Konate spearheads solid Akhmat win

Akhmat Grozny 3-1 Nizhny Novgorod
Sunday 7 November, Akhmat Arena

Goals: Akhmat - Konate 40’, Penchikov (OG) 72’, Utkin 90’; Nizhny Novgorod - Kosarev 55’
Man of the Match: Mohamed Konate (Akhmat)

Nizhny Novgorod’s miserable losing streak continued as they fell behind just before the break to Mohamed Konate’s fine one-two with Evgeny Kharin. Some scrappy build-up play from both sides saw Akhmat’s more intense pressure win back the ball twice, and after some neat play Kharin fed Konate for a classy end to a disjointed move.

A rapid counter-attack 10 minutes after the break drew Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s side level. Four simple passes released Kirill Kosarev down the right flank but he was well offside; thankfully Denis Tkachuk was alert and warned Kosarev off touching the ball, collecting it himself and sliding his teammate in after the defence had scrambled back goalside. Kosarev’s finish was one his manager would have been proud of, from a tight angle.

Konate won a free kick on the halfway line, which was taken towards Artem Arkhipov who used his body strength and positioning intelligently to beat his marker and slide a cross into the danger area. Daniil Penchikov seemingly had it covered, but rebounded the ball off his own body into the net in almost comedy fashion.

Utkin himself made sure in the last minute with a fabulous first-time finish from Arkhipov’s well-worked cross to seal a solid night’s work. 

Akhmat move back to 10th place on 18 points, while Nizhny Novgorod remain 13th on 14 points.

Next RPL fixtures: Friday 19 November - Zenit vs Nizhny Novgorod; Saturday 20 November - Lokomotiv vs Akhmat