Eremenko penalty helps Rostov to draw with Pakhtakor

Rostov opened up their winter training friendlies with a 1-1 draw against Uzbek side Pakhtakor in Abu Dhabi. A Roman Eremenko penalty five minutes from the end cancelled out Farrukh Sayfiev’s 52nd-minute opener.

Pavel Mamaev pulled on a Rostov shirt for the first time after the break alongside new signing Maksim Osipenko. Eighteen-year-old full-backs Danila Vedernikov - signed from Krasnodar last summer - and trialist Vladislav Kozhemyakin started the game alongside Dinamo Moscow II’s goalkeeper Egor Sedov, who was also on trial.

Pakhtakor Tashkent was the only club side from Uzbekistan to appear in the Soviet Higher League, or to make the Soviet Cup final. Currently managed by former Ajax striker Shota Arveladze, they have twice made the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.

Rostov will remain in the UAE until Saturday, but don’t have any more warmup matches scheduled until they take part in the PariMatch Premier Cup in Qatar against Spartak Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow and Partizan Belgrade in February.

Rostov 1-1 Pakhtakor
20 January, Abu Dhabi
Goals: Eremenko 85’ (p); Sayfiev 52’

First half: Sedov, Vedernikov, Hadzikadunic, Kozhemyakin, Kozlov, Saletros, Bayramyan, Popov, Saplinov, Ionov, Proshlyakov
Second half: Sedov, Malyarov, Chistyakov, Osipenko, Chernov, Cherkes, Mamaev, Eremenko, Zaynutdinov, Osipov, Dolgov