, his first goal for the Blue-and-Whites was in a 1:1 draw against Zenit.

Read More at RFN

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

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

Dynamo supporters were treated to yet another difficult match-up at Arena Khimki as the Moscovites took on Rostov. Though currently 12th in the league, the visitors are a formidable opponent this season, with new talent on the roster such as striker Danko Lazovic, on loan from Zenit as of this winter. Rostov coach Miodrag Bozovic has done great things with the team. He had a coaching stint at Dynamo a few years back and has since proven to be fairly consistent.

The Moscovites have been incredibly successful at home against Rostov, and today's result only confirmed their record. Dynamo did not have too good a start, trudging through the first half much like they did against Kuban last week. The World Cup Qualifiers took their toll on the team, with key players like Christian Noboa returning quite late to join in the pre-game prep, and Aleksandr Kokorin picking up an injury during the Russia-Brazil game. Striker Solomatin made his debut for the First Team, and though he didn't quite unlock his full potential, his presence set the stage for further competition within the starting eleven. Today's match was less about new faces and more of a blast from the past as veteran striker Kevin Kuranyi scored a classic far post header off the pitch from Dzsudzsak's corner delivery.

Rostov played a very physical game, making it even more difficult for the Moscovites to move forward. The home team still regained possession towards the end of the first half, maintaining it with class through the beginning of the next 45. Both teams had few chances however, making the game more oriented towards set pieces. The Moscovites lacked aggression on the ball, while Rostov was unable to finish most of its combinations. Holding up a 1:0 win and getting the three points is still an accomplishment for Dynamo, who are now in the top 5 of the Premier League Table.

Though some may say that Dynamo's main opponents are in the middle of the table, head coach Dan Petrescu begs to differ. "Every game is difficult," he pointed out at a post-match interview. "I think all ten teams have a chance, but I don't like to look at the table too much. When we had 0 points [after the first 5 games], I didn't look either. It's not good to look at the table now; I want to look at it at the end of the season." When asked about the possibility of a 3rd place finish, the ever-demanding Petrescu was realistic. "We have to not ask many things," he said. "The first and most important thing is to be in a position [to qualify for a European tournament]." Rostov's Miodrag Bozovic predicted a fifth place finish for his former club and praised Dynamo's defense in today's game, but also noted the lack of Russian international Aleksandr Kokorin on the pitch. "[The game] would have been a completely different story," said the Montenegrin specialist.

The Moscovites remain unbeaten in the 2nd leg of the RPL, though they recently lost their friendly against FC Khimki. They currently have an 8-game unbeaten streak in both legs of the championship.

Russian Premier League - Matchweek 22
Saturday, March 30, 2013, 10:30am ET

Dynamo Moscow vs Rostov - 1:0 (1:0)
Venue: Arena Khimki
Referee: Aleksei Eskov (Moscow)
Assistant Referees: Aleksei Vorontsov (Yaroslavl), Aleksei Lunev (Novosibirsk)
Goals:
(27') 1:0 Kevin Kuranyi (Asst. Balazs Dzsudzsak)

Full Time Stats:

Possession (%): 49:51
Shots (on target): 10 (3) :7 (2)
Corners: 4:5
Fouls: 16:20
Yellow Cards: 0:2
Red Cards: 0:0

Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna shakes hands with Dynamo captain Leandro Fernandez. Photo: Shakhtar.com

It may not have been a Champions League game. It may not have been a Europa League game. There are no records of the teams having played each other in the 21st century. Yet years of success against the Pitmen lie deep in the history of Dynamo Moscow, with 45 wins and 26 draws in 91 games. Both clubs have gone through considerable changes since their last encounter. Shakhtar have flourished under Mircea Lucescu's management, and Dynamo Moscow have begun to climb back up the league table thanks to Dan Petrescu. Shakhtar showed no mercy against the blue-and-whites, treating the friendly as they would a Champions League round. Both teams had some of their best players on the pitch at the start of the game, though Dynamo failed to incorporate the veteran goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky. The first half was relatively equal, both teams eager to score but neither posing much of a threat. Shakhtar's tiki taka passes gave them a bit of an edge in possession towards halftime. Dynamo's Dzsudzsak and Granat lacked accuracy with their crosses, failing to get the ball into Shakhtar's box. What the Moscovites lacked in the offense, however, they made up for with a solid back four. Epureanu and Wilkshire were especially effective in marking Shakhtar's players. Dynamo Captain Leandro Fernandez remains consistent in all the friendlies, both as a leader and set piece taker. Eventually, a sign of things to come hit the team when Henrikh Mkhitaryan netted the ball from offside not long before halftime.

