There are just a few hours left until the start of the new Russian Cup. In the first match of the Path of Regions, the media club 2DROTS will play against Strogino. Let’s remember how the Media League clubs competed in the Russian Cup.
How the fifth season of the Media League ended:
Former RPL players won the Media League under Brooks! And broke the main curse of media football
“Amkal”
This club first qualified for the Russian Cup in the 2022/2023 season. In general, it turned out well. The team reached the third round of the Path of Regions and there lost to Star St. Petersburg only in the penalty shootout. By the way, at that time the club from the Northern capital was coached by Dmitry Kombarov.
In the first round, Amkal was beaten by Zorkiy from Krasnogorsk. The regular time ended with the score 1:1, and the only goal for the media club was scored by former Zenit striker Alexei Gasilin. He now works as a TV pundit. The penalty shootout was extended, but luck was still on Amkal’s side (8:7).
Amkal players celebrate a goal in the Russian Cup
Photo by: FC Amkal
The Media Club then beat Tver (1-0). Dmitry Kuzkin scored in the 14th minute and his goal was the only one of the match, which most people remember for its loud scandal. But I did not manage to get past the “Star”. Amkal was saved from defeat in regular time (2-2) thanks to a goal in the 88th minute. The footballers of the Media Club failed in the penalty shoot-out: they converted only two out of four attempts. And the opponent, in turn, struck without missing. This meeting was also surrounded by scandals, but this time on the part of the judges.
Amkal’s second career was less successful. In the first round, the media club beat Krasnoe Znamya from Noginsk (3:2) and then stumbled against Tekstilshchik. The spectators did not see any goal in regular time, but Igor Kolyvanov’s team executed the penalty more accurately (4:3). Thus, Amkal has never lost in the Cup in regular time.
“Amkal” tied in minority:
“Amkal” almost performed another miracle! A bit of bad luck in the penalty shootout.
Amkal founder German Popkov commented on his team’s withdrawal from the Russian Cup after the defeat against Tekstilshchik.
“I am happy with my team’s performance. I am satisfied with every player and the staff. Everyone gave their best. Of course, one cannot be satisfied with the final result. The opposing goalkeeper played very well: he saved two penalties. It was his day.”
2DROTAS
A year earlier, Tekstilshchik stopped another media club in the Russian Cup. 2DROTS had a great start: in the first round they defeated Chertanovo 3:0. And then we were unable to cope with “Textilshchik”. The regular time ended with the score 1:1, and in the penalty shootout Kolyvanov’s players were luckier – 5:3. Thus, Dmitry Kuznetsov’s team finished its performance after the second round.
“It was clear that there was no smell of amateurism in 2DROTS,” Kolyvanov said after the match. “Dima Kuznetsov works for them, the organization is at a good level. They have “players”; they didn’t just take bloggers and created a team. We took this match absolutely seriously. They knew that an army of fans would come with them. The atmosphere at the match was incredible.”
2DROTS football players
Photo: VK.COM/MEDIA.FOOTBALL.LEAGUE
The second campaign in the Cup turned out to be much more successful for 2DROTS. So far, this is the only time in the history of the tournament that a media club has reached the fourth round of the Path of Regions. And this time there was not a single penalty shoot-out. Dmitry Kuznetsov’s team beat Sakhalin (2-0), Murom (3-1) and Dynamo Kirov (2-0) in succession. The top scorer of 2DROTS in these matches was Godfred Klutzey (two goals).
It is interesting that the match against Dynamo Kirov was played on a floating dock: an artificial pitch was specially placed there. As the RFU explained, this decision was made to popularize football. The game on the shores of the Barents Sea ended with a victory for 2DROTS.
Details of the most unusual match of the Russian Cup:
Historic success of the media club in the Russian Cup! 2DROTS won the match on the floating dock!
“It’s a pleasure to play in such a stadium. In 10 days, to organize everything, gather fans and set up such a field is something incredible. I understand that this will probably never happen to me again in my life. I’m very happy to have won in such a place. Great,” said 2DROTS goalkeeper Dmitry Sychev after the match.
The team reached the fourth round, where they faced Khimki from the First League. And here Kuznetsov’s team failed 0-2. True, they played most of the match with ten men after Klutsey was sent off in the 25th minute. After the match, representatives of the media criticized the work of Artur Fedorov’s refereeing team.
Here is what 2DROTS head coach Dmitry Kuznetsov had to say: “The first yellow card for Klutsey is correct. We look at the second one: there was no contact at all. Let it be on the judge’s conscience. Yes, Gaucho was aggressive, but the Khimki player’s legs moved away and there was no contact. These are the RPL judges. Shame and disgrace to judge in this way.”
And this is the opinion of the president of the media club, Nikita Panasyuk: “We are not satisfied with the refereeing during the match. There were strange moments: everyone whistled in favor of Khimki, any cross. They push our players, and without whistling. We need to reconsider.”
2DROTS Head Coach Dmitry Kuznetsov
Photo: Dmitry Golubovich, “Championship”
“Media of the Homeland”
The only Media League club that has not won a single Russian Cup. Unlike Amkal and 2DROTS, Rodina Media has participated in only one draw of the tournament. Last season, they reached the first round against Dynamo Vologda and lost 0:3, despite the presence of Russian champion Dmitry Tarasov in the line-up and Andrei Karyaka as coach.
“Rodina Media” failed in the only match of the Russian Cup:
The Media League champion was crushed in the Russian Cup. Even Tarasov did not help Andrey Karyaka’s team
Media Club footballer Viktor Blatov spoke about the reasons for the early exit from the Cup: “Our team just returned from vacation, half of them were drunk. This is real, it’s not a joke, you can write it like that. But we played well, before our lungs gave out, which were extinguished by hookahs. I can honestly say this. We played terribly and our organization… it was as if we were a little drunk.”
Three media clubs will take part in the new Russian Cup: Amkal, 2DROTS and BrokeBoys. The first team has never lost in the tournament during regular time. The second team has the best result among the Media League clubs (fourth round of the Russian Cup). And the third team will make its debut in the National Cup.
By the way, Media League representatives often get into unpleasant situations at the Russian Cup: there are fights, insults to referees and scandals at their matches. Clubs even have to pay fines for offensive chants by their fans. I wonder how the new performance of media clubs at the tournament will turn out.
