Zakharyan masterclass tears through Khimki

Dynamo Moscow 4-1 Khimki
Friday 22 October, VTB Arena

Goals: Dynamo - Moro 12’, Grulev 26’, 60’, Tyukavin 52’; Khimki - Ademi 90'
Man of the Match: Arsen Zakharyan (Dynamo)

Dynamo stormed past a hapless Khimki as Arsen Zakharyan weighed in with a hat-trick of assists on what would have been Lev Yashin’s 92nd birthday - the occasion marked by a stencilled signature of the club legend.

Khimki could cope with his deliveries into the box, as first Nikola Moro - admittedly with a touch of fortune, as his attempted header actually missed the ball, but fortunately his back made a telling touch - then Vyacheslav Grulev both gladly met Zakharyan’s inswinging set-pieces to hand Dynamo a commanding lead.

Just seven minutes after the break, Konstantin Tyukavin got in on the act with almost embarrassing ease. Daniil Fomin sauntered forward unopposed towards the penalty area, and slipped a simple ball between Igor Danilikin and Maksim Karpov, leaving Tyukavin time to casually send Danilikin sliding past with a deft dummy before passing calmly into the bottom corner.

Right on the hour mark, Zakharyan once again fed a golden chance. This time Grulev was again the recipient in the left channel completely unmarked; his vicious rocket of a low shot exploded through Ilya Lantratov’s legs for the fourth.

The only blot on their copybook on a day to commemorate Yashin was that Dynamo couldn’t manage to keep a clean sheet. In the last minute, Kemal Ademi turned in a low cross from a few yards out. 

Dynamo draw level with Zenit on 23 points at the top, edged out only by goals scored, while Khimki remain 13th on 11 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Friday 29 October - Zenit vs Dynamo; Sunday 31 October - Khimki vs Ural