Location: Arena Khimki, Khimki, Russia; Time: 17:00 (MSK); Attendance: ~350
Score: Russia 3-1 Bulgaria (Obukhov 19′; Kolev 45+4′; Obukhov 48′; Bazelyuk 63′)
Russia XI: Egor Baburin, Petr Ten, Ilya Zuev, Aleksei Nikitin (c), Dmitri Golubev, Vladimir Obukhov, Igor Lambarschi, Roman Emelyanov (Aleksei Miranchuk 46′), Aleksandr Kozlov (Ivan Solovyev 86′), Magomed Mitrishev (Andrei Panyukov 46′), Konstantin Bazelyuk.
Bulgaria XI: Dimitar Evtimov, Anton Nedyalkov, Acen Georgiev, Ivan Goranov, Simeon Slavchev (c), Aleksandr Kolev (Zhivko Petkov 69′), Ivajilo Chochev, Edisson Jordanov, Radoslav Kirilov (Bozhidar Vasev 90+2′), Milen Gamakov, Angel Granchov (18′ – red).
Russia U21 moved into 1st place in Group 2 Euro 2015 qualifying, knocking off Bulgaria 3-1 in front of a sparse Arena Khimki crowd. Spartak midfielder Vladimir Obukhov gave the home team an early lead, converting from the spot in the 19th minute, while his second strike, and CSKA forward Konstantin Bazelyuk’s 3rd goal of the campaign, salted away the 3-1 victory in the second half.
When Angel Granchov was sent off for a clear-path foul on Konstantin Bazelyuk in the 18th minute, leading to Obukhov’s penalty, Bulgaria appeared to be sunk. But Aleksandar Kolev levelled the score just before halftime, bundling in a cross from Simeon Slavchev, thanks to some confusion in the box.
“I wouldn’t say the defense played well today,” noted Russia captain and center back Aleksei Nikitin following the match.
Similar to the conceded goal against an over-matched Slovenia on Friday, Russia had created an unnecessary headache for itself.
“We didn’t want to be known for giving up our advantage,” Russia coach Nikolay Pisarev said about the attitude in the locker room at halftime.
Not to worry, Obukhov put Russia ahead in the 48th minute after a hard-earned, perfectly placed cross from midfielder Aleksandr Kozlov.
15 minutes later, Bazelyuk slammed the door shut on Bulgaria, picking out a deep pass from Obukhov, out-running his defender and sliding a hard, low shot beneath Bulgarian keeper Dimitar Evtimov’s body and into the right corner of the goal.
Man of the Match:
Spartak midfielder Aleksandr Kozlov. His well-timed pass to a streaking Konstantin Bazelyuk set up Granchov’s red card and Obukhov’s subsequent penalty strike. Neither side had created anything of substance up until that point, but with a numerical advantage, Russia assumed greater control, led often by Kozlov’s bursting runs down the left flank and dangerous crosses.
One such moment – Kozlov turned the corner on his defender at the baseline and dropped a soft cross at Obukhov’s feet in front of the goal – led to Russia’s second goal.
And though Kozlov wouldn’t be involved in Russia’s third, he continued to run loose on the left flank. alternating speed with technique, until his substitution in the 86th. Just minutes after the assist to Obukhov, Kozlov sent his defender flying, cutting back sharply a few yards from the line, to send another cross over to threaten the increasingly harried Evtimov.
Quotable:
Russia manager Nikolay Pisarev:
On his team’s improved performance in the 2nd half: “The opponent was down a man. They got tired and we looked fresher, plus our substitutions. They just got tired.”
On the amount of time needed to gel as a team: “A week is at least something. It’s better than just two days, when you can’t really do anything. The players in the Premier League don’t get much playing time, sitting on the bench at their clubs. But we were able to get something done.”
Bulgaria manager Mihail Madanski:
“I won’t say what I think about the officiating, because if I do there will be a fine.”
“I think Russia is a better team and a good team and they deserved success and a result with their play, with their behavior.”
On the condition of the Arena Khimki pitch: “No, I’m not satisfied. There wasn’t a pitch. What can you say about the quality, if there wasn’t a pitch?”
Notes:
Only about 350 fans in attendance for the 5 pm kick-off on the outskirts of Moscow. Last fall, Russia’s U21 played several matches in Ekaterinburg, drawing crowds of 15-20,000. Asked about whether the team might play elsewhere than in Moscow in October and November, Pisarev was noncommital, but said that it would be discussed in the weeks to come.
Terek midfielder Magomed Mitrishev, playing on the right wing, was active, but unlike Kozlov, struggled with accuracy on his crosses and often hesitated with the ball, giving defenders time to catch up and neutralize him. His substitution at halftime, replaced by Dynamo forward Andrei Panyukov, was not surprising.
Remaining qualifying matches this fall: at Bulgaria, October 11; home to Denmark, October 15; at Slovenia, November 15; home to Estonia, November 19.