Does the final result of yesterday’s CSKA – Zenit match correspond with what happened on the field?
Alexander Tarkhanov: It turned out to be a classic cup match and overall CSKA had the advantage. In turn, Zenit tested players who had not recently appeared in the main squad. There were few opportunities for both the home team and the guests, but if there were, then the draw equaled this game like no other. As for the goals, both were scored after mistakes, first by the defenders of the St. Petersburg team, and then by the young goalkeeper of the army team, who unsuccessfully went out of the gate and did not reach the ball.
CSKA coach Vladimir Fedotov believes his team was closer to victory…
Alexander Tarkhanov: In fact, the military team was closer to victory: they constantly put pressure on Zenit’s goal and did so even at the end of the match, when both opponents were tired.
Anton Zabolotny, who will turn 33 in June, scored for CSKA. For a footballer, especially a striker, this is far from childhood, but Anton still surprises with his thirst for fight. Is this goal a reward for his selfless love of football?
Alexander Tarkhanov: At this point, Anton fought to the end and, in the end, a well-deserved success. But he remembers: he scores goals like this regularly: he goes to the end, wins the fight and gets it right. In terms of age, today they play even at 40 years old. But before it was simply impossible to go to the football field at that age: young people pushed you and there was nothing left but to hang up your boots at 30. Well, now the opportunities for recovery and treatment are completely different, so the football age of many players lasts for many years. By the way, Anton can continue to benefit CSKA: the main thing is that the club concludes. a new contract with him Yesterday they asked him a question about it, but he remained silent, which means that they have not yet offered to renew his relationship at the Club.
In the second half, it seemed that Zenit, like a boa constrictor, slowly but surely squeezed the army team in its arms. As a result, he finally tied the score. Could I have won?
Alexander Tarjanov: I think he didn’t have the right time for it. Yes, Zenit achieved an acceptable result, but they still did not play enough to win.
The St. Petersburg team presented a largely experimental lineup for the match, and in this too it looked, as they say, very, very…
Alexander Tarkhanov: …However, not everything went well for them. But be that as it may, absolutely all Zenit players are high-level teachers: both ours and foreigners. The St. Petersburg club remains the favorite in all the tournaments in which it participates.
Now the military team will have two matches against Zenit in St. Petersburg. Naturally, for both the cup match and the national championship match, the hosts will present their strongest team. Does CSKA have a chance?
Alexander Tarkhanov: Of course, in home matches, and even more so in the match for the Russian Championship, Zenit will field the strongest… But CSKA will also have a chance to win. Vladimir Fedotov has very good teachers at his disposal, I cannot say that they are in any way weaker than the St. Petersburg players. Therefore, the upcoming matches, both the national championship match on May 11 and the second leg of the RPL Russian Cup final on May 15, will be difficult for both CSKA and Zenit.
