Rostov defeat Spartak to reach top 3

RPL Matchday 9
FC Rostov 4-2 Spartak Moscow
Sunday 11 September, Rostov Arena

Goals: Rostov – Poloz (28, pen 70), Utkin (34), Komlichenko (53); Spartak – Promes (24), Sobolev (76)
Man of the Match: Dmitry Poloz (Rostov)

Former Spartak player and manager Valery Karpin hosted Red-Whites with Rostov, and firstly, his side let the visitors get the lead. Quincy Promes technically caught the ball from Maciej Rybus cross and sent it to the net, so RPL top scorer got his eighth goal this season. Then Rostov made a statement with Dmitry Poloz getting the ball from Nikolay Komlichenko and sending it straight to the right corner, and another long shot goal was made by Daniil Utkin twisting the ball to the top corner.

The hosts continued to impress in the second half, Utkin and Komlichenko duo reminded themselves, as first one intercepted the pass and second one realized the moment. Khoren Bayramyan went to the field from the bench and earned a penalty for his side being pushed by Rybus, and Poloz beat Aleksandr Selikhov from the spot. Aleksandr Sobolev scored a header to cut the opponents lead to two goals, and 18-year-old newcomer Pavel Meleshin was near to get the goal in his debut but missed the net.

Rostov stay without losses and move to third on 19 points, while Spartak go fifth with 16 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 17 September – Rostov vs Krylia Sovetov; Sunday 18 September – Spartak vs Lokomotiv