Larsson seals pulsating Olimp Russian Cup Moscow derby for 10-man Spartak

Spartak Moscow 3-2 CSKA Moscow (AET - 2-2)

Wednesday 4 March, Otkritie Arena

Goals: Bakaev (4’), Ponce (14’), Larsson (107’); Diveev (17’), Akhmetov (45’+1)

Sent off: Ezequiel Ponce (103’)

Jordan Larsson’s extra-time finish capped a breathtaking Olimp Russian Cup quarter final win for Spartak Moscow moments after fellow goalscorer Ezequiel Ponce had been sent off. Spartak had raced into a 2-0 lead after 14 minutes through Zelimkhan Bakaev and Ponce before being pegged back by Igor Diveev and Ilzat Akhmetov’s strikes for CSKA Moscow.

Days after a rousing 2-0 derby win over Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier Liga, Spartak got off to the perfect start when Bakaev picked up the ball inside the centre circle. A dropped shoulder bought space to beat Akhmetov and carry all the way to CSKA’s area to arrow in a precise bottom-corner finish from 20 yards.

After 12 minutes Aleksandr Sobolev evaded Vadim Karpov’s attentions with a delightful first touch before skipping past Viktor Vasin’s lunge. Although he ran out of space, strike partner Ponce picked up the loose ball and steered it past Igor Akinfeev.

CSKA didn’t drop their heads, however, and didn’t wait long to pull one back. Nikola Vlasic stepped over an innocuous cross from Konstantin Kuchaev to allow an unmarked Igor Diveev time to control and prod home from six yards out.

Akinfeev had a mixture of fortune and his own alertness to thank for keeping the score at 2-1. Sobolev could only gently nod a free header from six yards out into his arms, moments before a rapid counter attack left Ayrton Lucas racing in only to be met by Akinfeev’s brave smother.

Sobolev and Bakaev were denied in quick succession shortly after the half-hour mark by some desperate defending from Akhmetov. At the other end on the stroke of half time, the CSKA midfielder smashed in an unstoppable equaliser from Samuel Gigot’s wayward knockdown header.

Spartak piled on the pressure after the break with a string of shots on goal, including a rasping left-footed effort from right-back Nikolay Rasskazov that had Akinfeev scrambling. In the last minute of added time there were strong calls for a Spartak penalty when the ball struck Diveev’s arm.

It was CSKA who threatened first in extra time when substitute Ilya Shkurin beat Maksimenko but struck the foot of the post on the turn. Ponce was then shown a second yellow card after tangling with Karpov to hand the initiative to CSKA.

Almost two minutes into the second period of extra time Maksimenko booted a hopeful ball out from his area. Larsson got the run on Diveev before rifling a first-time volley into the far corner. There was still time for Ilya Shkurin to feed off a knock-down from Oblyakov’s cross, but his shot was blocked by Gigot.

Spartak Moscow will face Zenit St. Petersburg in the Olimp Russian Cup semi final in April.

Spartak Moscow: Maksimenko, Rasskazov (Eshchenko 90’+1), Kutepov, Dzhikia, Gigot, Ayrton (Melgarejo 119’), Zobnin, Bakaev (46’), Kral, Ponce (sent off 103’), Sobolev (Larsson 74’)

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Karpov (Bijol 109’), Vasin, Diveev, Nababkin, Bistrovic, Akhmetov (Oblyakov 78’), Kuchaev (Dzagoev 82’), Vlasic, Chalov (Shkurin 94’)