The Kazan “Rubin” reached the semifinal of the Russian Cup

(KZN.RU, March 1). The Kazan “Rubin” reached semi-finals in the Russian Football Cup. The Tatarstan team won the Novosibirsk club “Sibir” with the score 1:0 in the home match at the Central stadium. Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of Tatarstan, Ildar Khalikov, the Prime Minister of Tatarstan, Kamil Iskhakov, the Assistant of the President of the RT, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan and the president of the FC “Rubin”, and others watched the game.

Teams actively started the match and created several dangerous moments in the first 10 minutes of the game. But the defense of clubs coped with the threat. Then, the “Rubin” had a prolonged attack, during which the partners brought Rifat Zhemaletdinov to the strike position. However, Nikolai Tsygan, guests’ goalkeeper, coped with the impact of the midfielder. A few minutes later, Denis Tkachuk, hosts’ midfielder, struck a dangerous blow, but Tsygan struggled to hit the ball. The “Rubin” continued to control the match and created several dangerous moments. The “Sibir” replied with counterattacks. Despite the efforts of the players, the first half ended with no goals scored.

The team began the second half actively as well and exchanged sharp attacks immediately after the restart of play. However, the hits of Kazan players lacked precision and skills of Sergei Ryzhikov, goalkeeper of the team, saved the “Rubin” from a missed goal. The host side took the lead of the game and had a few dangerous attacks in the right flank, but the ball did not cross the goal line. Guests have focused all their efforts on defense, hoping to wait until extra time. But Kazan players were still able to open the gates of the rival. Ruslan Kambolov, the midfielder of the “Rubin”, intercepted the ball down the right flank and sent in the center of the penalty area. Zhonatas, the Kazan striker, literally hammer the ball with his head into the gate in 2 minutes before the final whistle. Having won the first official match of the year, the “Rubin” reached the semifinal of the Russian Cup, where the team will fight the Ekaterinburg club “Ural”.