Kazan "Rubin" lost to the Swiss "Sion" in the opening of Europa League

(Kazan City KZN.RU, September 17). In the opening match of the group stage of the UEFA Europa League Kazan "Rubin" lost to the Swiss "Sion" with the score 1: 2. The match was held on the opponent field at the stadium "Tourbillon". The president of FC "Rubin" Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin watched over the course of the game.

The coaching staff of "Rubin", led by the acting head coach Valery Chaly, preferred to do without experiments in the first game of the group stage in Switzerland, putting the same line-up as in the victorious game against the "Locomotive".

"Sion" seized the initiative from the first minutes and twice threatened the gates of "Rubin" in the opening of the meeting. In the 11th minute the hosts had a prolonged attack, after a series of ricochets the ball bounced to the left in the alone Moussa Konate - and the striker sent the ball into the near corner. Kazan residents came to the senses after a missed goal not immediately. Throughout the first half the game the players of "Sion" leaded, but did not increase the score thanks to the skill and ability of Ryzhikov and defenders.

After the break, the team turned the tables, and "Rubin" did not give the rest to the Swiss defense. Our players created a dangerous moment at the gates of Andris Vanin in the 48th minute - Carlos Eduardo gave a free kick and the ball nearly flew into the far corner. On the 59th minute Igor Portnyagin intercepted the ball in midfield, the transfer counter Maxim Kanunnikov threw into the breach, but Zhane Pa-Modou stopped an opponent at the very edge by the price of the yellow card, and Carlos Eduardo made a free kick not in the best way. Soon Portnyagin gracefully departed from Reto Ziegler, went one on one, but hesitated to shot.

After 65 minutes "Rubin" equalized the score. Portnyagin caught the ball, threw to Kanunnikov who immediately bitingly shot into the far bottom corner. Guests have believed in themselves and went forward, but the owners did not agree to a draw. As a result, "Sion" was more successful in the game. Fernandez got round Elmir Nabiullin on the wing and shot at goalkeeper, where the most agile was Konate, who scored twice for "Sion," the press-service of FC "Rubin" says.

"Rubin" begins to the group stage of the Europa League with a defeat for the first time. In the next round on October 1 team will try to rehabilitate in a duel with the French "Bordeaux" already at home. "Sion" will go to "Anfield" for a visit to the English "Liverpool".