The omen continued as Shakhtar came on for the second half, immediately hovering in Dynamo's box and more eager to score than ever. Set pieces were key in the game, and Dynamo's corner on the 60th minute gave the Moscovites a Kuranyi goal smack dab in the middle of the net. Shakhtar keeper Kanibolotskiy acquired an injury during the game, and Pyatov, who played well in the first half, took to tending the net once again. But even the Pitmen's main keeper couldn't parry Christian Noboa's brilliant free kick delivery, and the ball comfortably grazed the far post of the net. Defensive subs seemed to play a negative role for the Moscovites as Shakhtar found plenty of space to storm the box, ensuring there would be no clean sheet for Anton Shunin. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose thirst for goals had considerably increased in the second half, easily shot a ball past the Dynamo keeper. What followed was a series of dangerous corners from the likes of the Pitmen, many of which may have led to a potential equalizer. Adriano and Fernandinho created a threatening central attack, and Taison's set piece deliveries were an essential element of Shakhtar's powerhouse.

The Moscovites escaped with a 2:1 win, though the game seemed to be heading for a draw. Interestingly, Shakhtar and Dynamo's last meeting also ended with a narrow win, a 3:2 victory for the Moscovites back in October 1991. Today, Dynamo played a worthy 90 minutes against the Champions League contenders. The quality of play showed that it may not be long before the world bears witness to a Dynamo Moscow-Shakhtar Donetsk game in a European competition, and that, perhaps, may go on to become one of the most memorable games of all time.


Shakhtar Donetsk vs Dynamo Moscow - 1:2 (0:0)
Venue: Mardan Sports Complex (Antalya, Turkey)
Referee: Sergei Kostevitch (1st half), Timur Arslanbekov (2nd half)
Goals:
0:1 (60') Kevin Kuranyi (Asst. Balasz Dzsudzsak)
0:2 (78') Christian Noboa (free kick)
1:2 (82') Henrikh Mkhitaryan


Line-Ups:

Shakhtar Donetsk:
11 Eduardo (29 Teixera, 46') - 9 Adriano
28 Taison - 7 Fernandinho - 3 Hübschman (6 Stepanenko, 69') - 22 Mkhitaryan
26 Rat (95 Sobol, 77') - 27 Chygrynskiy (5 Kucher, 46') - 44 Rakitskiy - 33 Srna (C)
30 Pyatov (32 Kanibolotskiy, 46', Pyatov, 69')

Dynamo Moscow:
22 Kuranyi (8 Davydov, 60') - 9 Kokorin (78 Solomatin)
90 Solovyev (61 Yevseyev, 88') - 16 Noboa - 14 Yusupov (41 Sapeta, 88') - 7 Dzsudzsak
13 Granat - 6 Fernandez (C) - 15 Epureanu (11 Ignatovich, 60') - 23 Wilkshire (44 Chicherin, 60')
1 Shunin

