Fakel rush into RPL with impressive play in Krasnodar

RPL Matchday 1
FC Krasnodar 2-2 Fakel Voronezh
Sunday 17 July, FC Krasnodar Stadium

Goals: Krasnodar - Ionov (24), Spertsyan (40); Fakel - Dashaev (9), Akbashev (49)
Man of the Match: Matvey Safonov (Krasnodar)

Last time Voronezh side played in the topflight was 2001, the last season before RPL became the organizer of the championship. Oleg Vasilenko’s side started with surprise, after free kick Aslan Dashaev was the first one on the ball to score the first Fakel goal in the league.

It took some time for the hosts to recover, and then Aleksey Ionov shot from the distance putting the ball straight to the bottom corner. Another moment came from the set piece, Eduard Spertsyan direct shot found the net with little touch from Fakel player. The end of the first half could become nightmare for the Voronezh newcomers, when Sergey Karasev following VAR review point to penalty spot, as Vasily Cherov touched the ball with his hand. Jhon Cordoba, who came back to the squad for the first time since November, took the shot and hit the post.

Fakel used the first attempt to tie the game after the break, and Roman Akbashev scored the volley from Ilnur Alshin assist. The visitors stayed aggressive and even tried to steal all three points. Matvey Safonov was on the way of Fakel players firstly stopping two shots in the counterattack and secondly saving Oleg Dmitriev’s shot from close distance. Draw was the result, so Fakel became the only side among promoted, who earned a point in their opening game.

Next RPL fixtures: Saturday 23 July - Krasnodar vs Spartak; Sunday 24 July - Akhmat vs Fakel