Rostov beat Shabab Al Ahli in 2024 RPL Winter Cup opener

2024 Winline RPL Winter Cup
Shabab Al Ahli 1-3 FC Rostov
Friday 2 February, Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Goals: Shabab Al Ahli – Yuri Cesar (27); Rostov – Komlichenko (19), Golenkov (54), Komarov (58)
Sent off: Rostov – Sako (60)

Rostov and last season UAE champions played opening game of second RPL Winter Cup in Abu Dhabi. Last year Valery Karpin team never scored at the tournament, this time it took 18 minutes to open the score; Daniil Utkin assisted Nikolay Komlichenko for the goal. The Brazilian Yuri Cesar equalized quickly for Marko Nikolic team, so both sides went for the break being tied. In four minutes, Rostov made two-goal advantage through Egor Golenkov and Ivan Komarov goals, but then the Yellow-Blues left with ten men, as newcomer Oumar Sako was given direct red card after stopping the ball with arm. Shorthanded Rostov kept the score to win first match ever at Winter Cup; year before the team lost all three games.

Next matches: Tuesday 6 February – Shabab Al Ahli vs Kairat; Wednesday 7 February – Spartak vs Rostov