Krasnodar opened up their winter training schedule with a 2-1 win over Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest on Wednesday. Goals from Nikita Sergeev and Ari were enough to see off their opponents.

Dinamo, who are already on their third match of winter break training, took the lead after 37 minutes through midfielder Filip Mrzljak. The Croatian finished from inside the box into Matvey Safonov’s top corner.

After half time Krasnodar changed their lineup for academy graduates, debutant Egor Sorokin, and the experience of Ari, Andrey Sinitsin and Kaio Pantelao. The youthful changes did the trick, although it was Ari who finished the turnaround.

Sergeev has scored four goals in 22 matches for Krasnodar II in the FNL this season, and has been called up to the Russia under-20 squad. Murad Musaev’s assistant at Krasnodar, Sergey Matveev, handed the youngster his debut for Russia under-18s nearly four years ago.

Krasnodar 2-1 Dinamo Bucharest
22 January,
Goals: Sergeev 57', Ari 63'; Mrzljak 37'

First half: Safonov, Petrov, Fjolusson, Martynovich, Stotskiy, Olsson, Gazinskiy, Vilhenna, Fernandes, Berg, Sulaymanov
Second half: Sinytsin, Ivashin, Sorokin, Borodin, Bochko, Kaio, Chernikov (Onugkha 79'), Utkin, Sergeev, Ari, Kutovoy