Anastasia Shlapakova's only goal brought Dynamo victory over Krasnodar again

After two super matches in July, overflowing with positive and not very emotions – with Spartak (0:2) and Zenit (1:0) – our team was overtaken by routine. In the form of matches with neighbors in the standings, fighting for places in the middle of this very table: "Chertanovo", "Krasnodar", "Wings of the Soviets" (in the next round).

I must say that the beginning of this routine stage was not at all routine for the blue and white: the principal derby with Chertanovo cannot be by definition. And considering the number of Chertanov pupils in the composition of the Housing and Communal complex "Dynamo" – even more so. The only routine was that both teams right now do not claim anything more significant than the 5th place. And in another big tournament, the Winline Cup of Russia, the teams completed their performances, leaving the showdown for the trophy to the "big four" of Russian women's football.

Of course, the chances of competing for bronze medals theoretically remain (let's add Ryazan-Airborne Forces here), but they are too illusory. And after the defeat from Chertanovo, Dynamo dropped to 9th place, which was unusual for itself, and now closes this group of pursuers, who still retain hope for at least a place in the top 4.

Our team also has this hope. If only because the calendar at the finish line of the blue and white does not look killer at all. So, in the remaining 9 rounds, Dynamo will have only two meetings with the grandees of our football – Lokomotiv (at home) and CSKA (away) in October. All other matches are with neighbors on the table, like today with Krasnodar, and outsiders of the season.

If Alexander Katasonov's team gets the most out of them, the blue and white team has every chance to save this very difficult and controversial season! So, perhaps, it makes no sense to talk about the routine, because every match for Dynamo football players now is an opportunity to fix everything. Well, the first step on this path was to be taken on Saturday in Novogorsk – in a game with the historically convenient Krasnodar. Before the first round match, where Dynamo lost in Krasnodar (1:2), the blue and white did not lose to the Southerners, but never missed them.

True, now one could only dream of resuming this super-successful series.

After losing to Chertanovo in the last round, the blue and white coach decided to make serious changes in the lineup. So, three players who do not often get playing time came out at once: Maria Digurova, Tatyana Danilochkina and Kristina Komissarova. In addition, Anna Sas was not in the squad, but not by the decision of the coaching staff. The Belarusian football player received an automatic disqualification for the match with Krasnodar due to the search for yellow cards. So there were enough changes compared to the last match.

The Dynamo game has also changed compared to the previous meeting. The blue and white gave the initiative to the guests, who also acted cautiously and did not attack with large forces. As a result, both teams spent the first 20-25 minutes as carefully as possible and did not create any chances.

But, starting from the 24th minute, the hostesses finally took control of the ball and created two scoring opportunities at once, which they failed to take advantage of. At first, Zelka Belovan received the super moment, who responded to Komissarova's pitch and accurately punched her head into the bottom corner, but somehow Krasnodar goalkeeper Natalya Silina managed to repel it. And then, after 7 minutes, Anastasia Shlapakova did not use her chance. The Belarusian ran away to a rendezvous with the goalkeeper and hung a parachute – but past the gate of Silina. The second good moment was missed by the blue and white in less than 10 minutes.

Closer to the break, Dynamo finally pressed the guests to the goal, and they only thought about leaving for a break as soon as possible. But the Dynamos still have the last and accurate strike.

And then finally they finally broke through! In the 43rd minute, Najamba, with a defender on her back, took the ball in the goalkeeper, turned around, struck – Silina again miraculously pulled the ball out from under the crossbar… But Shlapakova was already on the pick-up, who also shot under the crossbar like a few minutes ago, only this time without interference and for sure – 1:0!

Our girls left for the break in a good mood.

The second half turned out to be uneventful – both teams created a minimum of moments, but there were no goals at all. It is possible to single out only two episodes with Shlapakova and Nazhemba. The first was in a similar situation with a goal scored: Nastya again played on the rebound after Silina's save, picked up the ball, but this time she shot above the goal.

And Fauzia could have scored one of the curious goals of the season at all: either she was hitting, or the attacker was hanging in the penalty area, but the ball almost fell by the scruff of Silina's neck right into the goal. At the last moment she managed to touch him with her hand and transferred to the corner.

At the 75th minute, Katasonov's wards could have dispelled all concerns about the outcome of the match, but the ball was not counted by the chief referee Nailya Khasanova due to offside, which one of the Dynamo players hit before the strike.

In the remaining 15 minutes, some serious danger did not happen at any of the gates. Dynamo calmly played out the match, Krasnodar did not dare to make a final assault.

As a result, a modest, but such a necessary victory for the Dynamo team, which immediately soared to the 5th place in the standings. Although temporary, as the whole tour is still ahead, but still a pleasant event.

For full information about the starting lineups and the events of the meeting, see the match center.