VAR denies Spartak’s Sobolev twice late on in goalless draw with Ufa

Spartak Moscow 0-0 Ufa
Saturday 27 June, Otkritie Arena

Man of the Match: Aleksandr Belenov

Aleksandr Sobolev came off the bench to twice score what he thought were late winners for Spartak Moscow, only to see them both ruled out by VAR reviews. 

Despite dominating attacking possession and chances, Spartak Moscow could not find a way past a well-organised FC Ufa defence. The visitors threatened sporadically on the counter-attack, with Oston Urunov going closest early in the second half.

The opening half was devoid of clear-cut chances for either side, but just after the break Jordan Larsson stabbed a first-time effort wide. They were given a fright moments later when Urunov robbed Pavel Maslov of possession just inside the Spartak half, carried the ball at pace and shot a foot wide of Aleksandr Maksimenko’s post.

Sobolev came off the bench after an hour as Domenico Tedesco searched for a winner, with Samuel Gigot spending most of the closing minutes in Ufa’s penalty area, but to no avail.

Spartak Moscow take on city rivals CSKA away on Tuesday 30 June, while FC Ufa host Rubin Kazan the next day.

Spartak Moscow: Maksimenko, Maslov, Gigot, Gaponov, Eshchenko (Golosov 84’), Kral, Zobnin (Markitesov 90+3’), Rasskazov, Bakaev (Umyarov 63’), Ponce (Mirzov 84’), Larsson (Sobolev 63’)

FC Ufa: Belenov, Sukhov (Terentyev 90’), Nedelcearu, Putsko, Tabidze, Jokic, Fomin, Urunov (Giorgobiani 81’), Carp, Kozlov (Golubev 46’), Agalarov (Bizjak 46’)