Rubin Kazan 2-1 Akhmat Grozny
Sunday August 8, Ak Bars Arena, Kazan

Goals: Rubin - Haksabanovic 58’, Iancu 86’ (OG); Akhmat - Utkin 31’
Man of the Match: Rubin - Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Red card: Akhmat - Georgiy Shelia 57'

Rubin Kazan kept their faultless start to the season after staging a comeback against Akhmat. Krasnodar loanee Daniil Utkin was impressive again, and put Akhmat in front in the first half.

The game then flipped on its head in the second half when Akhmat keeper Georgiy Shelia was red carded for a tackle outside his penalty area. Sead Haksabanovic scored the subsequent free-kick, bringing Rubin back into the game out of nowhere. Oliver Abildgaard, Rubin’s great Dane headed in with just five minutes left on the clock, giving his team the win. 

A dogged Rubin managed to get the win, and are at the top of the table with Dynamo and Zenit with three wins in three. 

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday August 14 - Rubin Kazan vs Krylya Sovetov Samara; Akhmat Grozny vs Dynamo Moscow