Grulev sends Dynamo second with team-goal winner

Dynamo Moscow 1-0 Krasnodar 
Saturday 6 November, VTB Arena

Goal: Dynamo - Grulev 73’
Man of the Match: Vyacheslav Grulev (Dynamo)

It was ironic that a clash between the two most trigger-happy attacking sides would take so long to break the deadlock - both sides average over 18 shots on goal per game, the two highest in this category - but it wasn’t for want of trying.

The clash was closely balanced as both sides pushed forwards into the second half. Konstantin Tyukavin snuck an instinctive flick behind his standing leg from Sergey Parshivlyuk’s drilled cutback just after the hour mark, but Matvey Safonov was alert to tip it away.

Not long afterwards, Eduard Spertsyan raced onto a through ball, but again the opposing keeper was too quick. Anton Shunin’s left foot spread wide enough to divert the Armenian’s shot away.

Eventually the breakthrough came, and it was a ruthlessly efficient attack that carved krasnodar open. Clinton N’Jie had only come off the bench five minutes earlier, but his give and go with Sebastian Szymanski was perfectly timed - the Pole’s return pass particularly incisive - allowing him to whip a laser-guided cross to the back post for Grulev to side-foot home a brilliant team goal.

Dynamo go second on 26 points, while Krasnodar drop to seventh on 21 points. 

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 20 November - Krasnodar vs Spartak; Sunday 21 November - Dynamo vs Arsenal