In a match that was compared by the commentator to the snow scene in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, a struggling Dynamo Moscow somehow found its way to a win over a team that should not have been difficult to beat. The first half was another sorry sight for Dynamo fans as the team failed to create chances against an outsider. The scenario was almost as embarrassing as the first half of Reading vs. Arsenal, except that it was scoreless, snowy, and with a last-place Second tier team. Like Arsenal, though, Dynamo had various significant absences, including forwards Balázs Dzsudzsák and Aleksandr Kokorin, defender Luke Wilkshire, and midfielder Aleksandr Sapeta. Dynamo had the ball for less than 15 minutes, long enough for Christian Noboa to try his hand at some long balls and make use of Khimki keeper Gavrilov's bad clearance. Despite starting off with the initiative, the Premier League outsiders soon lost the ball to Khimki. Solovyev made a run on the left flank, passing to Gvazaev, whose shot flew right into Dynamo keeper Shunin's hands. The next attempt was a solid one, and Shunin came through with a save, converting the powerful shot to a corner. Jantscher made occasional runs on the right flank, but the striker so far is the Lukas Podolski of his new team - his past success on the pitch is not very visible in the present. Khimki were quick to counter at every opportunity, though in most cases the players sent the ball high over the bar. Komkov's chip shot tested Shunin, and the keeper came through with a great save. As the game drew closer to a scoreless halftime, Dynamo created one serious attempt, led by skipper Igor Semshov's long ball. Gavrilov's diving save left the ball in play, and Kevin Kuranyi picked up the rebound, but the keeper was quick to react a second time. With six players up front for another attack, it seemed illogical that Dynamo wouldn't open up the score, but Granat's cross from the left flank only resulted in another high shot by Kuranyi. The lack of Aleksandr Kokorin was just as apparent as the absence of Cesc Fabregas would be for Barcelona. Dynamo Manager Dan Petrescu had his usual falling out with the referees. Taking cover behind the local police, he was ultimately escorted off the pitch by the fourth official, forced to watch the rest of the match from the stands.

Despite having a home field advantage and being well ahead in the game, Khimki were first to make a substitution, bringing out their injured player. The match remained the same - Dynamo looked like they had switched places with Khimki, with veterans Semshov and Kuranyi losing the ball in the box, unable to get even one shot on Gavrilov's net. Naturally, Petrescu's team was first to concede, as Filatov's cross from the left flank gave Sobolev a close-range shot that Shunin failed to save. Dynamo responded by strengthening the midfield, bringing out Misimovic for Noboa and 19-year-old reserve player Ivan Solovyev for Nekhaichik. Weak attempts by Misimovic and Kuranyi were like flies for keeper Gavrilov. The Blue-and-Whites collected a series of unnecessary yellows. Too many passes drew out Dynamo's combinations into long, grueling progressions. The entrance of another rookie, Andrei Panyukov, got Dynamo back into an attack-oriented game, though they nearly conceded a second goal after Fernandez lost the ball in the 18-yard box, while his teammate gave away a dangerous free kick. In a worst-case scenario, Khimki would have gotten their second win over Dynamo since 2006. Yet Leandro Fernandez made up for his defensive mishap. After a cross into the box, the Argentine made a last-second pass as he flew past the goal line to Kevin Kuranyi, who finished the job inches away from the net. The team once again avoided a Khimki goal after Komkov's dangerous cross in the box went out, neither of his teammates willing to go the extra mile. As the guest team's fans chanted louder and louder, and snow began to lightly fall on the pitch, 18-year-old Andrei Panyukov picked up a beautiful through ball in a solo run and swiveled before sending in the goal and sending his team to the Quarterfinals. Khimki were back on the attack, however, and there were still four minutes left to change the score. Fortunately for the Blue-and-Whites, Khimki's long balls and set pieces flew far from the net.

"Loyalty to the grave". Khimki supporters hope for a win.

Though not as stylish a comeback as Arsenal's, both Dynamo and the Gunners are through to their respective Quarterfinals. Dynamo will face Hiddink's Anzhi for a spot in the Semifinals. It'll be a tough match, especially for Petrescu's team. The manager would do well to rotate the keepers and let the veteran Roman Berezovsky play instead of Anton Shunin. The latter was excluded from Capello's NT roster, and for good reason. Unlike Shunin, the 38-year-old Berezovsky has a brilliant record and is a penalty-saving legend. Ironically, he had a spell at FC Khimki, where he played 175 games before being sold to Dynamo. Another important player is forward Aleksandr Kokorin, who will hopefully be fit for that match as well - he's a goal-scoring giant when he wants to be, and like Panyukov, he's still young and can do wonders for his career by giving his best.

Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu gestures from the stands.

"The team showed character today, winning against a very uncompromising opponent," said Dan Petrescu in an interview with the club's press. Regarding Panyukov and the other rookies, Petrescu believes that every player has a chance to become a regular starter for the team if he proves himself. He spoke briefly about the game, but failed to elaborate on the situation with the referees, saying only that he has a valid reason to be upset. "Many of the referee's decisions, in particular his whistles and bookings in our direction, I cannot understand. But the fact that only we (Dynamo) were punished is, in my opinion, very strange."

If Arsenal fans have long debated the importance of winning the League Cup, Chelsea's legendary defender and current Dynamo manager knows exactly where he stands on the issue. "I don't ask that question," he said. "For me, there's only the next game."

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

"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress."
- Bruce Barton

Stuttgart players Torun, Traore, Hajnal, and co. celebrate their teammate's goal. Source: jerrykiki

In the last round before the Group Stage of the Europa League, Bundesliga's VfB Stuttgart defeated RPL side FC Dynamo Moscow 2-0 at Mercedes-Benz Arena. The fact that the game was a bit of a sleeper didn't prevent fans from coming out to support their teams. The stadium really filled up during halftime. 5-time German champions Stuttgart, who finished 6th in the 2011-12 season of the Bundesliga, faced off against a team that lost 5 consecutive league games, scoring only one goal and winning only in their last qualifier against Scottish side Dundee United. For Dynamo captain Kevin Kuranyi, the match was a bit nostalgic. The striker ended his youth career playing for Stuttgart and played for both the reserve team and the main team in the early 2000's. The match was an important one for Dynamo's new coach, Chelsea "Ledge" Dan Petrescu. The Romanian manager's debut match wasn't exactly a party, but it did give him his first real insight into the team's issues and a useful view from the sidelines, as he has to miss another RPL match due to his disqualification. 

Dynamo's Luke Wilkshire made a few early challenges; the Sergio Ramos of Dynamo earned his customary yellow of the match on the 5th minute of play. There wasn't much action on the pitch from either team, and the commentator filled up the time by reminiscing on Stuttgart's success. The German team won the championship and were runners-up of the German Cup 5 years ago. Evidently, today's Stuttgart is as far from their past success as Dynamo is from their last victory. The German team had more of the ball, but weren't making a real effort of storming the net. The guests, meanwhile, kept losing the ball in completely pointless scenarios that even a third league English club wouldn't be caught in the middle of. Though neither team had an edge to their game, the cheers of Dynamo fans escalated when Wilkshire passed to Balázs Dzsudzsák, but the latter  shot the ball high into the stands. Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki made a few runs up the left flank and would have gotten away with getting an assist if it wasn't for his meddling teammates. The German club's forwards were like the Dynamo defense; though physically present, they made the occasional uninsightful appearance on the pitch. Dynamo keeper Shunin barely saved Martin Harnik's header on the 27th minute, a warning to the Russian team. Despite the fact that the Germans weren't pushing forward, Dynamo players chose to lie low and stick around on their half of the pitch, where they kept losing the ball. Some of Stuttgart's fouls were ignored by the Scottish referee, making the commentator question whether the official was simply going easy on the teams because of the situation with Glasgow Rangers. Yusupov, not one to usually create something effective, had a shot from 35 meters out, but the ball was well off target. Frustrated with his team's lack of action, Dan Petrescu subbed out Misimovic for Semshov on the 38th minute of play. Perhaps he assumed that the veteran player, who wasn't getting call-ups for the National Team, would be motivated to prove himself on the pitch and thus freshen things up. It was the Dynamo defense, however, that was effective in the last ten minutes of the first half, preventing Harnik from making a vital pass. Dynamo got a few set pieces, all of which amounted to nothing. A result-less first half for both teams still saw much more of the German team than the Russians. Stuttgart led 4-2 in shots, 2 of which were on goal, while Dynamo hadn't even hit the target. The Germans were ahead on set pieces. Dynamo was only ahead in fouls (9-8). 

