Roshi magic double sparks confident Akhmat win

Akhmat Grozny 3-1 Rotor Volgograd
Wednesday 19 August, Akhmat Arena

Goals: Akhmat - Vladimir Ilyin (47), Odise Roshi (53, 61); Rotor - Sergey Serchenkov (58)

Man of the Match: Odise Roshi (Akhmat)

Sent off: Rotor - Cedric Gogoua (71)

After a goalless first half in which Andres Ponce hit the post from a penalty, a 14-minute four-goal burst right after the break put Akhmat Grozny firmly in control. Less than two minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute, Vladimir Ilyin broke the deadlock with a flying volley from Oleg Ivanov’s perfectly judged outside-of-the-boot cross. 

Five minutes later Odise Roshi collected the rebound from his own header, spectacularly hooked it over a defender’s head before smashing in a volley off the crossbar. Although Rotor pulled one back through winger Sergey Serchenkov - the team’s first goal back in the RPL - Roshi slid home a clinical response almost immediately. 

Akhmat move on to four points, while Rotor remain on one.

Akhmat Grozny are away to FC Khimki next on Saturday 22 August, while Rotor Volgograd host FC Sochi on the same day.