Bakaev’s penalty earns derby win and semi-final spot for Spartak

CSKA Moscow 0-1 Spartak Moscow
Russian Cup quarter-final, Wednesday 20 April
VEB Arena

Goal: Spartak - Bakaev (pen, 21)
Sent off: CSKA - Gbamin (45+3)

After two wins by CSKA in the RPL the Main Moscow Derby continued in the Russian Cup with semi-final spot on the stakes. The Armymen made just one change from their starting 11 against Ufa, as Jesus Medina replaced Bakhtiyar Zaynutdinov, while Leon Klassen and Zelimkhan Bakaev started instead of Viktor Moses and Aleksandr Sobolev leaving Shamar Nicholson the only striker.

The Jamaican can be named as a co-star to the only goal, as his pass through the box was stopped by Jaka Bijol elbow, and VAR turned the corner kick to a penalty. The shot was taken by Bakaev, and he beat Igor Akinfeev scoring only the second goal in all tournaments this season.

Akinfeev was that hero for the hosts, who kept them in the game, especially after Jean-Philippe Gbamin was sent off with two yellow cards for unsportsmanlike behavior and elbowing. CSKA captain made eight saves in total. Even with one man down the Armymen hit the crossbar twice after shots by Jorge Carrascal and Georgy Shchennikov, but Aleksandr Maksimenko got the clean sheet, his second in the last three games.

Spartak with Dynamo Moscow are the only RPL representatives in the next stage of the tournament. The draw for the Russian Cup semi-finals will take place on Thursday 21 April, while the fixtures are scheduled to play on 11-12 May.