The lack of halftime substitutions was surprising; at this point, both teams needed to make significant changes and take risks. It's the playoff stage - there's no messing around. Not surprisingly, Artur Yusupov earned the second yellow of the match. The Dynamo midfielder was booked for a completely unnecessary challenge. Noboa's foul gave away a free kick to Stuttgart early on. FCD had a free kick themselves, but the usual scenario was in play. Yet Stuttgart were swooping around the opposition's box, and they weren't about to leave anytime soon. Bruno Labbadia, who took over as manager of the German club after the team's rendezvous in the relegation zone in the 2010-2011 season, made a double substitution. Okazaki, who was no longer as active as he was at the start of the first half, came off for left winger Ibrahima Traoré, while Tunay Torun came on for Harnik. The Germans continued to occupy the opposition's box, with the exception of Dynamo's first corner on the 68th minute. Labbadia knew how to change up the game - the lackluster team finally countered, and Shunin cleared the ball out for a throw-in. Unfortunately, the Dynamo keeper is the Catastrophe James of Russian football. Defender Tim Hoogland, on loan from Schalke, had a shot that could have been easily taken by an average goalkeeper. Shunin bounced the ball away instead, and the stale defense stood motionless as Vedad Ibisevic shot the ball in on the rebound from close range. Kuranyi, who was playing with an injury, was subbed off for the 17-year-old rookie Andrei Panyukov. Meanwhile, Stuttgart's Hajnal left the pitch for forward Cacau. The Germans were finally putting on the pressure, something that Dynamo hadn't been able to do at all during the match. As soon as Cacao came on, he attempted to get a long range shot in. A corner by the home team was successfully cleared by Shunin. Petrescu's last sub was bringing on Vladimir Granat for Pavel Nyakhaychyk. A pseudo-attempt by Dynamo finally came on the 87th minute when a delivery from the left flank gave Leandro Fernandez and Panyukov the opportunity for a header, but neither player could reach the ball. Stuttgart's next corner was cleared by Shunin, and the rebound by William Kvist went over the net. Cacao was still looking for a goal, but his attempt fell through as well. It was almost too easy to assume that the match was coming to a close. Yet Stuttgart wasn't done. Traore curved the ball toward Ibisevic. The Dynamo defense practically gave away the second goal, and the Bosnian footballer celebrated his double. Dynamo did little in added time, though they finally got a bit of possession and a set piece. The team's sloppy handling of the ball ended the first leg of the playoffs in a loss, while Stuttgart set a great precursor for their season in the Bundesliga.

One of the oft-used sayings about any sport is that one learns much less from victory than from defeat. Hopefully that translates into Dan Petrescu learning of Dynamo's non-existent midfield and lack of physical fitness. The transfer window is still open for about 2 more weeks. Will FCD pick up at least one new player? Will Petrescu find a way to both motivate the players and get the team in shape for the coming games? It's quite likely we'll find the answers to these and other questions very soon. In just 3 days, the Russian team will play their 6th game of the RPL against Lokomotiv. The second leg of the Europa League qualification playoffs against Stuttgart will be played on the 28th at 12pm EST. Dynamo's 7th RPL match on September 2nd will be against none other than Dan Petrescu's former club, Kuban. It doesn't get more ironic than this. Except maybe if Dynamo somehow won the RPL this season. The world of football is full of surprises. As Southampton's recent match with Manchester City showed, there's no telling what's in store for any team this season.


UEFA Europa League Qualifiers - Playoff Stage
Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 12:15pm EST

VfB Stuttgart vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 2:0 (0:0) 
Arena: Mercedes-Benz Arena (Stuttgart, Germany)
Referee: William Collum (Scotland)
Goals: 
1:0 Vedad Ibisevic ('71)
2:0 Vedad Ibisevic (Asst. Ibrahima Traore) ('90+)