FC Krasnodar 2-0 FC Ufa

Sunday 1 March, Krasnodar Stadium

Goals: Berg (68’), Ari (83’)

Man of the Match: Marcus Berg

Marcus Berg came off the bench to break the deadlock for FC Krasnodar after a frustrating first hour against FC Ufa. he was first to react to the rebound from Wanderson’s blocked shot midway through the second half, and volleyed past Aleksandr Belenov.

In the tenth minute Fernandes bent in an inswinging free kick towards Chernikov, but the youngster couldn’t quite reach the ball despite an outstretched leg.

After 15 minutes Krotov suddenly broke free behind Petrov with half an ounce of space. His cross drifted over everyone all the way through to Aleksandr Sukhov, who returned a cross back towards Krotov to attempt a wild scissor kick.

He was also responsible for the closest opening of the first half five minutes before half time. As Lovro Bizjak peeled off, Krotov surged from the halfway line into the space left before drilling a low shot at the bottom corner. Safonov tipped it round the post. 

Belenov by contrast hadn’t had a single save to make. Kristoffer Olsson probed a few times looking for Danil Utkin - one time demanding the ball from Safonov and sparking a crossing chance for Wanderson, but the delivery was poor.

Intricate one-touch passing between Wanderson, Utkin and Fernandes came to nothing. No real openings. Couple of frustrated challenges went in from FC Krasnodar just before half time as if to demonstrate their struggles to break FC Ufa down.

With no greater impetus after 10 second-half minutes, Sergey Matveev sent on his game-changer, Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov. With quarter of an hour left he lifted the crowd with a trademark one-two with Berg and fierce shot but couldn’t beat Belenov.

It was his more experienced teammates who had provided the breakthrough a few minutes earlier. Ari played in Wanderson half way through the second period, and although Belenov was out early to block his shot he could do nothing to stop Marcus Berg’s volley from the rebound.
 
Olivier Thill’s corner was headed out before being recycled back into the box. Urunov reached a loose ball first, and used a Maradona turn to outwit Sergey Petrov before blazing over from no more than 10 yards out.

Kaio had to be alert to keep pace with Lovro Bizjak a few minutes later after the Slovenian striker had stolen a start on the Brazilian. FC Krasnodar responded through Wanderson who burst into the box and drew a flying save from Belenov.

FC Ufa’s keeper was suddenly in the spotlight again with 10 minutes left, when VAR intervened to award FC Krasnodar a penalty. Belenov saved brilliantly to his left but was adjudged to have come off his line.

With the retake ordered, Ari made no mistake to put FC Krasnodar 2-0 up. 

FC Krasnodar travel to face Spartak Moscow next, while FC Ufa are away to Zenit St. Petersburg. Both matches are on Monday 9 March.

FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Petrov, Sorokin, Kaio, Ramirez, Utkin (Suleymanov 56’), Olsson, Chernikov (Berg 46’), Fernandes, Ari, Wanderson (Sergeev 88’)

FC Ufa: Belenov, Nedelcearu, Tabidze, Jokic, Aliev, Sukhov, Fomin, Thill (Terentyev 79’), Urunov, Krotov (Agalarov 69’), Bizjak (Vombergar 74’)